On 15 June 2015 retired soldiers began a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding that the government implement One Rank One Pension (OROP): the same pension for personnel of the same rank and length of service, whatever their date of retirement. The government announced OROP on 5 September 2015, but with a five-year revision cycle the veterans rejected. The sit-in lasted more than two years, until police removed the tents under a green tribunal order in October 2017. In March 2022 the Supreme Court upheld the government's version of the scheme.
Key takeaways
- Ex-servicemen led by Maj Gen Satbir Singh (retd) of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement began a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on 15 June 2015 to demand One Rank One Pension.
- Police tried to clear the site on 14 August 2015, withdrew on Home Ministry orders, and apologised on 18 August.
- The government announced OROP on 5 September 2015 with pensions equalised every five years. The veterans said one demand had been accepted and six rejected, and returned medals in November.
- Veteran Ram Kishan Grewal died by suicide in Delhi on 1 November 2016; police detained Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal as they tried to meet his family.
- The Supreme Court upheld the government's policy on 16 March 2022. Revisions followed from 2019 and 2024, but veterans' groups still cite anomalies.
Background: what One Rank One Pension means
Before OROP, a retired soldier's pension depended on the Pay Commission rules in force when he or she retired. So a Major General who retired in 1996 could draw less pension than a Lieutenant Colonel who retired after 1996 Governance Now. OROP means a uniform pension for those retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of the date of retirement PTI via Deccan Herald.
The demand was decades old. In its own 5 September 2015 statement the government said the issue "has been pending for nearly four decades" and that earlier governments had been "ambivalent" Governance Now, reproducing the government statement.
How the Jantar Mantar protest started
The protest began on 14 June 2015, and the veterans started a relay hunger strike on 15 June IANS via Oneindia. It was led by Maj Gen Satbir Singh (retd) of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, with Col Anil Kaul (retd) as spokesman for the United Front of Ex-Servicemen PTI via Business Standard.
The 14 August 2015 eviction attempt
On the morning of 14 August 2015, the day before Independence Day, police and civic employees moved in on the protesters and tried to remove their marquee, leading to scuffles IANS. Police cited security reasons PTI.
Claim · Veterans An 82-year-old veteran, Vishambhar, said: "I was pushed by the cops who even tore my shirt." Col Kaul said the veterans had permission and had been "protesting peacefully" IANS.
Within hours the authorities reversed course. DCP New Delhi Vijay Singh said police had "allowed the ex-servicemen to continue their protest". Kaul said the order came verbally from the Home Ministry IANS.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that veterans were now treated as "a security threat for Independence Day". Rahul Gandhi visited but left within minutes after protesters said they did not want the protest politicised IANS.
On 18 August, after Home Minister Rajnath Singh sought details, Joint Commissioner of Police M.K. Meena apologised at Jantar Mantar, saying a "misunderstanding" had taken place and "our intention was not to hurt the soldiers" PTI via Deccan Herald.
From relay hunger strike to fast-unto-death
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave no date in his Independence Day speech, on 17 August, the 64th day, Col Pushpender Singh (retd) and Havildar Major Singh (retd) began a fast-unto-death PTI via Business Standard.
The fast ended on 6 September, a day after the government's announcement, when Modi said soldiers who retire prematurely would be covered. Satbir Singh said the veterans would end the fast but continue the relay hunger strike The News Minute.
The 5 September 2015 announcement
Parrikar announced OROP at a press conference on 5 September 2015, the 84th day of the hunger strike Deccan Herald. The main terms Governance Now:
- Effective from 1 July 2014, with 2013 as the base year.
- Pensions re-fixed at the average of the minimum and maximum pension of 2013 retirees in the same rank and length of service; those above the average protected.
- The gap between current and past pensioners to be "bridged every five years".
- A one-member judicial committee to report within six months.
- Cost of Rs 8,000-10,000 crore a year at present, plus Rs 10,000-12,000 crore in arrears.
Parrikar first said personnel who retired voluntarily would be left out. That clause was later withdrawn The News Minute.
The veterans thanked the government but rejected the terms. They wanted annual revision, implementation from 1 April 2014, and a five-member committee under the Defence Minister that would report in one month Governance Now. Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony of the Congress called the statement a "substantial dilution of OROP" The News Minute.
According to us, the government has only accepted one of our demands and rejected six.
Maj Gen Satbir Singh (retd), 5 September 2015 (Governance Now)
The November 2015 order and medal returns
The government had said the model code of conduct for the Bihar Assembly elections stopped it from notifying the scheme earlier IANS. It issued its OROP order on 7 November 2015 Supreme Court judgment. IESM general secretary Group Captain V.K. Gandhi (retd) announced that veterans would return their medals across India on 9 and 10 November and observe a "black Diwali" IANS.
On 10 November veterans handed in medals in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, calling the order "diluted". At Panchkula the medals of over 150 veterans were collected Deccan Chronicle. The paper's headline put the number at over 2,000; no second count was found.
Government's position Parrikar said the medal returns were "unlike that of a soldier" Deccan Chronicle.
The one-man judicial committee
On 14 December 2015 the government set up a committee under Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, retired Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, to look at anomalies in implementing OROP Supreme Court judgment.
The committee held hearings in about 20 cities and towns, received 704 representations, and submitted its report to Parrikar on 26 October 2016 IANS via Free Press Journal. In the Supreme Court, the government said an internal committee was examining the feasibility of its recommendations Supreme Court judgment. The report has not been published in the sources reviewed here.
The death of Ram Kishan Grewal, November 2016
On 1 November 2016 retired Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal, from Haryana, died by suicide in central Delhi. Reports gave his age as 65 or 70. In a note he said he had not received the increased pension promised under OROP The Daily Star PTI via Gulf News. Police sources said he had been waiting with four others to submit a memorandum to the Defence Minister Gulf News.
Parrikar tweeted that he was "Saddened" and had asked officials for details The Daily Star.
Police detained Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia after he met the family at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and held Rahul Gandhi at Mandir Marg police station for about 70 minutes; he was detained again later. Kejriwal said he was "formally detained" on his way to the police station where the family was held Gulf News The Daily Star.
Claim · Family Grewal's son alleged that police abused and beat him and two relatives at the hospital. Claim · Police Police said the family was detained because it was creating a ruckus, and Joint Commissioner Dependra Pathak said the detentions were to control the situation outside the hospital. The BJP accused Gandhi and Kejriwal of courting needless controversy Gulf News.
If you or someone you know is struggling, India's national Tele-MANAS mental health helpline is 14416.
The site is cleared, October 2017
On 5 October 2017 the National Green Tribunal banned protests and dharnas around Jantar Mantar. On 30 October police and civic officials used a JCB to remove the veterans' tents PTI via The Quint Outlook.
Claim · Veterans Satbir Singh called it "an attempt to throttle our voice in a democracy" and said nobody was hurt. Claim · Police Police denied using force and said the protesters had been told in advance to leave or bring a court stay PTI via The Quint.
Timeline
Protest and relay hunger strike begin
Veterans start a sit-in at Jantar Mantar and a relay hunger strike IANS.
OROP announced
Parrikar announces OROP with five-yearly revision Deccan Herald.
Order issued, medals returned
The government issues its OROP order; veterans return medals in several states Deccan Chronicle.
Supreme Court upholds OROP policy
Bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath BOOM ETV Bharat.
Second revision approved
Cabinet approves revision from 1 July 2019 PIB via PM India.
Arrears schedule fixed
Supreme Court sets staggered deadlines up to 28 February 2024 LiveLaw.
Both accounts
Veterans' account
The veterans said OROP by definition means automatic revision, so that any future increase reaches past pensioners too. They argued that a five-year gap would cause "great injustice to 24 lakh ex-servicemen, 6.5 lakh war widows and veteran widows" by creating "One Rank Different Pension" BOOM. They also objected to averaging the 2013 pensions, the July 2014 start date and the one-member committee Governance Now.
Government's account
Government's position The government said it had implemented OROP "in true spirit" despite a "huge fiscal burden". It said the previous government had set aside only Rs 500 crore in February 2014 without analysis, while the real cost was Rs 8,000-10,000 crore a year. It called OROP "a complex issue" needing study of inter-service questions Governance Now. Modi said about 80 per cent of the benefits would go to junior ranks such as naik and sepoy The News Minute. In December 2022 it said about Rs 57,000 crore had been spent on OROP over eight years PIB via PM India.
What the Supreme Court decided
On 16 March 2022 the court upheld the policy. It held that "It is not a legal mandate that pensioners who held the same rank must be given the same amount of pension", and that pensioners of the same rank "may not for all purposes form a homogenous class" Supreme Court judgment.
We find no constitutional infirmity in the OROP principle as defined by the communication dated 7 November 2015.
Supreme Court, Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement v. Union of India, 16 March 2022
The court noted that the five-yearly re-fixation due in 2019 had not been done and ordered it from 1 July 2019, with arrears paid within three months Supreme Court judgment. It dismissed IESM's review petition on 26 July 2022 ETV Bharat.
The arrears were delayed. In January 2023 the court gave the Centre until 15 March Deccan Herald. When the Defence Ministry then said it would pay in four instalments, the court on 27 February 2023 told it: "Here you are not fighting a war. Here you are fighting a battle under the Rule of Law" Deccan Herald.
On 20 March 2023 the court refused to accept the government's note in a sealed cover. The Attorney General read it out: arrears for 2019-2022 were about Rs 28,000 crore and the Finance Ministry could not pay them in one go LiveLaw. The court ordered:
- Family pensioners and gallantry award winners: paid in one instalment by 30 April 2023.
- Pensioners aged 70 and above: paid by 30 June 2023.
- All others: equal instalments by 31 August 2023, 30 November 2023 and 28 February 2024.
It refused the veterans' request for interest on the delay LiveLaw.
Revisions in 2022 and 2024
On 23 December 2022 the Cabinet approved the revision from 1 July 2019, based on 2018 retirees' pensions. It covered over 25.13 lakh pensioners, at an extra Rs 8,450 crore a year and about Rs 23,638 crore in arrears to June 2022 PIB via PM India.
The third revision took effect from 1 July 2024. In December 2024 Minister of State Sanjay Seth told the Lok Sabha it covered 19.65 lakh beneficiaries at Rs 6,703.24 crore a year and that arrears had been paid Outlook Money.
Outcome
- Policy: OROP announced 5 Sept 2015 and ordered 7 Nov 2015, with five-yearly revision.
- Protest site: Eviction attempt 14 Aug 2015 reversed; tents removed 30 Oct 2017 under the NGT order.
- Inquiry: Reddy committee report submitted 26 Oct 2016.
- Court: Policy upheld 16 Mar 2022; review dismissed 26 Jul 2022; arrears schedule fixed 20 Mar 2023.
- Revisions: From 1 Jul 2019 and 1 Jul 2024.
- Death: Ram Kishan Grewal, 1 Nov 2016.
What is still pending
Disputes over anomalies continue. In July 2024 the Supreme Court fined the Centre Rs 2 lakh for years of delay in deciding the pensions of retired regular captains under OROP Verdictum. In September 2024 a Himachal Pradesh veterans' front said the 2024 revision had worsened disparities for junior ranks and asked for a commission of three retired Supreme Court judges Tribune.
In November 2025 the same front said the government's 4 November 2025 notification on the 8th Central Pay Commission had no direction on OROP anomalies, and that the Reddy committee's recommendations were "not fully acted upon" Tribune.
Questions people ask
What is One Rank One Pension?
It is the principle that armed forces personnel who retire in the same rank with the same length of service get the same pension, whatever their date of retirement. The government's version, issued in November 2015, equalises pensions every five years.
Why did veterans reject the 2015 OROP scheme?
Mainly because pensions would be equalised every five years instead of automatically or annually. They also objected to the July 2014 start date, averaging of 2013 pensions and the one-member committee.
What did the Supreme Court decide on OROP in 2022?
On 16 March 2022 it upheld the government's policy, finding no constitutional flaw in five-yearly revision. It ordered a re-fixation from 1 July 2019 and payment of arrears.
Sources
- IANS via Oneindia: OROP: Ex-servicemen first evicted ahead of I-Day, then allowed to continue protest, 14 Aug 2015
- PTI via Deccan Herald: Delhi Police apologises to ex-servicemen for Aug 14 crackdown, 18 Aug 2015
- PTI via Business Standard: Agitating ex-servicemen launch fast-unto death over OROP, 17 Aug 2015
- Deccan Herald: Finally, Centre rolls out OROP, 6 Sept 2015
- Governance Now: With 5-year revision OROP comes into effect (with government statement), 5 Sept 2015
- The News Minute: OROP applicable to soldiers who retire prematurely: PM Modi, 7 Sept 2015
- IANS via Business Standard: OROP: Ex-servicemen to return medals, observe black Diwali, 6 Nov 2015
- Deccan Chronicle: Over 2,000 war veterans return medals for OROP, 11 Nov 2015
- IANS via Free Press Journal: Judicial committee on OROP submits report, 27 Oct 2016
- The Daily Star: Kejriwal detained after Rahul's release, Nov 2016
- Gulf News (PTI, IANS): Protests after retired army-man commits suicide over pensions, Nov 2016
- PTI via The Quint: Tents used by Army veterans for Jantar Mantar OROP protest removed, 30 Oct 2017
- Outlook: Tents used by Army veterans for OROP protest at Jantar Mantar uprooted, 30 Oct 2017
- Supreme Court of India: Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement v. Union of India, judgment, 16 Mar 2022
- BOOM: Supreme Court upholds Centre's OROP policy for ex-servicemen, 16 Mar 2022
- ETV Bharat: SC rejects review plea against One Rank-One Pension judgement, 29 Jul 2022
- PIB via PM India: Union Cabinet approves revision of pension under OROP w.e.f. July 01, 2019, 23 Dec 2022
- Deccan Herald: Clear all OROP arrears by March 15, SC tells Centre, 9 Jan 2023
- Deccan Herald: SC pulls up Centre on extending deadline for payment of arrears, 27 Feb 2023
- LiveLaw: OROP arrears: Supreme Court extends timeline, 20 Mar 2023
- Verdictum: SC slams Centre over delays in OROP pension for retired Army captains, 30 Jul 2024
- Tribune: Govt urged to remove pension anomalies, 11 Sept 2024
- Outlook Money: Govt highlights key aspects of 3rd OROP revision in Parliament, 20 Dec 2024
- Tribune: Ex-servicemen slam Centre for ignoring OROP anomalies in 8th pay panel brief, 24 Nov 2025