The Ministry of Defense has responded to relevant questions in the Lok Sabha regarding medical pension of army personnel declared unfit for service due to psychiatric and physical disability by the Army Medical Commission.

Parliamentarian Hanuman Beniwal posed questions in the Lok Sabha asking the Ministry of Defense about the steps taken/proposed to be taken in medical matters. pension military personnel declared unfit for service due to disability.

The lawmaker also asked about steps taken to ensure fairness and transparency in disability assessments.

Responding to these questions, Minister of State in the Ministry of Defense Sanjay Seth said, “The government has released the Armed Forces Personnel Retirement Allowance Rules – 2023 and Medical Guides – 2023 to harmonize the Defense Disability Pension Regulations. with the regulations for civilian employees issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions from time to time and also to ensure that medical boards are conducted in an optimal and uniform manner.

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The government provides the following pensions to military personnel declared unfit for service due to psychiatric and physical disability by the Army Medical Commission: Disability Pension/Disability Grant, Disability Pension, War Wounded Pension and terminal gratuity to disabled off-duty officers, the minister said.

Ensuring fairness and transparency in disability assessments

In response to the question on ensuring fairness and transparency in disability assessments, the minister explained that the Medical Council comprises three members in accordance with the RMSAF-2010 Rules of the Armed Forces to ensure impartial assessments. Additionally, all psychiatric board reports are reviewed by the DGMS (Army) for officers and by the MG (Med) for junior officers and other ranks to ensure that they are error-free and transparent.

Disability pension for unfit military personnel

Other questions included the number of cases of Indian Army personnel who have been declared unfit for service due to psychiatric and physical disability and who have not been provided retirement benefits so far; and proposals regarding retirement arrangements for these soldiers.

In response, the minister said that army personnel who are declared unfit for service by the Army Medical Commission due to disability receive disability pension in accordance with the Army Pension Regulations ( PRA) 2008 and the Eligibility Rule (ER) 2023 and other rules in force.