Strength of Central Government Pensioners as on 01.01.2014

Strength of Central Govt Pensioners as on 01.01.2014

Strength of Pensioners as on 01.01.2014 : Pensioners can be broadly categorised into Civil and Defence. Within civil pensioners there exist three broad categories: Central Civil, Railways and Post.

As on 01.01.2014, as per data reported to the Commission, the total number of pensioners were 51.96 lakh. The category wise break up is shown in the pie chart below

Pensioners and Family Pensioners

The break-up of the total 51.96 lakh pensioners as on 01.01.2014 between pensioners and family pensioners, category wise, is as under:

The table above brings out the following:

i. Of the total 51.96 lakh pensioners as on 01.01.2014, 11.83 lakh viz., 23 percent were family pensioners.

ii. Civilian pensioners consisting of Central Government Civil, Railways and Posts, as on 01.01.2014 number 27.81 lakh while defence pensioners (including defence civilians were 24.15 lakh. Defence pensioners (including defence family pensioners and defence civilians) constitute 47 percent of all pensioners.

Authority: 7th CPC Report

Central Pensioners : 37% are in the 60-70 age group

Central Pensioners : 37% are in the 60-70 age group

Age Analysis of Pensioners as on 01.01.2014 : Payment of additional pension/family pension with advancing age came into force based on recommendations of the VI CPC. This Commission, with a view to ascertain the strength in various age groups, called for information on age profile of pensioners and family pensioners. The data with regard to pensioners in terms of various age groups, as reported to the Commission, for the five categories of pensioners’ viz., Central Civil, Railways, Post, Defence (Civil) and Defence (Services) is as under:

# Others includes those below 60 years of age and those above 100 years.

@ Others under Central Civil additionally includes cases whose revision had not been effected, certain categories of pensioners like Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts, Ex-MPs, freedom fighters.

^ Railways have included those less than 60 years of age in the 60-70 age group.

From the table above it can be observed that of the total 51.96 lakh pensioners, 37 percent are in the 60-70 age group, about 26 percent each are in the 70-80 and ‘Others’ age group. The balance 11 percent are in the 80 plus category and thus entitled to enhanced pension based on advancing age.

The stacked bar graph brings out for each category of pensioners the break up in percentage terms of each age group viz., 60-70 years, 70-80 years, 80-90 years, 90-100 years and Others.

Railways have included those less than 60 years of age in the 60-70 age group

The graph above brings out the following:

i. Railways, in comparison to other categories have largest percentage of pensioners above the age of 80 years. While in all other categories this percentage is in the range of 7-9 percent, in the Railways it is 21 percent.

ii. Defence Services have a large percentage of personnel retiring at an early age, as is confirmed by the data. 57 percent of defence service pensioners fall in the ‘Others’ age group. Central Civil which also includes CAPFs has 25 percent in ‘Others’ age group.

Authority: 7th CPC Report

Group X Pay for JCOs/ORs – 7th Central Pay Commission Recommendations

Group X Pay for JCOs/ORs – 7th CPC Recommendations

The 7th Pay Commission has recommended in its report regarding the Group X Pay for JCOs / ORs in Group X at Rs.6,200 per month for all X trades which involve obtaining a qualification which is equivalent of a diploma recognised by AICTE.

Group ‘X’ pay for JCOs/ORs and equivalent has been sought to be enhanced by four times from the existing rate of Rs.1,400 per month. In the context of change in nature of warfare the requirement of a higher technological threshold has been emphasised by the Services. In Defence services, there two groups ‘X’ and ‘Y’ in the three services, by way of the entry level qulaification thershold and the training imparted.

The Commission has taken due note of the emphasis being placed on skilled manpower with higher educational and technological thresholds. While determining X pay for X group of JCOs/ORs the VI CPC considered the relativity of some of the grades of JCOs/ORs in Group X with diploma holders in engineering on the civil side. In case of civilians, posts requiring minimum qualification of diploma in engineering are placed in GP 4200 and in defence forces, some of the posts in X group whose minimum qualification held equivalent to diploma in engineering are placed in GP 2800. The element of X group pay was therefore fixed at Rs.1,400.

The Commission has examined the existing educational and training requirements of X pay personnel and has already noted the wide variation that exists in the three Services in this  regard. It has therefore recommended that all X trades should mandatorily involve obtaining a qualification which is equivalent of a diploma in engineering (recognised by AICTE).

Direct Entry Diploma Holders : In Indian Coast Guard, Direct Entry Diploma Holders (DEDH) join as Yantrik in Technical Branch and are placed in GP 2400 along with a Yantrik Pay of Rs.800 per month. However, Direct Entry Diplomas Holders in other civil services, including Indian Railway are placed in GP 4200. In the Indian Navy, the Diploma Holders (Artificer-IV) with similar qualification and nature of job as of Yantrik of ICG are placed in GP 2800 along with X Pay of Rs.1,400 per month.

Indian Coast Guard: The Commission is recommending for the Indian Coast Guard: a. Merger of pay group Z into pay group Y. b. X pay of Rs.6,200 p.m. to all direct entry diploma holders.

MACP scheme for Defence Service personnel – No marked change in 7th Central Pay Commission Report

MACP scheme for Defence Service personnel – No marked change in 7th CPC Report

Assured Career Progression

The Services have sought four financial upgradations under MACP scheme at 6, 12, 18 and 24 years of service or on completion of six years of continuous service in same Grade Pay. It has been stated that 60 percent of the soldiers (i.e., Sepoys and Naiks) are deprived of the third financial upgradation on account of an early retirement.

Analysis and Recommendations : The Commission has considered the demand and notes that as it is the existing scheme of MACP for the Defence forces personnel, at 8, 16 and 24 years of service, is more beneficial than the one on the civilian side, which is spaced at 10, 20 and 30 years. The aspect of early retirement of the defence services personnel is therefore already factored in. Further, no revision in the MACP scheme is intended on the Civilian side.

Keeping these facts in view the Commission is unable to recommend any changes to the MACP scheme insofar as Defence Service personnel are concerned.

One Rank One Pension to retired/serving personnel of CAPF

One Rank One Pension to retired/serving personnel of CAPF

One Rank One Pension

As per report received from the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO), Ministry of Finance, total number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles (AR) pensioners are 3,28,010 and the pension expenditure as disbursed by Banks for the period 01/04/2014 to 31/03/2015 is Rs.4317.38 crore.

The posted strength of CAPFs and AR as on 01/11/2015 is 8,94,616 (AR-67,018, BSF-2,48,799, CRPF-2,89,182, CISF-1,29,468, ITBP-81,747 & SSB-78,402).

The Government has received representations for implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme from the retired/serving personnel of CAPF and broadly seeking parity with the Defence Forces in the matter of pension. As per records available, the Supreme Court has not issued any directive in this regard. Representations from in-service or retired personnel of CAPF & AR received from the time to time, are examined on merit and appropriate decision taken.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to question by Shri Chhedi Paswan, Shri Vinayak Bhaurao Raut, Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Shri Rahul Shewale and Mohammed Faizal in the Lok Sabha today.

Source: PIB News