INVITATION FOR FLAG HOSTING ON REPUBLIC DAY FROM ESM TRONTO
Current Events :
THE Union Government deserves appreciation for naming 21 islands of the Andamans after Param Vir Chakra awardees. Befittingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement on the occasion of the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the legendary freedom fighter who had hoisted the Tricolour in the archipelago on December 30, 1943. The PM also unveiled the model of a Bose memorial to be set up on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island, which was previously known as Ross Island. It was on December 30, 2018, that the PM had announced the renaming of Ross Island, Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) and Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) to honour Bose’s memory and acknowledge the Andamans’ contribution to the freedom struggle.
The 21 islands have been named after valiant soldiers such as Major Somnath Sharma (the first Param Vir Chakra awardee), Major Shaitan Singh, Lance Naik Albert Ekka, Major (later Colonel) Hoshiar Singh, 2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal, Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, Captain Vikram Batra and Grenadier (later Subedar Major and Hony Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav. Most of these heroes made the supreme sacrifice during various wars that India has fought since Independence. This special homage is also a glowing tribute to the armed forces’ all-important role in defending the nation’s borders over the decades.
The government’s laudable gesture has turned the spotlight on the Andamans, which are best known not only for their wonderful beaches but also for the Cellular Jail, where India’s freedom fighters were incarcerated by British rulers. Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that the PM is working on making the islands self-reliant. This is a huge challenge as the archipelago needs better Internet connectivity and a robust road network. The development of infrastructure is necessitated by the Andamans’ strategic importance in view of their proximity to the Indo-Pacific region. Established in 2001, the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is India’s sole integrated theatre command. Its operational preparedness is vital for national security amid the military threat posed by China. Bolstering the ANC is also a prerequisite for carrying out much-delayed theatrisation of the defence forces.
Amritsar, January 24
The BSF has launched a mobile application “BSF ATTARI” for the visitors coming to watch “Beating the Retreat” ceremony at the Joint Check Post, Attari. Launched by SL Thaosen, Director General, BSF, it will allow the visitors to book seats with their mobile phone.
The app, which could be downloaded from Google Playstore, has all features of website attari.bsf.gov.in and contains basic information like timings of the ceremony, link for the location of place and nearby tourist places.
Earlier, on December 5, 2022, the BSF had launched a website attari.bsf.gov.in for the public visiting Attari.
Ruchika M Khanna
Chandigarh, January 24
Governor Banwarilal Purohit will proceed on a two-day visit to border districts, beginning next week. This is his third tour to the areas in 10 months.
The visit is believed to be undertaken to monitor the coordination between security and intelligence agencies, besides taking a feedback from people regarding problems being faced by them.
The government will keep a close watch on the tour.
The last visit by the Governor to border districts in September had raised some hackles in the government as he chose to speak on the rampant smuggling of drugs, arms and ammunition and currency from across the border.
He had also pointed out how illegal sand mining in the districts posed a risk to national security. It was after this that the state government had banned mining in the areas within one kilometre of the border and submitted an affidavit in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
It was immediately after the second visit of the Governor to the border districts that relations between him and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had turned sour and the former withdrew his consent to allow the AAP government to hold a special Assembly session.
According to information available with The Tribune, the Governor will visit Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Amritsar on February 1 and Fazilka and Ferozepur on February 2. During his visit to each district, the Governor will interact with sarpanches and prominent citizens.
The state government has requisitioned its helicopter at his disposal for the two-day tour. This time, the Governor is not going to Tarn Taran but officials and citizens from there have been asked to meet him in Amritsar.
Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua, who is coordinating the visit, today held a meeting with the officers posted in the border districts. They had been asked to immediately prepare a report on the status of work that the Governor had assigned to be done in the border districts during his previous visit.
Will take feedback
Islamabad, January 24
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday apologised to the nation for the inconvenience caused by the countrywide power outage that plunged millions of people into darkness and vowed to fix responsibility for the second major breakdown in nearly four months.
Pakistan faced a major power breakdown on Monday due to a voltage fluctuation in the national grid, disrupting normal life and leaving major parts of the country, including capital Islamabad and financial hub Karachi, without electricity.
New Delhi, January 24
The Navy’s major maritime exercise ‘TROPEX-23’ started today in the Indian Ocean Region. The operational-level drill is conducted biennially and witnesses the participation of not only all Navy units, but also of Army, IAF and Coast Guard assets.
As part of the exercise, all warships of the Navy, including destroyers, frigates, corvettes as well as submarines and aircraft are put through complex maritime operational deployments to validate and refine Navy’s concept of operations, including operational logistics and interoperability with other services.
The exercise is being conducted in different phases, both in harbour and at sea, encompassing various facets of combat operations, including live weapon firings.
Having grown in scope and complexity over the years, the exercise provides an opportunity to test the combat readiness of the combined fleets of the Navy to operate in a multi-threat environment, the Navy said.
Ajay Banerjee
New Delhi, January 24
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) today sought technical and commercial bids to add to the Army robotic mules, jetpack suits and tethered drones that will look across the Himalayas.
The Army needs 100 robotic mules and has put out a request for proposal (RFP), which is the second step of the tendering process. An RFP is issued for commercial and technical bids. The Army is looking at four-legged robotic mules capable of autonomous movement across various terrain, self-recovery and avoiding obstructions.
The robotic mule needs to be 1 metre in length, weigh not more than 60 kg and should be able to operate at altitudes over 10,000 feet carrying 10 kg weight.
At present, a number of Army forward posts use mules to transport goods and rations.
The robotic mule should be able to operate in autonomous mode and on pre-defined routes for over three hours.
The other high-technology item the Army is seeking is jetpack suits. These are powered by an engine. The jetpack can be worn like a backpack and soldiers wearing it can fly across varied terrain.
The Army is looking at 44 such jetpacks and is likely to use these for special operations. The weight of the jetpack must not exceed 40 kg. Carrying a 80-kg person, its maximum speed must not be less than 50 kmph.
The third item sought is a tethered drone. Such drones are tethered to the ground using a cable that will be used to download data and give commands.
The Army is seeking a drone with an all-up weight of 15 kg. The drone will be tethered at some 60 metres from the surface and operate for six hours. It should be able to detect vehicles 5 km away and a person 2 km away.
Modern equipment
Sandeep Dikshit
New Delhi, January 24
India has formally invited foreign ministers of Pakistan and China for the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Goa from May 4 to 5.
The invitation to the two countries with which diplomatic ties have dipped is part of the invitations to all SCO members for the foreign ministers meeting.
India took over the chairmanship of the nine-member SCO in September last year and will hold several ministerial meetings including that of defence ministers when this invitation will be repeated for ministers from Pakistan and China, posing a bigger dilemma for South Block as well as for Beijing and Islamabad even though no bilateral issues are taken up at SCO meetings.
For the Goa SCO summit, the arrival of the new Foreign Minister of China Qin Gangwill be eagerly anticipated because this could be the first time he will interact with his Indian interlocutors.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will have to overcome the domestic imperatives to arrive in India. Sources said that so far, there is no confirmation from Islamabad about Bilawal’s acceptance of the invite.
Though the SCO has tried to establish a new normal by ignoring bilateral irritants, the Indo-Pak differences appear to have re-emerged and there is no confirmation about Pakistani participation for the SCO Film Festival to be held in Mumbai later this month. “There is only one SCO member country from which entries have not been received,” said senior I&B Ministry official Neerja Shekar.
However, there were no issues during the first meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO members which was held here from October 17 to 20 last year. It helped that the meet was arranged in hybrid form which meant that the Pakistani delegate skipped travelling to India. At a time in 2020 when there was no ceasefire on the LoC and Indo-Pak ties were testy, an SCO meeting did see sparks fly. At a virtual meeting of SCO National Security Advisers, the Pakistani representative pointedly hung a map that incorrectly depicted its boundaries from India’s point of view, leading to a symbolic walkout by NSA Ajit Doval.
No confirmation from Islamabad
Every one is very keen to know the arrears of OROP II from Jul 2019 to Dec 2022 they are likely to get.
The arrears are = Increase in Pension per Month x 52.56. Most of Pre – Jul 2014 pensioners are benefited by 2.57 method in their pension in 7th CPC from Jan 2016. For them like I retired in Mar 2004 gives less pension by Notional Pay Method. But some pensioners in Post Jul 2014 period are benefited with pension by Notional Pay Method. This table attached is only for those whose pension w.e.f. Jan 2016 is more beneficial by 2.57 method. Your pension by Notional Pay method is given in your E-PPO. Second issue is about magic figure of 52.26. Your are entitled for increased pension from Jul 2019 to Dec 2022 i.e. 42 months. Your pension from Jul 2019 comprises of Increase in basic pension + DR on increase in pension. This can be made into a simple formula = (Increase in pension + ((41.17+1.31+1.34+1.38)))x 42. This comes to simply Increase in pension x 52.26.
I have seen SBI is the bank which is off the blocks first whenever arrears are given and disburses fastest. Laziest bank is Bank of India with CPPC at Nagpur who seldom attend to the customer grievances.
I have been with SBI since Jul 1965. Once you are migrated to SPARSH and after three months change over to SBI for the best service you will ever receive. But you have to inform SPARH of your change of banker.
The table for officers is attached.
A Lt Gen (HAG+) told me they got one more increment in 2018 hence their arrears may be less than what is shown in the table attached. Similarly if any officer has got any increase in pension then you got to put that amount in the pension as on Jun 2019 in this table. I have taken your pension as in Jun 2019 as pension in Circular 555 x 2.57.
This table BELOW is only applicable to those whose pension in 7th CPC is more beneficial by 2.57 method. Most of the Pre – 2014 JCOs / OR get higher pension by 2.57 method and draw higher pension from Jan 2016 compared to Notional Pay method of pension.
But some Post Jul 2014 JCOs / OR may get higher pension w.e.f. Jan 2016 in 7th CPC by Notional pay method. Such JCOs / OR should replace the pension as in OROP – I in the table with their pension by Notional Pay method. The pension by Notional pay method is given in E-PPO.
For those whose pension is more beneficial by 2.57 method, their pension from Jun 2019 (now being drawn) = Pension given in (Circular 555 of OROP – I) x 2.57.
Additional pension due to Disability and higher age group of 80 years and above are to be added to this figure.
I will make similar table for X group whose pay is Rs 3,600 and Rs 6,200 from 7th CPC later.
I will also make similar tables for disabled soldiers and also for elderly pensioners who are 80 years are above later.
I might have made some mistakes in thees tables. If so kindly point them out to me so that I can correct this table.
The arrears from Jul 2019 to Dec 2022 = Increase in monthly pension due to OROP – II x 52.26.
The OROP-2 letter with tables has been issued today the 20th Jan 23 by Mod DESW, ( DOWNLOAD OR READ THE COMPLETE LETTER HERE BY CLICKING ), Table No 1 is separately posted in this post for ease of knowing revised basic pension and arrears. The detailed on the applicability of this letter is also given in the succeeding paras after the TOOL. Please note your basic revised and pre-revised basic pension from the tables and then use the on line TOOL following instructions carefully to know your revised pension based on DA, age factor and disability percentage as in Jan 2023 and the total arrears you are entitled to up to 31 Dec 2023 instantly WITHOUT EVEN A SINGLE MATHEMATICAL CALCULATION by you.
We are happy to design and share this on line tool for our members to know their OROP arrears based on their data and OROP-2 tables without any mathematics.Your particulars ie IC No, Rank, Name, DOB, DOC, DOR, Basic Pension as on Jun 2019 and Revised pension as per Tables when issued and the Disability Percentage are required to be overwritten in the GREEN Cells. The default entries will get replaced it self alternatively if needed first delete them and then type your data.
The tool has been designed to auto calculate your AGE FACTOR based on your Date of Birth (DOB) which must be entered in the date format as 11-JUN-1945. It does not accept any other format of date, and would show erroneous results.
Once you enter the DOB correctly your age today as also on other days will appear under results down to No, of days. In case date is not in the format the age results will not be seen.
The rates of DA as applicable for the 42 months and age and disability enhancement in pension gets auto calculated to display the final figures of arrears from Jul 19 to Dec 2022..
Your DATA gets deleted once the browser is closed, the tool reverts to its default entries. The TOOL works OK on Mb Phones and tablets as well but best on laptops with MS Office.CALCULATION -TOOL— Be patient Tool-loading may take little time based on the configuration of your computer/phone and the internet speed. It has been fully tested on 17 JAN 2023 for on line operations.
https://onedrive.live.com/embed?resid=F5352D9F7BBF0771%21135&authkey=%21AG0lcYTeqM2jgZM&em=2&wdAllowInteractivity=False&AllowTyping=True&ActiveCell=%27Sheet2%27!E8&Item=%27Sheet2%27!C3%3AI21&wdInConfigurator=True&wdInConfigurator=True&edesNext=false&edrtees6=false&resen=false&ed1JS=false
IMPORTANT — In case it takes too long do use another device or clean up your browser. Please npte that the tool is fully functional on line and has been tested by many of our members.
Only the Green Cells here are editable, all other cells containing formulas and codes are protected. After all the Green cells are filled up Press ENTER or click any where else, the Total Arrears are displayed instantly giving their break down. Based on the Basic Pension your total monthly pension to incl Age and disability as in Jan 2023 is also displayed duly auto calculated.
The revised tables as applicable to all ranks are given in the MoD letter mentioned above however the table No 1 for commissioned offrs other than the medicos is posted below for ready reference.
Some important points shared by our esteemed veteran--The OROP Equalization Tables are issued by DESW and the Banks will commence payment of Arrears and revised pension on receipt of PCDA Circular by them
Applicability of OROP2 Policy LetterThe provisions of this letter shall be applicable to all pensioners/family pensioners who had been retired/ discharged/invalided out from service/died in service or after retirement in the rank of Commissioned Officers, Honorary Commissioned Officers, JCOS/ORs and Nom Combatants (Enrolled) of Army, Navy, Air Force, Defence Security Corps, Territorial Army & Ex-State Forces and are in receipt of pension/family pension as on 01.07.2019 (except pensioners retired after previous OROP revision on premature retirement byown request).
The provisions of this letter, however, do not apply to UK/HKSRA/KCIO pensioner Pakistan & Burma Army pensioners, Reservist pensioners and pensioners in receipt of Ex-gratia payments and pensioners retired after previous OROP revision on premature retirement/own request (as provided in para 4 of MoD letter dated 07.11.2015).
It is provided in para-2.6 of MoD letter dated 04.01.2023 that the pensioners retired on 01.07.2014 on premature retirement on own request are not eligible for benefits of OROP.
For wider coverage, following may be useful
Table 1 – page 12, for officers less Medical Table 2 – page 15 for Medical officersTable 21 – page 53 for family pensioners less medical Table 22 – page 55 for medical family pensioners
OROP-1 EXTRACT TABLESFor convenience of veterans who are in receipt of the OROP (July 2015) pension the OROP-1 tables are given below as such the Pre-revised basic pension is the basic Pension in this table applicable to your QS multiplied by 2.57. The family pensioner who are getting ordinary family pension get 60% of the retiring pension.
On implementation our OROP pension was multiplied by 2.57 which is the basic we are getting since Jan 2016
ACCURACY OF CALCULATIONS
The TOOL has been extensively tested for various scenarios, It has been a hard task to auto calculate first the AGE for each month and then assign the Enhancement Factor specially where the age slab changes within 42 months.
WE URGE & REQUEST our valued members to kindly try their hand and intimate any errors or your suggestions that they may may have.
SPLITTING ARREARS to past years for REBATE in Income Tax, we will include the table here once the PCDA(P) Circular is issued.
