It is well know that the ER and GMO has changed the total structure of disability pension applicability for Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. In this Article we will discuss some another change which circulated by Army HQ on 8 July 2024 and brought the biggest change in the Disability pension ploicy for all the three wings of the Armed Forces.
According to Pension Regulations and latest ER and GMO, Disability pension is applicable to only invalided out of service cases. No Disability pension is entitled for regular retirement and Discharge at own request (PMR) cases. Regulation 95 of the pension Regulations for the Army 2008 (2021) clearly states that, if sheltered appointment is not granted by the unit, such release from service will be treated as Deemed to be invalided out of service. This regulation has also states that, if an individual is unwilling to accept sheltered appointment, he will be also treated as invalided out of service.
However, on 8th July 2024, IHQ of MoD (Army) MP-3 has issued a circular to all Record offices and pension sanctioning authorities that the discharge due to unwilling to accept sheltered appointment will now be treated as Discharge at own request. Accordingly, Record offices has issued the Discharge order for such persons as discharge at own request .
Consequences of New Policy of Army HQ
Consequent upon the new policy implementation, LMC persons, if dischrged at own request will not be entitled to get any kind of disability pension as per ER and GMO 2024. All old cases are not covered under this policy. Since no disability pension is entitled, applicablity of service element is also not relevant here. As a result, those who opted to unwilling to accept sheltered appointment before completion of 15 years of service, will not get any type of pension.
No disability pension, no service pension is entitled to such soldiers. He may get impairment relief, if his disability is attributable or aggravated by military service and minimum diability assessed by RMB is 20%. The amount of Impairment relief is very little and it is even though insufficient to meet your pocket expense– how will you take cae of your family ? More over, since your not entitled to get any kind of pension, you will not get status of Exserviceman. No job in ESM Quota.
Updated Rules of Disability Pension for Armed Forces Personnel
As on date
| Type of Discharge | Length of service | Pension Entitlement |
| IMB – invalided by Doctor/medical authority | Any (1 day to 34 years or more). No minimum service length. | If Disability is attributable to /aggravated by Military service – Will get Disability pension comprising service element and disability element. Minimum 0.01% disability is enough for broadbanding to 50%. |
| IMB – invalided by Doctor/medical authority | 10 years or more | If Not attributable to and Not aggravated by military service – Will get Invalid Pension. Which is equal to Service pension. No minimum Disability percentage required. |
| IMB – invalided by Doctor/medical authority | Less than 10 years or more | If Not attributable to and Not aggravated by military service- Will get Invalid Pension. Which is equal to Service pension if RMB declares that indl is fully incapacitated (UNFIT) for military service and Civil service. No minimum Disability percentage required. |
| Sheltered appointment Not granted by Unit | Any (1 day to 34 years or more). No minimum service length. | If Disability is attributable to /aggravated by Military service – Will get Disability pension comprising service element and disability element. Minimum 0.01% disability is enough for broadbanding to 50%. |
| Sheltered appointment Not granted by Unit | 10 years or more | If Disability is Not attributable to and Not aggravated by Military service – Will get Invalid Pension. Which is equal to Service pension. No minimum Disability percentage required. |
| Sheltered appointment Not granted by Unit | Less than 10 years or more | If Disability is Not attributable to and Not aggravated by Military service – Will get Invalid Pension. Which is equal to Service pension if RMB declares that indl is fully incapacitated (UNFIT) for military service and Civil service. No minimum Disability percentage required. |
| Unwilling to accept Sheltered appointment | Less than 15 years | Will not get any kind of pension. Only impairment relief is applicable if disability is attributable to/ aggravated by military service with minimum 20% disability assessed by RMB |
| Unwilling to accept Sheltered appointment | More than 15 years | Will get Service pension. Disability pension not entitled. Only impairment relief is applicable if disability is attributable to/ aggravated by military service with minimum 20% disability assessed by RMB. |
| Regular retirement in LMC | After Completion of Coloured service/age limit | Will get Service Pension only. No Disability pension allowed. Impairment relief/ war Injury Impairment Relief is applicable if disability is attributable to/ aggravated by military service with minimum 20% disability assessed by RMB. |
