Raksha Mantri Issues Orders on Matter of Equivalence with Respect to Armed Forces and AFHQ CS Officers

Ministry of Defence

Raksha Mantri Issues Orders on Matter of Equivalence with Respect to Armed Forces and AFHQ CS Officers

Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman has issued the following orders with immediate effect:-

Ministry of Defence letter dated 18 October 2016 on the issue of equivalence between Armed Forces Officers and Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services (AFHQ CS)Officers is withdrawn.
The cadre restructuring of AFHQ CS as approved by the Union Cabinet shall be duly implemented. Designations to be created in consequence of the additional posts sanctioned by the Cabinet will be done in consultation with Service HQs. Local designations assigned both Service and Civilian Officers in Service Headquarters/InterService Organisations (ISOs) is hereby withdrawn. Both Service and Civilian Officers will use their respective cadre designations only.

So far as the Channel of reporting/rendition of Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) is concerned, status quo ante is hereby restored, i.e., the position which existed prior to the issue of MoD letter dated 18 October 2016 shall prevail.

This is for strict compliance by all concerned.

Source: PIB News

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7th Central Pay Commission - Territorial Army Allowance

7th Central Pay Commission - Territorial Army Allowance

No.20(1)/2017/D(GS-III)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence

South Block, New Delhi
Dated the 21st September, 2017

To,
The Chief of the Army Staff

Subject : Implementation of the recommendation of the Seventh Central Pay Commission - Territorial Army Allowance.
Sir,
I am directed to say that consequent upon the acceptance of the recommendation of the Seventh Central Pay Commission and in supersession of the all existing orders issued on the subject from time to time, the President is pleased to decide that the Camp Allowance and TA Bounty applicable for Territorial Army shall be merged into a single allowances to be called Territorial Army Allowance and will be payable at the following rates:

Sl. No	Category of Employees	Amount (in Rs./annum)
1	Officers	2000
2	JCOs	1500
3	OR	1000

2. These rates shall automatically increase by 25%, each time the Dearness Allowance rises by 50%.

3. 100% of the amount of Territorial Army Allowance shall be granted for completing full training and 75% of the amount will be granted for completing more than 80% of the training.

3. These orders shall take effect from 01st July, 2017.

4. This letter issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence (Fin/AG/PD) vide their Dy No.410/AG/PD/2017 dated 11.09.2017

Yours faithfully,

(S. Gopal krishna)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Authority: https://mod.gov.in/

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Delinking of qualifying service of 33 years for revised pension (JCOs/ORs and Commissioned Officers)

Delinking of qualifying service of 33 years for revised pension (JCOs/ORs and Commissioned Officers)

No.1(2)/2016-D(Pen/Pol)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

New Delhi, Dated , the 30th September 2016

The Chief of the Army Staff,
The Chief of the Naval Staff,
The Chief of the Air Staff,

Subject: Revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners (JCOs/ORs and Commissioned Officers) -delinking of qualifying service of 33 years for revised pension.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s letter No- 7(4)/2008(1)/D(Pen/Pol) dated 11.11.2008 as amended, for implementation of government decision on the recommendations of the Sixth CPC for revision of pension/family pension in respect of Pre- 2006 Armed Forces pensioner/Family pensioners. As per provisions contained in Para 5 of the letter, revised pension and revised ordinary family pension of all Pre-2006 Armed Forces pensioners/Family pensioners determined in terms of fitment formula laid down in Para 4.1 of above said letter dated 11.11.2008 should in no case be lower than fifty percent and thirty percent respectively, of the minimum of the pay band plus the Grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised scale from which the pensioner had retired/discharged] invalided out/ died including Military Service Pay and ‘x’ Group Pay, where applicable. The pension so calculated had to be reduced pro-rata where pensioner had rendered less than 33 years of qualifying service.

2. The above minimum guaranteed pension was revised w.e.f. 24.09.2012 vide GOI, MOD letter No. 1(11)/2012/D(Pen/Pol) dated 17.01.2013 in case of commissioned officers. As-per this letter, with effect from 2409,2012, the minimum guaranteed pension in respect of Pre-2006 commissioned officers/family pensioners should be determined as fifty and thirty percent respectively of the minimum of the fitment table for the rank in the revised pay band as indicated under fitment tables annexed to SAI 2/8/2008 as amended(equivalent instructions for Navy.& Air Force) and SAI 4/S/2008 (for MNS Officers), plus grade pay corresponding to the Pre-revised scale from which the pensioner had retired/ discharged/invalided out/died including M.S.P. The minimum guaranteed pension/family pension in respect of Pre-96 retired EC/SSC officers should be revised w.e.f. 24.09.2012 as 50% / 30% respectively of the pay in pay band corresponding to the pre revised scale of pay of Rs, 10500/- ( in terms of para 9 (a)(l) of SAI 1/S/2008 ) plus grade pay of Rs 5400/ and M.S.P. of Rs. 6000/-.

3. The above minimum guaranteed pension was further revised, vide Ministry’s letter No. 1 (04)/2015/(l)-O(Pen/Pol) dated 3rd September, 2015 ( in r/o JCOs) and Letter No- 1 (04)/2015/(11)-D(Pen/Pol) dated 3rd September, 2015(in r/o JCO/ORS). Pension/family pension in respect of Pre- 2006 Armed Forces pensioners/Family pensioners, has been determined as fifty and thirty percent respectively of the minimum of the fitment table for the rank in the revised Pay Band as indicated under fitment. tables annexed with 1/8/2008, 2/8/2008, 8 4/8/2008 as amended and equivalent instructions for Navy and Air Force, plus Grade Pay corresponding to the pre-revised scale from which the pensioner had retired! discharged/invalided-out/died including Military Service Pay and 'X'- group pay where applicable w.e.f. 01.01.2006. However, vide Ministry’s letter No. 1(7)/2014-D‘(Pen/Pol) dated 31.07.2015, the minimum guaranteed pension in case of Medical Officers of AMC/ADC/RVC has been revised by adding NPA, @ 25% of minimum of fitment table for the rank In the revised Pay band as indicated In the‘fitment table annexed with SAI 2/S/2008.

4. Now, GOI, Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions, Department of Pension Pensioners Welfare has Issued OM, No. 38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 06.04.2016 for delinking of Qualifying Service with-pension for revision purpose. Therefore, it has been decided that w.e.f. 1.1.2006, revised consolidated pension and family pension of. pre-2006 armed forces pensioners shall not be lower than 50% and 30% respectively of the minimum of the pay in the Pay band plus. Grade Pay corresponding to the pre-revised scale from which the pensioner had retired/discharged/ invalided out/died including Military Service Pay and X group pay, if any, without pro-rata reduction of pension even if they had rendered qualifying service of less than 33 years at the time of retirement. Accordingly, Para 5 of this Ministry's letter dated 11.11.2008 would stand modified to this extent.

5. Revised table’s indicating minimum guaranteed retiring/service pension and Ordinary family pension have been annexed to this letter as follows:
Annexure A for commissioned officers (JCOs)
Annexure B for Army Pensioners (JCOs/ORs)
Annexure C for Airforce Pensioners (JCOs/ORs)
Annexure D for Navy pensioners (JCOs/ORs)

Pension Disbursing Agencies (PDA) are hereby authorized to step up the pension/ family pension of the affected. pre-2006 pensioners where the existing pension being paid to the pensioners, is less than the rata of pension indicated in above said annexures. Necessary implementation instructions to all concerned shall beissued by principal CDA (Pensions), Allahabad

6. The provisions of this letter shall take effect from 01.01.2006 and arrears, if any, shall be payable from 01.01.2006. Further, the pension/Family pension of the Armed Force Personnel has been revised a number of times in past vide various letters issued by this. Ministry, therefore, if pension already revised w.e.f. 01.01.2006, 01.07.2009, 24.09.2012 & 01.07.2014(OROP) under respective Govt. orders happens to be more than this amount. then Retiring/Service and Family Pension as per above orders will continue to be paid as basic pension during that period.

7. Payment of Life Time Arrears (LTA) : If a pensioner to Whom the benefit accrue-s under the provisions of this letter has died/dies before receiving the payment of arrears, the Life Time Arrears of Pension (LTA) shall be paid in the following manner:

(a) If the claimant is already in receipt of Family Pension or happens to be the person in whose favour Family Pension already stands notified and the awardee has not become Ineligible for any reason, the LTA under the provisions of this letter should be paid to such a claimant by the PDA on their own.
(b) if the claimant has already received LTA in the past in respect of the deceased to whom the benefit would have accrued. the LTA under the provisions of this letter should also be paid to such a claimant by the PDA on their own.
(c) If the Claimant is a person other’than the one mentioned at 7(a) & 7(b) above, payment of LTA shall be made to the legal heir/heirs as per extant Government orders on the subject.

8. Additional pension: The rate prescribed In these orders shall be the minimum guaranteed basics pension from 1.1.2006. Additional pension as applicable to the old aged pensioners/ family pensioners on attaining the relevant age (80 years and above) shall also be enhanced by the PDAs, where beneficial from 1.1.2006 or the date from which the pensioner attain the age of 80 years or more, whichever is later as per the extant orders on the subject.

9. All other terms and conditions shall remain unchanged.

10. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Division of this Ministry vide their ID No. 10(6)/2016/FIN/PEN dated 29.9.2016.

5 . Hindi version will follow.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Manoj Sinha)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Authority: http://www.desw.gov.in/

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PBOR of Armed Forces – Govt Decisions on 7th CPC Recommendations

PBOR of Armed Forces – Govt Decisions on 7th CPC Recommendations

STATEMENT SHOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE VII CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION RELATED TO PERSONNEL BELOW OFFICER RANK (PBOR) OF THE ARMED FORCES AND GOVERNMENT DECISION THEREON (FIGURES REFERRED IN PARENTHESIS PERTAINS TO CHAPTER AND PARAGRAPH OF THE PAY COMMISSION REPORT)

Sl.No	Recommendations of the VII CPC	Decision of the Government
1.	Fitment Factor: The Seventh CPC has recommended fitment in the pay band in the following manner: ‘The fitment in the new matrix is essentially a multiple factor of 2.57. This multiple is the ratio of the new minimum pay arrived at by the Commission and the existing minimum pay. The fitment factor is being applied uniformly to all employees. It includes a factor of 2.25 to account for DA neutralisation, assuming that the rate of Dearness Allowance would be 125 percent at the time of implementation of the new pay as on 01.01.2016. The actual raise/fitment being recommended by the Commission is 14.29 percent. An identical fitment of 2.57 has also been applied to the existing rates of Military Service Pay (MSP), applicable to Defence forces personnel only.’ (Para 5.2.7)	Minimum Pay, Fitment Factor, Index of Rationalisation, Pay Matrix and general recommendations on pay recommended by the Commission in as much as it impacts PBORs accepted without any material alteration.
2.	Rate of increment: The rate of annual increment is being retained at 3 percent. ( Para 5.1.38)	There would be two dates for grant of increment viz. 1 st January and 1st July of every year, instead of existing date of 1st July. However, an employee will be able to avail annual increment only on one of these two dates depending on the date of appointment, promotion or grant of financial upgradation.
3.	Military Service Pay for PBORs: The Defence forces personnel, in addition to their pay as per the Matrices above, will be entitled to payment of Military Service Pay for all ranks up to and inclusive of Brigadiers and their equivalents. The Commission recommends an MSP for Defence forces personnel at Rs 5,200 for JCO/ORs. MSP will continue to be reckoned as Basic Pay for purposes of Dearness Allowance, as also in thecomputation of pension. Military Service Pay will however not be counted for purposes of House Rent Allowance, Composite Transfer Grant and Annual Increment. (Para No. 5.2.22)	Rate of Military Service Pay (MSP) is accepted. However, MSP will be counted only for Dearness Allowance (DA) and Pension.
4.	Group ‘X’ Pay: TheCommission recommends: a) X pay for JCOs/ORs in Group X at Rs 6,200 per month: For all X trades which involve obtaining a qualification which is equivalent of a diploma recognised by AICTE. This amount is the difference in the minimum of the Pay level 6 (corresponding to Grade Pay of Rs 4200 in VI CPC), and Pay level 5 (corresponding to Grade Pay of Rs. 2800 in VI CPC). (Para 6.2.88) b) X pay for JCOs/ORs in Group X at Rs 3,600 per month: (standard fitment of 2.57 on the existing X pay of Rs 1,400) for those currently in X pay, but not having a technical qualification recognised by AICTE. (Para 6.2.88)	Accepted.
5.	Pay Scales of Honorary Commissioned Officers: The Commission, taking note of the existing framework of Honorary Commission recommends that the Junior Commissioned Officers on their promotion as Honorary Lieutenant or Honorary Captain shall be placed in thepay level 10 and pay level 10 Brespectively. They will, in addition be paid Military Service Pay of Rs 15,500 per month onpar with that payable to all the Commissioned officers. (Para 6.2.92)	Accepted.
6.	Grant of Financial Upgradation under MACP to the DSC Personnel: Since Defence Security Corps personnel are personnel under the Army, they would also be permitted the benefit of MACP. However this benefit should be limited to a total of three upgrades in the entire service career, both during regular employment and in the course of reemployment as defence service corps personnel. As they are defence forces personnel the benefit of MACP would be extended to them after a period of eight years from their date of re-employment, in case they do not get a promotion.(Para 6.2.98)	Accepted.
7.	Pay Structure of Non Combatant  (Enrolled): The Commission recommends MSP for Non Combatants (Enrolled) at the rate of 70 percent of combatants. Accordingly, the Commission recommends an enhancement of MSP for NonCombatant (Enrolled) in the Air Force from the existing rate of Rs 1,000 per month to Rs. 3,600 per month. (Para 6.2.100 & 6.2.101)	Accepted.

Authority: www.egazette.nic.in
Click to view the 7th cpc notification for defence personnel

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MSP for Defence Personnel: Govt Decision on 7th CPC Recommendations

MSP for Defence Personnel: Govt Decision on 7th CPC Recommendations

STATEMENT SHOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE VII CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION RELATED TO OFFICERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND GOVERNMENT DECISION THEREON (FIGURES REFERRED IN PARENTHESIS PERTAINS TO CHAPTER AND PARAGRAPH OF THE PAY COMMISSION REPORT)

Sl. No.	Recommendations of the VII CPC	Decision of the Government
1.	Fitment Factor: The Seventh CPC has recommended fitment in the pay band in the following manner:- ‘The fitment in the new matrix is essentially a multiple factor of 2.57. This multiple is the ratio of the new minimum pay arrived at by the Commission and the existing minimum pay. The fitment factor is being applied uniformly to all employees. It includes a factor of 2.25 to account for DA neutralisation, assuming that the rate of Dearness Allowance would be 125 percent at the time of implementation of the new pay as on 01.01.2016. The actual raise/fitment being recommended by the Commission is 14.29 percent. An identical fitment of 2.57 has also been applied to the existing rates of Military Service Pay (MSP), applicable to Defence forces personnel only.’ (Para 5.2.7)	Minimum Pay, Fitment Factor, Index of Rationalisation, Pay Matrices and general recommendations on pay recommended by the Commission have been accepted without any material alteration with the following exceptions in Defence Pay Matrix, namely:- a) The Index of Rationalisation of Level 13A (Brigadier) in Defence Pay Matrix would be revised upward from 2.57 to 2.67. b) Additional 3 stages in Levels 12A (Lt. Col), 3 stages in Level 13 (Colonel) and 2 stages in Level 13A (Brigadier) would be added appropriately in the Defence Pay Matrix.
2.	Rate of increment: The rate of annual increment is being retained at 3 per cent. ( Para 5.1.38)	There would be two dates for grant of increment viz. 1 st January and 1st July of every year, instead of existing date of 1st July. However, an employee will be able to avail annual increment only on one of these two dates depending on the date of appointment, promotion or grant of financial upgradation.
3.	Military Service Pay for Officers: The Defence forces personnel, in addition to their pay as per the Matrices above, will be entitled to payment of Military Service Pay for all ranks up to and inclusive of Brigadiers and their equivalents. The Commission recommends an MSP for Defence forces personnel at Rs 15,500 for the Service Officers and Rs 10,800 for Nursing Officers. MSP will continue to be reckoned as Basic Pay for purposes of Dearness Allowance, as also in the computation of pension. Military Service Pay will however not be counted for purposes of House Rent Allowance, Composite Transfer Grant and Annual Increment.(Para No. 5.2.22)	Rate of Military Service Pay (MSP) is accepted. However, MSP will be counted only for Dearness Allowance (DA) and Pension.

Authority: www.egazette.nic.in
Click to view the 7th cpc notification for defence personnel

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7th CPC Defence Pay Matrix Table in Gazette Notification

7th CPC Defence Pay Matrix Table in Gazette Notification

7th CPC Defence Pay Matrix Table in Gazette Notification : The existing system of Pay Band and Grade Pay has been replaced with separate Pay Matrices for both Defence and Military Nursing Services personnel. Fixation of pay of each employee in the new Pay Matrix as on 01.01.2016 would be done by multiplying his/her basic pay by a factor of 2.57.

Note-1 With regard to fixation of pay in the new Pay Matrix as on 01.01.2016, the existing pay (Pay in Pay Band plus Grade Pay) in the pre-revised structure as on 31.12.2015 shall be multiplied by a factor of 2.57. The figure so arrived at is to be located in the Level Corresponding to employee’s Grade Pay in the new Pay Matrix. If a Cell identical with the figure so arrived at is available in the appropriate Level, that Cell shall be the revised pay; otherwise the next higher cell in that Level shall be the revised pay of the employee.

Note-2 After fixation of pay in the appropriate Level as specified in Note-1 above, the subsequent increments shall be at the immediate next Cell in that Level.

c) General recommendations on pay recommended by the Commission have been accepted with the following exceptions in Defence Pay Matrix, namely:

i. The index of Rationalisation of Level 13A (Brigadier) in Defence Pay Matrix may be revised upward from 2.57 to 2.67.

Authority: www.egazette.nic.in
Click to view the 7th cpc notification for defence personnel

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Cabinet approved improvements in the Defence Pay Matrix in Some Levels

Cabinet approved improvements in the Defence Pay Matrix in Some Levels

The Cabinet approved further improvements in the Defence Pay Matrix by enhancing Index of Rationalisation for Level 13A (Brigadier) and providing for additional stages in Level 12A (Lieutenant Colonel), 13 (Colonel) and 13A (Brigadier) in order to bring parity with Combined Armed Police Forces (CAPF) counterparts at the maximum of the respective Levels.

Some other decisions impacting the employees including Defence & Combined Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel include :

• Gratuity ceiling enhanced from Rs. 10 to 20 lakh. The ceiling on gratuity will increase by 25 % whenever DA rises by 50 %.
• A common regime for payment of Ex-gratia lump sum compensation for civil and defence forces personnel payable to Next of Kin with the existing rates enhanced from Rs. 10-20 lakh to 25-45 lakh for different categories.
• Rates of Military Service Pay revised from Rs. 1000, 2000, 4200 & 6000 to 3600, 5200, 10800 & 15500 respectively for various categories of Defence Forces personnel.
• Terminal gratuity equivalent of 10.5 months of reckonable emoluments for Short Service Commissioned Officers who will be allowed to exit Armed Forces any time between 7 and 10 years of service.
• Hospital Leave, Special Disability Leave and Sick Leave subsumed into a composite new Leave named ‘Work Related Illness and Injury Leave’ (WRIIL). Full pay and allowances will be granted to all employees during the entire period of hospitalization on account of WRIIL.

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7th CPC Report : Indian Army is one of the largest professional volunteer land forces in the world

7th CPC Report : Indian Army is one of the largest professional volunteer land forces in the world

Cadres of Defence Forces Personnel : Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO)/ Other Ranks (OR)

Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO) and Other Ranks (OR) number 13.2 lakh across the three Services. JCOs/ORs can be broadly categorised in terms of their roles and skills. Roles

Army : With a strength of approximately 11 lakh, the Indian Army is one of the largest professional volunteer land forces in the world.

The cadre of the Army consists of:
i. Combat Arms (Armoured Corps, Artillery, Infantry and Mechanised Infantry)
ii. Combat Support Arms (Engineers and Signals)
iii. Specialised Cadres (AMC, ADC, RVC, AEC, CMP and APS)
iv. Logistic and Maintenance Services (ASC, AOC, EME and Pioneers).

Air Force : ‘Airmen’ comprise all ranks of combatants other than commissioned officers in the IAF. They perform a variety of functions ranging from aircrew duties on board helicopters and transport aircraft, maintenance of the most sophisticated and complex aircraft, radar, weapons and other equipment, secretariat and administrative duties involving maintenance of accounts of cash and stores, personnel documents, catering, discipline and medical care.

Navy : Every sailor is basically a seaman, irrespective of the branch to which he belongs or his trade specialisation. Seamanship duties comprise ship husbandry, hull maintenance, handling of small arms and ammunition, elementary store keeping, boat handling, firefighting, nuclear, biological and damage control as also first-aid, besides being proficient in a host of other seamanship activities such as anchor-work, rope-work, replenishment of fuel etc.

Skills

Every soldier is allotted a trade which becomes intrinsically linked to his subsequent career progression. There are numerous trades in the Army, Navy and Air Force. These have been grouped in two pay groups X and Y, as detailed in the table below:

Services	Total Number of Trades and % age of Total Strength
	X	Y
Army	28 (2.58%)	96 (97.42%)
Navy	11 (12.00%)	42 (88.00%)
Air Force	23 (47.72%)	28 (52.28%)

The trades grouped under X require higher entry level qualification (Class XII). Entrants in group X also receive more intensive training. As against this entry level qualification for group Y is Class X only and the training.

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7th Pay Commission recommendations for Defence Forces Personnel – An Overview

7th Pay Commission recommendations for Defence Forces Personnel – An Overview

7th Pay Commission has introduced a separate Pay Matrix Table for Defence Forces Personnel. The commission has explained in its report that the unique table structure has been simplified so that each employee can find his or her place in the proposed Matrix. All the employees belonging to various services will proceed according to their respective service conditions by earning increment on the basis of merit.  The Pay Matrix designed for the defence forces personnel is more compact than the civil pay matrix keeping in view the number of levels, age and retirement profile of the service personnel.

The entry pay for various ranks of defence forces personnel, other than MNS Offices, has been arrived at on the same premise, as has been done in the case of civilian. As an illustration, entry pay for a Captain has been arrived at as follows:

Entry pay in existing pay band + (Residency Period for promotion to Captain from Lieutenant x annual increment) + grade pay of the rank of Captain = Rs.15,600 + (2 x Rs.630) +Rs.6,100 = Rs.22,960.

The starting point of a Sepoy (and equivalent), the entry level personnel in the defence forces, has been fixed in the Defence Pay Matrix at Rs.21,700. The starting point in the existing pay structure is Rs.8,460 for a Sepoy/equivalent. The fitment in the new matrix is essentially a multiple factor of 2.57. This multiple is the ratio of the new minimum pay arrived at by the Commission (Rs.18,000) and the existing minimum pay (Rs.7,000). The fitment factor is being applied uniformly to all employees. It includes a factor of 2.25 to account for DA neutralisation, assuming that the rate of Dearness Allowance would be 125 percent at the time of implementation of the new pay as on 01.01.2016. The actual raise/fitment being recommended by the Commission is 14.29 percent. An identical fitment of 2.57 has also been applied to the existing rates of Military Service Pay (MSP), applicable to defence forces personnel only.

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