It was in view of the closure of the Srinagar-Leh national highway owing to heavy Snowfall, said an official.

PTI

Jammu, March 15

The Indian Air Force (IAF) carried 348 passengers in its aircraft between Ladakh and the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in view of the closure of the Srinagar-Leh national highway owing to heavy snowfall, an official said.

The IAF’s AN-32 aircraft, also known as Kargil Courier, was operated to airlift 171 passengers between Jammu and Kargil and 177 more between Srinagar and Kargil, officials said.

He said 152 passengers were airlifted from Jammu to Kargil and 19 from Kargil to Jammu, while 141 passengers were airlifted from Srinagar to Kargil and 36 from Kargil to Srinagar.

The IAF operates C-17, C-130 and AN-32 aircraft regularly to airlift stranded passengers between Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh in view of the closure of the 434-km Srinagar-Leh national highway since January owing to heavy snowfall. 

To pay back China in the same coin and create a pressure point for hard bargaining, India needs to play up the Taiwan issue, creating ambiguity about its status.

Lt Gen Pradeep Bali (Retd)

Military Analyst

THE stated government policy regarding the bilateral engagement with China is predicated on restoring peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC); this includes de-escalation and disengagement in east Ladakh. Overemphasis on this aspect can well be interpreted as a strident stance reflective of a strong political will, but not pragmatism. China is not only our biggest neighbour but also a major international power with whom it would be prudent to remain engaged on a variety of issues of mutual interest and at various forums.

Despite the tensions on the borders, India and China continue to be important members of international groupings like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS. In fact, the latter is expanding in a big way, with several nations around the globe seeking its membership. India and China have been on the same page at various fora, like the IMF and the WTO, and have expressed their solidarity against the position adopted by developed countries. Both nations also share a long history of cooperation and coordination on environmental issues at global platforms. Despite China’s deep concerns about the Quad grouping, it would understand that India is strategically autonomous. The economic engagement in terms of India-China trade ties has been on the rise and it has been one of our largest sources of imports for the past 15 years despite efforts to reduce this dependency through import substitution and free trade agreements with ASEAN countries. This has resulted in an increasing trade deficit, skewed in favour of China.

However, despite these commonalities, the tense and inimical situation on the LAC is likely to continue, with the possibility of unpleasant face-offs between the Indian Army and the PLA. The military commander-level talks in east Ladakh have meandered on and become an exercise in filibustering by the Chinese. The Indian Army has responded strongly and built up its capabilities with enhanced deployment of troops and equipment. In short, for us, it’s a policy of containment on the northern borders and calibrated engagement on other issues.

In this kind of setting, India has to keep its leverages well-honed. Surprisingly, we have not optimised these aspects in the past and followed a path of appeasement against a wily and shrewd adversary like China.

First and foremost is the Tibet issue, which seems to have increasingly lost salience internationally. The fact that the spiritual and political head of Tibet was given sanctuary in India was seen as a hostile act by the Chinese. That the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), also labelled as the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, was allowed to be set up in Dharamsala has always irked the Chinese Communist Party. In 1959, it was a bold move, but over the years, the Chinese hysteria about Tibet and ‘splittist’ Tibetans has seen India go overboard in trying to downplay this card. This attitude towards a country that makes no attempt to hide its views about J&K, disregarding Indian sensitivities, is puzzling. China has no compunction in obstructing Indian efforts at the UNO to include Pakistani perpetrators of terrorism on the list of designated terrorists. That a permanent member of the Security Council behaves in such an egregious fashion only shows that it places the narrow interests of its close ally — Pakistan — over international obligations.

The CTA now increasingly controls political aspects, with the Dalai Lama stepping into the shadows, though it is his charisma that continues to be the principal asset of the Tibetan cause. The future of the institution of the Dalai Lama is somewhat uncertain, with the present incumbent, who is getting on in years, having even mentioned that it may cease after his demise. The Chinese as well as the Indian government may have their own game plans, but the CTA is here to stay and needs to be played up in a manner which becomes a leveraging point for India.

Taiwan is the most sensitive issue for China, with the US playing hot and cold in the game of power politics in the South China Sea. India, while recognising the one-China principle, has semi-formal contacts and relations with Taipei. The India-Taipei Association in Taiwan and Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India are quasi- missions that recognise the extensive trade relations between India and Taiwan. Visits by retired chiefs of the armed forces, politicians and artistes recognise the fact that Taiwan cannot be wished away. Interestingly, PM Narendra Modi had visited Taiwan in 1999, when he was a BJP functionary. A bilateral investment agreement with Taiwan has been in force since 2005 and was revised in 2018, reflecting a robust and growing economic relationship with potential.

This needs to continue and gather more substance. Communist China has blatantly disregarded Indian sensitivities about Kashmir’s territorial inviolability as an integral part of this country by building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. To pay back in the same coin and create a pressure point for hard bargaining, India needs to play up the Taiwan issue, creating ambiguity about its status.

Beyond all this, India needs to look at a lasting solution to the vexed LAC issue, with its multiple disputed and sensitive points, which are on the rise. China’s leadership is a master of procrastination on troublesome issues, as per its political calculus. However, that should not deter our leadership from endeavouring to resolve a macro problem which impacts both security and economy.

While the next government in India is expected to prioritise development and economic progress, it would possibly have the best opportunity for resolving the border issue with China in a comprehensive manner. This would entail some give and take, for which the political narrative would have to be built, seeking a satisfactory solution. A strategic handshake with the Dragon across the Himalayas would surely be in mutual interest.

Agni-V enhances India’s deterrence capabilities

INDIA’s test-firing of the Agni-V ballistic missile with MIRV (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle) technology marks a significant leap forward for the nation’s defence capabilities. Mission Divyastra, the culmination of years of dedicated efforts by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, showcases India’s growing technological prowess in the global arena. The project, being helmed by a woman director, Sheena Rani, highlights the country’s strides towards gender inclusivity in science and technology.

The strategic breakthrough has made India one of the six nations possessing the sophisticated MIRV technology. Wedged between nuclear-armed China and Pakistan, the nation has demonstrated its ability to develop cutting-edge defence systems that are on a par with those of major global powers. This technology enables the forces to deploy multiple warheads on missiles, introducing a new level of flexibility and resilience in India’s nuclear arsenal. Such advancements are crucial in a world where security threats are evolving rapidly and maintaining a credible deterrence posture is essential. India’s MIRV push can serve as a powerful deterrent against potential adversaries, reaffirming its resolve to defend its sovereignty and national interests.

Amid current geopolitical tensions, the country’s enhanced deterrence capabilities can act as a counterbalance to emerging threats, thereby contributing to peace and security regionally as well as globally. However, it is imperative to recognise that with advancements in defence firepower come greater responsibilities. India must continue to leverage its technological expertise to safeguard its interests while upholding the principles of peace, stability and responsible nuclear stewardship on the world stage.

Donor-recipient link must be probed thoroughly

THE list of entities which purchased the now-scrapped electoral bonds to make political donations expectedly includes several big names of the corporate world. What has raised eyebrows is the fact that the topper is a little-known lottery company, Future Gaming and Hotel Services. This Coimbatore-headquartered firm, whose director is lottery magnate Santiago Martin, purchased electoral bonds worth Rs 1,368 crore, according to data shared by the State Bank of India (SBI) with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and uploaded by the latter on its website. The second-biggest donor was Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd, which bought bonds worth Rs 966 crore; this Hyderabad-based firm was involved in the Zoji La tunnel project in Kashmir.

The data has shown the electoral bond scheme in a dubious light as around half of the top 30 companies that donated to political parties were under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the CBI and the Income Tax Department; for instance, the ED conducted a probe against Future Gaming in 2022. The disclosure has prompted the Opposition to reiterate its accusations of a quid pro quo between donors and recipients. The BJP has received the highest contributions through electoral bonds, amounting to Rs 6,566 crore or nearly 55 per cent, followed by the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, whose share is around 9 per cent each.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has claimed that the purported connection between the probe agency raids and firms purchasing electoral bonds is based on ‘huge assumptions’. However, the government should not evade its responsibility of ensuring that all details of the bonds are made public. The scheme was recently annulled by the Supreme Court as it ran counter to its avowed objective of bringing transparency in political funding. It is imperative that the cloak of secrecy is lifted completely so that various stakeholders, including political parties and the electorate, can draw their own conclusions ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel was intercepted by a navy warship on Friday and action was being taken in accordance with international law

Reuters

March 16

The Indian navy has thwarted Somali pirates from using the cargo ship Ruen for acts of piracy, ANI news service said on Saturday, citing Indian navy officials.

The Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel was intercepted by a navy warship on Friday and action was being taken in accordance with international law, the report said, adding that the ship reportedly opened fire on the Indian warship.

Somali pirates who seized the Ruen in December may have used it in the takeover of a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia this week, the European Union naval force said on Thursday.

The Indian Army is progressively replacing its century-old a ..

Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/107035641.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Dear Sir,
The message I sent to members of Service Single Ladies of Officers Group (SSLOG) on SPARSH is shown below.
If you find any wife of deceased officer of Armed Forces, do recommend her to join SSLOG to redress all their grievances.
SSLOG has 756 members today (09 Mar 2024) all over the country and in some foreign countries.
We help all of them.
I go to their places of residence (cities or big towns) to empower them to know their own entitlements of (a) Pensions (b) OROP (c) SPARSH and (d) One Man Judicial Committee Report of Justice L Narasimha Reddy on OROP anomalies.
I visited Pune, Talegaon Dabhade, Mumbai in Jul 2023, NOIDA, Greater NOIDA, Gurgaon and Delhi in Aug 2023, Bengaluru in Sep 2023, Mhow in Dec 2023 and Kochi, Kerala in Feb 2024.
I go to PCDA(Pensions) Prayagraj once in three or four months to redress their grievances in SPARSH.
The wives of officers are secure as long as their husbands are alive.
Once the husbands depart to their heavenly abode, they just do not know what to do, where to go to get any help. Many of them do not get their family pension in time. Some of them get lesser pension and no arrears of OROP. They do not even know their own family pension and how much is their OROP arrears. They feel ignorance is bliss. You only know how ignorant they are if you meet them, listen to them and interact with them.
So, we the officers living, thanks to God Almighty must take it as our solemn responsibility to help such single ladies of Officers.
The least you can do is to share this message of mine to them if you know any such lady without out her husband.
warm regards & respects, Brig CS Vidyasagar(Retd), brigvidya.tseewa@gmail.com,75695 13350

My Message to Members of SSLOG
Respected Ladies,

1. Thanks to Col Vinay Sharma, I had to go through the article of Lt Gen PC Katoch (Retd) former Director General Information System (DGIS) and a paratrooper, who quoted me extensively in his article on SPARSH. Col Vinay Sharma has given the link to the article of Lt Gen Prakash Katoch on SPARSH as under: – https://www.spslandforces.com/experts-speak/?id=961&h=The-Downside-of- SPARSH#:~:text=There%20are%20horrific%20glitches%20in,Armed%20Forces%20without%20any%20trial
2. I met Col Murali in Mhow in Dec 2023, when I went there to organise a training programme for veterans and family pensioners. He is a software developer and makes websites and maintain them. I approached him to maintain website of T SEWA which he readily agreed. He told me no web site is hack proof. He told me even the web site of White House of USA was hacked but it was restored in the shortest possible time, because they had a back up web site. He told me that he has few copies of web site which he maintains.
3. As expected the web site of SPARSH was hacked and data of thousand or lakhs of veterans have been stolen.
4. SPARSH is Good for Me. I have no complaints about SPARSH because I get my monthly pension dot on the last working day. I keep going to PCDA(Pensions) Prayagraj once in three or four months. I am capable of getting all my problems resolved. But how many can go to Prayagraj? I got migrated on 12 Aug 2023 but till date i.e. 07 Mar 2024, my SPARSH PPO is not yet generated. I am not worried about it. One day my SPARSH PPO will be issued. For me SPARSH is a wonderful organisation. But most of the pensioners who correspond with T SEWA do not have similar experience with SPARSH. The advantage of SPARSH is since employees of Def Accts Dept are manning SPARSH they know rules and regulations of pension and they will remit pension and arrears correctly unlike some of banks make under or over payment of pension.
5. Non Commencement of Family Pension to Widows. We in T SEWA receive complaints from many single ladies of JCOs /OR whose husbands passed away one to years back yet they are not sanctioned ordinary family pension. I got family pension of Mrs Mary Arogyasami, one widow of Sepoy Madras Regt who did not get her family pension for three years and six months till Dec 2023. I met the Principal Controller PCDA(Pensions) Prayagraj (the boss man) on 16 Dec 2023 and got her family pension commenced within two days. How many can meet the Principal Controller to get their problems resolved? When we receive complaints of non commencement of family pension especially of widows of JCOs / OR, we take it as Priority 1 task and ensure her family pension commences with least delay. Zilla Sainik Welfare Officer, Thane dist, Maharashtra got fed up with SPARSH as he could not get pension of a widow of Naik of Artillery in spite of repeated reminders to SPARSH. I went to PCDA(Pensions) Prayagraj and met the Principal Controller and got her family pension commenced. I wonder why the TCS and Def Accts Dept lay down priorities of redressing grievances. How do you expect a widow of a Sepoy survive with two children without pension for two to three years? In my view two are the most important tasks for SPARSH. First is remittance of monthly pension. Second is Commencement of Family Pension to widows of all ranks of veterans. I as Brigadier getting Rs 1,56,731 – income tax cannot survive if I do not get my monthly pension in time, how can I expect a widow of Sepoy survive with two children when her in-laws have thrown her out of her home on death of their son?
6. Someone told me to avoid disbandment of 62 DPDOs (when banks are in every village who disburse pension), Def Accts Dept came up with the idea of SPARSH. If you see the amount of money already went in operationalisation of SPARSH, you will find it is much economical to pay user charges to banks to provide all services to their pensioners.
7. Delay in Remittance of Monthly Pension. It is simple arithmetic. When 32 CPPCs disburse monthly pension over four days (SBI alone has 17 CPPCs) how can SPARSH disburse monthly pension on the last working day? Many pensioners did not get their monthly pension on 31 Oct and bank managers had a harrowing time to explain to the pensioners that SPARSH did not remit the pension. But SPARSH sent SMSs to all pensioners that their pension will be remitted on 31 Oct 2023.
8. Delay in Commencement of Family Pension.. As I said earlier, I have no complaint with SPARSH as I get my monthly pension. But I see many widows of JCOs /OR whose lost their husband since two years do not get their ordinary family pension. Some of the Record Offices are non co-operative and the poor widows have to submit the death certificate first to the Record office. Most of the time the Record Office is unable to upload death certificate of pensioner onto SPARSH.
9. For single ladies of officers, she has to first send her husband’ death certificate to the Record Office (MP-5 for Army ladies, NAVPEN for Naval Ladies and DAV for IAF ladies). DAV unfortunately has become very lethargic and SSLOG has to seek assistance of two ladies (Mrs Nargis Naqvi and one more lady) who will go to DAV once a month to sort out problem with SPARSH of IAF ladies. Who will look after the widows of JCOs /OR of IAF widows?
10. Corrections in SPARSH PPO. No amendments are now being made to any document like SPARSH PPO as SPARSH is too busy with reviving their web site and remittance of monthly pension. Even the migration to SPARSH of balance 2.95 akhs to Mar to have been put on hold. We in T SEWA got a complaint from Mrs Suvarna Godbole whose son got martyred in 2001-02 Op PARAKRAM when he put in 2 years and 4 months service. He is from 63 Engr Regt. She gets liberalised family pension only for four months of service of her un-married martyred son. But her son put in 2 years and four months of service. She gets much lesser family pension. Last Pay Certificate issued by PCDA (O) Pune would have definitely reflected the length of service as 2 years and 4 months as they remitted the pay and allowances when the son was serving in the Army. Now the mistake, I assume is at SPARSH by showing length of service as only four months.
11. Non Receipt of OROP Arrears. Many pensioners have not received their OROP-II arrears (from Jul 2019 to Mar 2023). As per the judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court, all defence pensioners above 70 years, gallantry award winners and family pensioners are to get arrears in one go and rest in four instalments. Many complain that till date they did not get any arrears or got only one instalment from banks. SPARSH insists that pensioner who got one or two instalments (before migrated to SPARSH) has to approach banks to give on their letter head Non Payment Certificate and submit it to their Record Office and then to SPARSH. Some banks have refused to give such a Certificate. Just now as was typing this message, Air Vice Mshl Diwakar Paul Upot came to our T SEWA office. He says he is 67 years old and did not get his OROP arrears. He draws his pension from SBI, EME Centre. I told him how to get Non Payment Certificate and send it to DAV who in turn should send it to SPARSH to release all four instalments of OROP. He further told me that though he got User Name and Password, he is unable to log into SPARSH. I told him to go to EME Records and get his problem resolved.
12. Only Pension Disbursal. SPARSH in stead of taking all services banks provide to their pensioners, should have restricted only to remittance of pension. Then banks be told to render all other services like (a) commencement of family pension on receipt of death certificate of pensioner (RBI mandates the banks to commence family pension within 30 days on receipt of death certificate), (b) yearly Life Certificate, (c) payment of TDS to Income Tax Dept (d) Acceptance of Life Time Arrears form (e) Working and remittance of arrear of DR and OROP-II. Banks could have been paid reduced user charges and lessen the cash outgo to banks for providing other services to their pensioners.
13. Data Discrepancies. Many complain to T SEWA that they are lucky to get SPARSH PPO but there are large number of errors such as date of birth of wife missing etc. In spite of lodging complaints with SPARSH, no amendment is made to SPARSH PPO. Many Super Senior Citizens in their 80s and 90s are worried if the date of birth of wife is not showed in SPARSH PPO before his death then his wife will have to run from pillor to post to get old age pension on completion of 80 years.
14. Synergy. I am told there are only two youngsters from TCS located in PCDA(Pensions) Prayagraj whereas bulk of TCS employees should have been in Prayagraj sitting by the side of employees of Def Accts Dept. It only shows there is no harmonious relationship between TCS and Def Accts Dept.
15. NRIs. Many NRIs approach T SEWA to get their life certificate uploaded onto SPARSH. Though they have been told to send it in email to a given address, yet they tell us that they are unable to upload the life certificate.
    Conclusion. I do appreciate SPARSH being a new system will have teething problems. SPARSH should have anticipated likely problems pensioners may face and take appropriate counter measures. It appears to many pensioners (though I am happy with SPARSH) SPARSH is totally clueless as to solve their problems. May be we need to give SPARSH some more time (say one year). SPARSH should list out the type of services they have to provide and lay down priorities. SPARSH also should give link to Zilla Sainik Welfare Offices so that pensioners can go there and get their problems resolved. Def Accts Dept should force TCS to post middle or senior level software engineers in the premises of PCDA(Pensions) Prayagraj to see that all glitches of SPARSH are removed and pensioners have hassel free experience. There should be on line system by which a pensioner has the facility to approach Record Office or Zilla Sainik Welfare Officer or DPDO or CDA office or Col Veterans and submit his grievance on line with facility to upload supporting documents for redressal of his or her grievance. The Record Offices may have to be given additional manpower to take on SPARSH work load. Service HQs should encourage Ex-Servicemen to work in Record Offices like in ECHS polyclinics. Present staff in Record Offices are woefully inadequate to look after SPARSH. The grievance sent by a pensioner through Record Office must be first acknowledged and then action should be taken to redress that grievance within 7 working days. Outreach Programmes so far organised all over the country have not yielded any positive results. Ex-Servicemen who are good in pensions (especially from Clerical Cadre or former Record Officers) must be taken into Record Offices to help the pensioners especially widows of all ranks. Ex-Servicemen provide support in ECHS Polyclinics who are short of authorised staff.
    warm regards & respects, Brig CS Vidyasagar (Retd), WhatsApp No: 75695 13350. email: brigvidya.slo@gmail.comPresident TSEWA & Administrator SSLOG

II ND MESSAGE

Respected Ladies,
Introduction. Many veteran officers and single ladies of officers are asking me about implications of Non Functional Financial Upgradation now likely to be given to Armed Forces Officers as the Min of Def has withdrawn their case in Hon’ble Supreme Court. Brig Suresh Nair (Retd) President, T SEWA Kerala gave this information to all of us. If Govt of India does not challenge the judgment of AFT, PB, New Delhi, then it can be safely stated that Govt of India has agreed to implement the judgment of AFT, PB, New Delhi in favour of Col Mukul Dev (Retd).
Though the modalities are not worked out on implementation of NFFU to Armed Forces Officers, yet a number of officers are enquiring from me as to how it will affect them.
Case won by Col Mukul Dev in AFT, PB, New Delhi in Dec 2016. I carefully read 97 page judgment of AFT, PB, New Delhi in OA No: 802/2015 in Col Mukul Dev Vs Union of India delivered on 23 Dec 2016.
The Hon’ble AFT ruled that NFFU also be given to Armed Forces officers with arrears restricted to three years from date of delivery of judgment i.e. from 23 Dec 2013. The Hindu worked out the arrears of NFFU to Lt Col of Rs 14 lakhs and Colonels may get arrears of Rs 8 lakhs.
The judgment of AFT, PB, New Delhi gives out some indictions as to how NFFU is likely to be implemented. They quoted 7th CPC report at Chapter 11.22.20 where the Chairman suggested the number of Non Financial Upgradations be restricted to two as it is the case with Organised Group A Services (OGAS). The upgrades should logically be at two levels just above those where system of time bound promotion ceases. These are also the stages at which stagnation levels are high. An extract of 7th CPC Report is shown below:-
7th CPC Report. 11.22.20 Further, with a view to ameliorate the difficulties faced by the officers owing to stagnation at various levels, the Chairman felt that NFU should be extended to the CAPFs and Defence forces as well. Both of them have, citing high levels of stagnation, sought NFU on the same lines as has been granted to the Organised Group A’ Service. Having regard to the legitimate career aspirations of the CAPFs/ Defence on the principles of equity, the Chairman is of the considered view that NFU should be extended to the CAPFs and Defence forces as well. The number of non-functional upgrades may be limited to two, as it is in the case with Organised GroupA’ Service. These two upgrades should, logically, be at the two levels just above those where the system of time-bound promotions ceases. These are also the stages at which the stagnation levels are high.
11.22.21 The NFU should be subject to the completion of the prescribed residency period in the preceding substantive grade. All other conditions for screening officers for eligibility and promotional norms should be put in place here also. On grant of NFU, the pay fixation of the officer concerned will happen through a two-stage process.
Step 1: Initially one increment to be added to the existing pay, which takes the person on to the next cell in the current level in which he/she resides.
Step 2: The figure closest to this amount is to be located in the next promotional level and the pay fixed in that cell.
No fixation in pay will take place when the substantive promotion is earned in that level subsequently.

How can we interpret for Armed Forces Officers?
Let us see how this NFFU granted to OGAS can be implemented to Armed Forces Officers. This is purely guess work and you should not go by what I am suggesting. I have not seen one paper on NFFU for Armed Forces till date.

Where Does Stagnation Occur?.
In my time stagnation used to occur in the level of Majors. I found only 30% of Majors were lucky enough to become Lt Col and commanded units. When command of unit was upgraded to Colonel SG still No 4 Selection Board was held to promote Majors to the next rank of Lt Col. If the mode of NFFU given to OGAS at two stages is also adopted for the Armed Forces, then every Major should get pay / pension of Colonel.(first stage is Lt Col and second stage is Colonel). The single ladies also will then get higher pension. Ordinary Family pension can hope to get 60% of pension of Colonel for the length of service of husband.
After Ajay Vikram Singh Committee, all Majors became Lt Cols on completion of 13 years of service w.e.f. 16 Dec 2004. Then the two stages where NFFU can be given is that of Colonel and Brigadier. That is if a Lt Col unfortunately does not get promoted to the rank of Colonel, he stagnates. So to compensate for the stagnation, all Lt Cols w.e.f. 16 Dec 2004 benefited by Ajay Vikram Singh Committee can expect to get pension of Brigadier (first stage is Colonel and second stage is Brigadier).
Post 16 Dec 2004, any Colonel SG could not be promoted due to limited vacancies may also get benefit two upgradations i.e. Brigadier and Maj Gen.
In a similar manner Brigadier also is likely get two financial upgradations i.e. pay and pension of Lt Gen (first upgradation of Maj Gen and second upgradation of Lt Gen).
Maj Gens also should get two upgradations i.e Lt Gen HAG and Lt Gen HAG +.
Then Lt Gens HAG can hope to get pay and pension of Army Cdr.
It is better we wait for some more time to see the tables of NFFU from PCDA(Pensions) Prayagraj. Col Mukul Dev has been at it since more than a decade with Tarik pe Tarik at Hon’ble Supreme Court.
Thank God good sense prevailed on Govt of India to grant NFFU to Officers of Armed Forces who have the maximum stagnation.
We can celebrate only when PCDA(Pensions) Prayagraj issues a circular on NFFU and also show tables of NFFU for all ranks.

Lts & Capts. My doubt is what will happen to Lts to Capts like Special List Officers (SL) and Special Commission Officers (SCOs)? These officers get officer rank at very late stage of their lives. Then they have very few years to serve as an officer. In any case they get time scale promotion till the rank of Major (14 years to become a Major).
All these doubts hopefully will be cleared once PCDA(Pensions) Prayagraj gives out the Circular on NFFU to Armed Forces Officers.
AMC Officers are not likely to get NFFU as any Lt Col with 22 years of service gets pay and pension of DGAFMS. Even Central Govt Civilian doctors do not get NFFU.
Three Cheers to Col Mukul Dev, the Single Man Army. All credit for this achievement goes to Col Mukul Dev, the lone warrior. T SEWA offered him financial support but he politely refused to accept stating God has given him enough money to fight the case till he wins in Hon’ble Supreme Court.
Likely Arrears of NFFU to Various Ranks of Officers. The Hindu said Lt Cols can hope to get arrears of Rs 14 lakhs. I checked if my understanding of two stage upgradation of pay of Lt Cols with 33 years of service to Brigadier, his arrears from 23 Dec 2013 (three years before delivery of judgment of AFT, PB, New Delhi on 23 Dec 2016 ) to Jun 2024 with DR @ 50% comes to Rs 12,79,561.
The Hindu said the Colonels with 33 years of service can hope to get arrears of Rs 8 lakhs. My calculation say he is likely to get arrears of Rs 7,41,328.
The other ranks are likely to get arrears as under:-

1. Major 33 years of service to Colonel : Rs 48,72,436. This is because there is vast difference in the pension of Major and Colonel.
2. Brigadier with 33 years of service to Lt Gen HAG : Rs 6,21,730.
3. Maj Gen with 33 years of service to Lt Gen HAG+ : Rs 5,94,825.
   Do not blame me if my figures are wrong.
   My calculations are attached.
   warm regards & respects, Brig CS Vidyasagar (Retd), brigvidya.tsewa@gmail.com,75695 13350

Houthi rebels have reportedly cut underwater data cables in the Red Sea. Three vital cables providing internet and telecommunications are affected: • Asia-Africa-Europe 1 • Europe India Gateway • Seacom and TGN-Gulf This amounts to approx 25% of Data Communication Traffic flowing through the Red Sea. After a disruption of shipping traffic, the Houthis have now entered the Cyber Domain with a big bang cut. The Houthis, a small minority of Yemen are feisty fighters. Their resilience and belligerence continue to confound some of the world’s most powerful militaries. They are undaunted by repeated US-led air strikes on their missile bases, and they have vowed to retaliate against US and UK assets – which they have already done by sinking the British Cargo ship Rubymar. The Houthis like a rogue roller coaster appear unstoppable. The idea that a ‘British Ship’ has been sunk by the Houthis of the Red Sea is absurd. Submarine communication cables are laid on the ocean floor and facilitate international communications, internet, and data transfer between continents: a vital strategic seamless pipeline. While they are designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions, there is no stopping a determined Houthi!!! Hadn’t this been predicted?……. Yes, it had …….. And, it has still happened? …….. Yes, it has. A Pink Flamingo Event: Predictable but ignored…. yielding disastrous results; a Known known diligently ignored due to cognitive biases of leaders favouring the ‘conventional’ and the ‘status quo’. Military actions by Non-State Actors, Insurgents, Terrorists etc in standard vocabulary are termed ‘Unconventional’, and Military tactics ‘Conventional’. Two mutually exclusive and contradictory concepts!!! • Conventional is a traditional approach that has been passed down through generations and has become deeply ingrained in our collective consciousness. • Unconventional is a departure from the usual or the traditional, often characterized by innovation, creativity, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. The proponents (Synonym – Champions) of Asymmetric Warfare have never trained at Military schools or colleges. Their actions are therefore out of the box, raw and impactful. Ironically, since these tactics are not standard and conventional, they are never war gamed at the elite War Colleges of the world – strange but true. Nation states respond to Asymmetric attacks with brutal vengeance by leveling cities while the rogues sneer from their caves, tunnels, hideouts and safe havens planning their next unconventional ‘Pink Flamingo’ strike. The American military looked devastating in the many ‘War Movies’ on Afghanistan. The masses were smartly kept in the dark via these juicy campaigns camouflaging failures against rogue Asymmetric Afghan Warriors till they finally were forced to leave in a hurry. Governments are always a part of the coverup. Inability to counter ‘Asymmetric Attacks’ will by and by reduce the people’s confidence in their Military. 7 Oct 23 attack by Hamas shook the Israeli people’s bond with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to the core. The IDF failed not only to protect people in the biggest loss of Jewish lives in a single day since the Holocaust, but also failed to protect itself. In one single morning, Hamas shattered the Israeli people’s sense of security and confidence in the IDF. Israel (IDF) has responded as rattled nations would do – levelling cities, hospitals and homes, while the rogues are planning their next strike once the dust from the ‘conventional’ IDF tactical exercise has settled. Nobody appears to have a key to stop the ‘Rogue Roller Coaster’.

SC ruling should make the police see reason

QUASHING an FIR registered against a professor for his comments denouncing the abrogation of Article 370, the Supreme Court has asserted that every citizen has the right to criticise any decision of the state. The Maharashtra Police had booked Prof Javed Ahmed Hajam under Section 153-A (promoting enmity between groups on the grounds of religion, race, etc.) of the IPC for posting WhatsApp messages such as ‘August 5 — Black Day Jammu & Kashmir’ and ‘14th August — Happy Independence Day Pakistan’. Setting aside an order of the Bombay High Court, the apex court said: ‘If every criticism or protest of the actions of the state is to be held as an offence under Section 153-A, democracy, which is an essential feature of the Constitution, will not survive.’

The court has made it clear that the right to dissent in a lawful manner is an integral part of the rights guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a). In December last year, the SC had upheld the Central Government’s 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370. However, voices of disapproval have not yet died down.

The professor’s case has brought under judicial and public scrutiny the controversial role of the police. Overzealous cops blew things out of proportion to demonise a dissenter. The court said the time had come to ‘enlighten and educate our police machinery’ about the concept of freedom of speech and expression and the extent of reasonable restraint on this freedom. The SC’s suggestion that police personnel must be sensitised to the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution needs to be given serious consideration. The registration of cases on flimsy grounds demonstrates police highhandedness; it is an undemocratic practice reeking of repression. It is hoped that this verdict will deter cops from branding citizens as anti-national or anti-social merely on the basis of their social media posts. Unless there is incitement to violence or hatred, such comments should not invite punitive action.