Inter-ministerial panel rejects military officers’ plea for pay parity

An inter-ministerial high-level committee has rejected a plea seeking parity in status and salary for middle-level officers of the armed forces with their civilian counterparts.

Called non-functional upgradation (NFU), it is given to the entire civilian bureaucracy and police. It results in a higher pay band after a certain number of years of service. Armed forces personnel do not receive this higher pay band.

The committee has suggested that the issue be referred to the 8th Central Pay Commission, which has already been set up.

The matter is listed for hearing in the Supreme Court tomorrow, and the court may accept or reject the committee’s findings.

On Tuesday, the ‘Pay and Salary Cell’ of the Ministry of Defence filed an additional affidavit in the Supreme Court, citing the findings of the inter-ministerial high-level committee. It said, “Taking into consideration all aspects, the committee arrived at the conclusion that the complexities in implementation, possible legal complications and significantly large financial implications do not favour the grant of NFU to armed forces personnel.”

The committee was set up in January this year to conduct a “fresh and exhaustive review” of the demand for salary upgradation for armed forces personnel who do not get promoted beyond a certain rank due to paucity of vacancies, despite serving for a specified number of years.

The MoD formed the committee after the Supreme Court, while hearing the matter in December 2025, directed the ministry to re-examine the issue. Respondents and legal representatives of those who moved the court were invited by the MoD for an interaction.

The MoD affidavit said the committee held several internal deliberations and also provided the respondents an opportunity to present their justification for the grant of NFU.

In December 2016, the Armed Forces Tribunal in Delhi had granted NFU to armed forces personnel. The government challenged the order in the Supreme Court, where the case has since been pending.