SBI Designates 699 Branches as SPARSH Service Centres for Defence Pensioners
In a significant step towards streamlining pension-related services for the defence veteran community, the State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA) in July 2025.
As part of this MoU, 699 SBI branches across India have been officially mandated to function as SPARSH Service Centres. These branches will provide direct support to Defence Service Pensioners (DSPs), including veterans, family pensioners, dependents, and NOKs (Next of Kin), ensuring seamless resolution of pension-related queries and grievances under the SPARSH (System for Pension Administration – Raksha) initiative.
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🔹 Purpose of the Initiative
The designated SBI branches will act as dedicated facilitation points for pensioners who are part of the SPARSH system. These centres are intended to reduce dependency on online processes for those who:
- Lack digital literacy
- Do not have internet access
- Prefer face-to-face assistance
Key Services to Be Offered at These Branches
Each of the 699 branches will extend support services similar to a SPARSH Seva Kendra, including:
✅ Pensioner Verification (Annual Identification)
✅ Assistance with SPARSH login and access issues
✅ Correction of personal/pension details
✅ Filing and tracking of grievance cases
✅ Information on entitlements and benefits
✅ Help with family pension claims and nominations
✅ Support for re-employment or dual pension updates
🔹 Who Will Benefit
The following categories of pensioners will be able to avail these services:
- Retired JCOs, NCOs, and ORs (PBOR)
- Commissioned officers of Army, Navy, Air Force
- Family pensioners, including widows and dependents
- NOKs of deceased pensioners
- Pensioners facing migration issues from legacy systems to SPARSH
🔹 Pan-India Branch Coverage
The 699 branches have been carefully selected from across the country, covering all defence-heavy zones and remote regions, including:
- Cantonment areas
- Proximity to Army/IAF/Navy bases
- District centres with large ex-servicemen populations
Major circles involved include:
📍 Ahmedabad, Amaravati, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati (North East), Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai Metro, New Delhi, Patna, Thiruvananthapuram
🔹 Significance of the Initiative
This move marks a veteran-centric approach in the digital age, ensuring no pensioner is left behind due to technology barriers. It also reflects SBI’s commitment to its role as a Defence Pension Disbursement Bank, and the Ministry of Defence’s efforts to ensure smoother implementation of SPARSH across the country.
⚠️ Note: Pensioners are advised to visit these branches during working hours with proper identification, PPO details, and SPARSH ID (if available) for faster resolution of issues.
The establishment of 699 SBI branches as SPARSH Service Centres is a welcome move that bridges the gap between technology-driven pension disbursement systems and the ground realities faced by many veterans and their families.
This initiative is expected to significantly enhance the efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of pension-related services for the defence community.
✅ For Full List of Branches: Contact your local SBI branch or defence pensioners’ welfare association.
📞 Helpline/Support: You may also visit https://sparsh.defencepension.gov.in for more information.
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These branches will serve as SPARSH Service Centres, functioning as touchpoints for resolving:
- SPARSH migration issues
- Pension queries
- Annual identification assistance
- Correction of personal/pension details
- Assistance with grievances
🔹 Who Can Visit:
- All SBI DSP pensioners (Defence Service Pensioners)
- Veteran families/dependents
- Widows and NOKs of deceased defence personnel
🔹 Coverage:
The document includes SBI branches from every major state and union territory, including:
- Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
- Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka
- Bihar, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala
- …and many others.
🔹 Important Highlights:
- Some branches are located inside or near cantonments, ordnance factories, and major defence installations, ensuring accessibility for veterans.
- Branch codes and SBI circles (like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Chennai, Guwahati, etc.) are also mentioned for administrative reference.
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