Lok Sabha Question No. 3956 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Downsizing Manpower in Army andCivilian in Defence
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3956

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th  March, 2020

## DOWNSIZING MANPOWER IN ARMY AND CIVILIAN IN DEFENCE

## 3956. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of both military personnel and defence civilians (category-wise) and amount of pension disbursed to them;
- (b)  the  proposals  and  timeline  for  downsizing  defence  civilians  of  all  categories  to improve the tooth-to-tail ratio and also for using technology in day-to-day administration for facilitating downsizing;
- (c)  the  proposals  for  outsourcing  duties  and  account  offices  of  defence  civilians belonging to CGDA, PCDA and CDA to achieve salary and pension reduction;
- (d) the proposals and timeline for correction of erroneously calculated pensions using automation and payment of arrears with interest; and
- (e) the proposals and timeline for providing post-retirement pension information and automatic  receipt  of  electronic  copy  of  pension  details  credited  and  time-bound resolution of grievances?

| A N S W MINISTER OF STATE   | (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)   |
|-----------------------------|-----------------------|

(a) to (e):  A statement is attached.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e)  OF  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3956 FOR ANSWER ON 18.03.2020 REGARDING 'DOWNSIZING MANPOWER IN ARMY AND CIVILIAN IN DEFENCE'.

- (a)    The  number  of  military  and  defence  civilian  pensioners  as  on  01.04.2019  and expenditure incurred during last two years is as under:-

| Category           | Number    | Expenditure during 2018- 2019 (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure during 2019-2020 (Upto Feb. 2020) (Rs. in Cr.)   |
|--------------------|-----------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| Military Personnel | 25,87,078 | 1,01,774.61                                  | 1,17,259.26                                                  |
| Defence Civilians  | 6,01,783  |                                              |                                                              |

In  the  accounts  and  budget,  the  expenditure  in  respect  of  Military  personnel and Defence Civilians is not maintained separately.

- (b)  The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Committee of Experts (CoE) which envisages to optimize 2600 combatant posts and 31000 civilian posts. Government is already using new technology in day-to-day administration and open to upgrade it for smooth conduct of routine work/administration.
- (c)  No such proposal is under consideration.
- (d)    RBI  vide  their  Master  Circular  on  Disbursement  of  pension  by  Agency  Banks issued vide their letter No. RBI/2013-13/103, DGBA.GAD.No.H4/31.05.001/2012-13 dated 02.07.2012 has made provisions for payment of interest on delayed payment of pension/family  pension/arrears  of  pension.    These  orders  have  also  been  circulated vide PCDA (P) Circular No. 165 dated 22.02.2013.
- (e)  Department has implemented issue of e-PPOs since October, 2017.  More than 11 lakh e-PPOs have been issued so far.  Pension grievances are mainly received through CPENGRAMS/CPGRAMS which are generally replied within stipulated time.

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