Military Service Pay – Loksabha QA – Special Operations Division
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2404
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26TH DECEMBER, 2018
MILITARY SERVICE PAY
2404. PROF. SAUGATA ROY:
Will the Minister of DEFENCE
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has rejected the long standing demand of armed forces for higher Military Service Pay;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) the total number of officers proposed to be affected by the decision;
(d) whether the Government has any proposal to set up a Special Operations Division; and
(e) if so, the details thereof along with the objectives?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(a) to (c): Taking note of the rigours of military life, the VI Central Pay Commission (CPC) had recommended an additional, separate element of pay for the Defence Forces called Military Service Pay (MSP), which the CPC intended would also maintain the edge enjoyed by the Defence Forces over the civilian scales. The VII CPC has consciously decided not to create additional categories of personnel for the grant of MSP or to disturb the slab rates for the four categories for which it is being paid up to the level of Brigadiers. This was done after considering the views of the Services in the matter. MSP was raised by the identical fitment of 2.57 which was applied for pay structure approved by the VI CPC. The recommendations of the VII CPC were accepted by the Government.
(d) & (e): Government has recently approved a proposal to establish Armed Forces Special Operations Division which is designed as a tri Services organisation.
