Dear Col Khera Sir,
Very interesting case came to my notice. The OROP pension fixation is simply the Average pension of your counterpart retiring in calendar year 2018. The average pension is (maximum pension + minimum pension)/2. But at times this average pension could be lower than what is given in the pension tables. A bit of analysis gives a clue as to why one gets pension higher than Average pension. The same is sent herewith.
The title of this short article is How some get higher pension in OROP – II than Average pension of their counter parts with same rank and same length of service or same Gp X or Y for JCOs/OR.
If you consider it is worth while in putting up in Sanja Morcha, kindly do so and send the extract at your convenience.
Dear Sir,
Lt Col RK Bhardwaj (Retd) got a reply to his query under RTI Act 2005 from PCDA (Pensions) Prayagraj vide their letter dated 14 Feb 2023 on the number of Lt Cols retired in calendar year and specifically how many retired with qualifying service (QS) of 29.50 years. The reply from PCDA (Pensions) Prayagraj is attached.
Though the average pension of three Lt Cols with QS of 29.50 comes to ₹ 83,425 (=(96700+70150)/2), yet their pension is fixed at ₹ 95,400. The moot question can one get higher pension than Average pension of your counterparts retired in calendar year 2018?
You can draw the following conclusions as some of us are not very clear as to how pension in OROP is worked out.

1. The pension of pre – Jul 2019 pensioners is dependent upon the average pension of those retired in calendar year 2018 of same rank and length of service. Here you see though the Maximum pension is Rs 96,700, the average pension has been pulled down by minimum pension of another Lt Col with 29.50 years of QS of ₹ 70.150. Thus the Average pension of Lt Cols with 29.50 years of service comes down to ₹ 83,425.
2. Why did Lt Cols in 2018 with QS of 26 years or more not got promoted to Col (TS)?. The answer is they might not have been fulfilled certain conditions for grant of Col (TS) such as medical Category or disciplinary cases or not having commissioned service etc. But I am not aware of the conditions to get rank of Col (TS). I can only say that Lt Cols with 26 years of commissioned service are not automatically promoted to the rank of Col (TS). Moreover there are SL officers or SCOs or others with Pre commission service which is counted towards pensionable service but their commissioned service may not be 26 years. (Some with pre commission service as JCOs / OR or in Central Govt or State Govt service is also counted for pensionable service). So you might find all these Lt Cols with QS of 29.50 service could be Officers with Pre commission service like SL Officers or SCOs etc or those who had Central or State Govt service before joining Armed Forces.
3. Third question is how is that the average pension of Lt Cols with 29.50 years’ QS are getting ₹ 95,400 when the average pension is only ₹ 83,425. The answer is if you see the OROP – II tables luckily there was a Lt Col with QS of 26 years whose pension is ₹ 95,400 pm. If there is only one Lt Col of 26 years’ QS then his own pension is considered as Average pension. That is why all Lt Cols with QS of 26 to 33 yrs get pension of ₹ 95,400 thanks to that Lt Col with 26 yrs QS.
   Summary
   Your pension in OROP – III from Jul 2024 is dependent upon the pension of your counterpart with the same rank and same QS retiring in calendar year 2023. If there is only one retires with pension higher than your current pension of OROP – II, then only you get higher pension in OROP – III. In case your current pension is higher than your counterpart retires in 2023 then sorry, your pension in OROP – III will not get enhanced. So pray for someone who is your counterpart retires in 2023 with pension higher than yours in OROP – II.
   warm regards,
   Brig CS Vidyasagar (Retd)