After a delay of over six months, the Government on Wednesday notified the Seventh Pay Commission for serving military personnel.
While some core anomalies were addressed, some are yet to be resolved and that is likely to be done separately by the anomalies committee which is looking into the issue, official sources said. This has left many in the services disappointed.
Pending issues
Three issues raised by the services were approved which include increasing the pay matrix from 24 to 40 years, index of rationalisation for Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels from 2.57 to 2.67, and pay protection for those promoted above Brigadier upwards because they lose the Military Service Pay (MSP).
“Obviously you cannot get promoted and get less. Therefore pay protection has to be ensured,” Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said about the Military Service Pay while addressing the media.
However, the key issue of Non-Functional Upgrade (NFU) remains unaddressed. Mr. Jaitley stated that the matter was sub-judice and was not on the agenda of the Cabinet.
2 modifications approved
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved two modifications in the 7th CPC (Central Pay Commission) recommendations on pay and pensionary benefits which include revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners and family pensioners and retaining the percentage-based system for disability pensions.
The defence ministry has already issued the implementation order which is pending further processing as the services have not issued special instructions so far despite government request, and thus military personnel continue to receive Sixth Pay Commission salaries unlike their civilian counterparts.
