Finance Desk – The Defence Ministry has shared details about how medical pensions are handled for Army personnel who can no longer serve due to health issues. This was discussed in the Lok Sabha after MP Hanuman Beniwal asked about the support for soldiers declared unfit because of disabilities and how the process ensures fairness.
The ministry has set clear rules to make sure that decisions about a soldier’s fitness are fair and consistent. These rules are outlined in documents called “Entitlement Rules for Casualty Pensionary Awards to the Armed Forces Personnel – 2023” and “Guide Medical Officers – 2023.” These guidelines help ensure that the process for soldiers mirrors that for civilian government workers in terms of fairness.
Soldiers who are found unfit for duty by the Army Medical Board due to physical or mental disabilities can receive different types of pensions, such as:
Terminal Gratuity: A one-time payment for officers leaving service due to disabilities.
War Injury Pension: For injuries received during combat.
Disability Pension: For disabilities acquired during service.
Invalid Pension/Invalid Gratuity: For those who are unfit for service due to non-service-related disabilities.
To ensure impartiality in evaluating disabilities, the process involves a three-member Medical Board. Further checks are done, especially for psychiatric evaluations, to ensure they are clear and error-free.
The minister confirmed that soldiers declared unfit due to disabilities are eligible for these pensions under the current rules, ensuring they receive the support they need.
