HP Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania presents medals to winners at the meet in Chamba.

The United Front of Ex-Servicemen (JCOs & OR) Himachal Pradesh has expressed gratitude to the Central Government for constituting the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC), which will take effect from January 1, 2026. Despite the delay in forming the panel, ex-servicemen have welcomed the move, hoping it would resolve long-pending problems, particularly anomalies in the implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.

Capt Jagdish Verma (Retd), Chairman of the United Front of Ex-Servicemen (JCOs & OR) Himachal Pradesh, said while the 7th CPC report was implemented from January 1, 2016, its formation in February 2014 allowed ample time for deliberations. However, the 8th CPC panel, despite Cabinet approval in January 2025, has been constituted much later — barely two months before its effective date.

“We are thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central Government for constituting the 8th Central Pay Commission. Though the benefits may take time to materialise, the decision is welcome and gives hope to lakhs of serving personnel and pensioners,” Capt Verma said.

Highlighting the challenges faced by defence pensioners, Capt Verma pointed out several anomalies have emerged since the implementation of OROP with effect from July 1, 2014 and its subsequent revisions in 2019 and 2024. He said due to incorrect implementation, many past pensioners were drawing higher pensions than those retiring now, contradicting the very spirit of OROP.

“Despite repeated representations and the use of all constitutional means, our genuine demands have not been met. The Government claims OROP has been implemented, but the reality is that many ex-servicemen are still deprived of its true benefits,” Capt Verma added.

The United Front has now decided to take up the issue formally with the newly constituted 8th CPC. Once the office of the Chairperson, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (Retd), former Judge of the Supreme Court, along with two other members, becomes functional, a detailed representation highlighting all pension anomalies would be sent by post.

Capt Verma also said after securing a prior appointment, a delegation of ex-servicemen from Himachal Pradesh would visit Delhi to personally meet the Commission members and submit their grievances in detail.