SPARSH Pension System
Since its launch by the Ministry of Defence, the System for Pension Administration Raksha (SPARSH) aims to streamline pension delivery for Indian military veterans. However, many ex-servicemen report that the centralised digital platform has complicated pension management. Issues range from difficult access to persistent errors in pension records. This has sparked widespread concern and calls for reform.
Background
SPARSH was introduced to digitise and centralise pension processes for military veterans. It seeks to replace manual and bank-based systems with an online portal. The goal is faster pension disbursal and easier record maintenance. The system covers pension payments, life certificate submissions and corrections in personal details.
Veterans’ Difficulties with the Digital System
Many veterans, especially elderly and rural ones, struggle with the portal’s interface. Basic tasks like logging in or uploading life certificates prove challenging. Errors such as misspelt names or wrong birth dates require repeated online applications to fix. Digital illiteracy and lack of family support worsen the problem. Facilitation centres only collect forms but cannot directly amend records, leaving veterans stuck in bureaucratic loops.
Case Examples Illustrating System Flaws
Several veterans face extraordinary difficulties. One retired Subedar remains officially declared dead decades after surviving an attack. He must submit life certificates annually to prove his existence. An 85-year-old widow in a remote village depends on neighbours to navigate the portal. Another veteran lost all service documents in theft and cannot restore them despite years of effort. These cases show the system’s failure to accommodate real-life complexities.
Scale of Complaints and Institutional Response
Reports indicate over 6.5 lakh pension grievances remain unresolved. Social media campaigns like #SPARSHFailsVeterans have gained traction. Parliamentarians have raised questions about stranded ex-servicemen without pensions. Veterans demand options to revert to older bank-based systems, especially for those retired before 2016 or aged above 60. Suggestions for a Comptroller and Auditor General audit of SPARSH’s performance have also emerged.
Veterans’ Advocacy and Legal Action
Ex-servicemen’s groups actively assist veterans in navigating the system. They conduct weekly meetings to collect unresolved cases. When administrative channels fail, legal recourse is pursued. No cases filed by these groups have been dismissed so far. Veterans emphasise that the demand is not criticism but a call for an effective, veteran-friendly pension system.
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Sukumaran Nair G
July 29, 2025 at 12:37 pmSparsh system is not working for long. It is not known when it will become ready for use. The authority responsible for may please look into.
Chhote Lal
July 29, 2025 at 8:37 pmSPARSH grievances are not rectified and there is no satisfactory reply. Number of veterans are not paying proper emoluments as entitled. Many members reported for non payment of pension for 4 50 5 months after transfer from treasury to SPARSH. These mistakes are long hazards in the life of veterans.
Chhote Lal
July 29, 2025 at 8:39 pmSPARSH grievances are not rectified and there is no satisfactory reply. Number of veterans are not paying proper emoluments as entitled. Many members reported for non payment of pension for 4 50 5 months after transfer from treasury to SPARSH. These mistakes are long hazards in the life of veterans.
Ex sgt vedprakash sachan
July 29, 2025 at 3:45 pmPrior 2016 should be back to old payment from bank as there are many small mistake in name and date of birth difference in aadharcard and service documents ex sgt vp sachan
Sub hony capt kv saradhi
July 29, 2025 at 3:58 pmSparsh portal not working since long. Requested for rectification.
Som LAL
July 29, 2025 at 5:05 pmYes.I am affected by system. The system needs to deliver time bound. My arrears are pending since May 2023. All the requisite documents send by post and on line but no action. The staff is not qualified or negligent. Needs immediate attention.
Dyutikrishna sahu
July 29, 2025 at 7:42 pmThere is a recovery in my pension account. I have been contacting sparsh they don’t have any information. I have not availed House building loan but thete is recovery from my pension account. It is surprise they started recovery for the loan after 8 yrs of retirement. Not answering basic queries inefficient call centers
Krishna Dutta
July 29, 2025 at 5:59 pmSparsh system to be upgraded so that in manage profile veterans can update his spouse aadhar number, PAN number, email id and mobile number with proof attached. Last two months it shows sorry error. Even sparsh locator centre are helpless. 670467-T Sgt Krishna Dutta clk GD Retd on 30.9.1994. Sparsh id- 601199404386
A.Karpagam
July 29, 2025 at 7:00 pmMy father-in-law ex sgt service no 231488 and expired on .09.05.2009.tha canara bank sanctioned family pension from 10.5.2009 and stopped during march 2025 due to non availability of Joint Notified ppo/Corrigendum pp0.we sre batteled dav frpm jan 2024.we have sent somany mails,made phone calls,lodged grievances in Cpengrams.Nothing materiased.this is the grave situation that a super senior family pensioner facing now a days.by the by the pension not yet migrated to SPARSH.A.KARPAGAM D/O ARUMUGAM.RETD 31.07.1975.PPO.S/13654/1975.
SHRAWAN SINGH SHEKHAWAT
July 29, 2025 at 7:37 pmSparsh portal is not at all working since a long but no action by any authority.
K.Balasubramanian
July 29, 2025 at 8:28 pmThis is good system,lot of mistake was in my old documents. Now all has corrected in new system. I like this system
Ex. PO Ramachandradas.K.P
July 29, 2025 at 8:33 pmI am alsonfacing the problem. My wife expired in 2016..I have submitted the death certificate to inform about her death. Still today her name is appearing in my PPO. My LTA is not updated and next of kin is not included
Ex. PO Ramachandradas.K.P
July 29, 2025 at 8:34 pmI am also facing the problem. My wife expired in 2016..I have submitted the death certificate to inform about her death. Still today her name is appearing in my PPO. My LTA is not updated and next of kin is not included
Anil Kumar Jha
July 29, 2025 at 8:37 pmUnable to correct DOB of my spouse according to Aadhar/ PAN card as earlier in service given DOB of my spouse enormously in 1995.
Chhote Lal
July 29, 2025 at 8:58 pmWe are maintaining an Ex servicemen group. There are too many members reporting the discrepancies of SPARSH. These discrepancies like no satisfactory reply on grievances, 4 to 5 months interval in payment of pension after transfer from treasury to SPARSH. In some cases arrears of OROP-II is still outstanding. Thanks
P Gopalan
July 29, 2025 at 10:03 pmSince July 2024 the grievances request given by ex Sgt aged 81years for adding spouse details not solved .The veteran is not having children many times approached DPDO Thrissur and they says they are helpless hence the veteran lost his hope for adding his spouse details
Shashikala Gadepally
July 30, 2025 at 7:06 amI am a family pensioner. I started receiving the pension from June 2024. But my pension account has not yet migrated to ßPARSH account. To submit my life certificate my bank is not accepting the pension account number as the bank system is asking fir SPARSH account. By Nov 2025 O have to submit my life certificate.
No reasons are given for the delay, when contacted officials.
Shiv shanker mishra
July 30, 2025 at 8:00 amAFTER logingSPARSH SITE it gives sorry some error has occurred. After talking to help line numbe,it gives no solution,says talk to your record office.specually no response from DAV on phone or mail.
Gurdeep Packaya alias Garu Ram
July 30, 2025 at 9:21 amDespite repeated off line sending documents in connection with change of my name from Garu Ram to Gurdeep Packaya, my ASC Records Supply Bangalore is not being made ammendment accordingly due to say that rule is not existed resulting pension loan is not considered by the PNB even though I have taken two time loan and refunded before. I think all these problems may be created due to SPARSH launched.
Mohamed jawahar Batcha
July 30, 2025 at 12:01 pmMy Sparsh ID # 205198302243. Please credit my addl pension for the period from 14.06.2025 to 30.06.2025. Rest fine. With regards
Manoj Kumar KC
July 30, 2025 at 12:32 pmI am also affected. After completing 18 years after retirement my commutation is not yet fully restored. No reply for my service requests. Very pathetic service.
KCA Nair
July 30, 2025 at 12:41 pmIt is very difficult to get login. Every time it asks to change the password. If we try more than once the system says your account is blocked and try again after half an hour. This process will continue again if we try. Poor service.
Reddy Joseph Paul
July 30, 2025 at 2:10 pmI am attaining 80 years of age on 05.08.2025. Request to increase 20% basic and DA accordingly. Also add my e-mail to my pension account 222198701511
Col H.S.Puri
July 30, 2025 at 2:59 pmThe system is not user friendly. For senior or super seniors, it becomes more complicated. Most of them are not computer savvy. Besides the software generated is complicated and needs detailed knowledge. Those very old and rural less educated just cannot manage . They have to far , to the centres established for help everything and every time. Old system of banks handling the pensions were convenient for every one.
Col H.S .Puri. (Retd )
July 30, 2025 at 3:02 pmWe must revert back to old system, as very few urban individuals can handle SPARSH successfully.
KRISHNAN BALA
July 30, 2025 at 6:34 pmIt is more than 2 years since the new system was introduced.SPARSH while copying the individual’s official service records in to digital system has faulted innumerable times. As a result, many errors are found in our SPARSH page on the website. They are not amenable for correction. Basically, to log in and transact any business on this site remains a frustration.The date of birth of many is missing and as a result, many who have crossed 80, 85,90, have not received their 20, 30 and 40% increase in pension to which they are entitled.The permanent address of residence is incorrect but can not be corrected. The date of enrollment and discharge are incorrect leading to decrease in qualifying service and as a consequence the amount of pension is affected.
The slight change in name of spouse effected by a long drawn process through DAV, is not reckoned in the SPARSH page leaving the entitlement of spouse for family pension in disarray.
If 25% of the 28 lakh pensioners are affected by these irregularities, there is some thing to be worried about accountability and usefulness of this change over, when in the old system,all were satisfied with the service of the banks and any fault could be rectified at the level of the branch or CPPC of the bank.There does not appear to be any control or follow-up,subsequent to the change and any indication that it will perfect it’s function over time, is sadly missing.
Hy Flt Lt CHANDRASEKARAN
July 30, 2025 at 6:45 pmMy sparsh Ppo 601199200513,due for revision of penson after 3rd OROP revn wef 01 07 2024 my total QFS was 36 yrs +.
My request pending sincu Jan 2025 even after reminding four times. Not even any reply fm Sparsh to me aged 89 yrs.
Induchoodan Ps
July 30, 2025 at 7:17 pmThe mobile App of SPARSH is not working. Says it is under repair since long. If it is made to work half of the problem can be solved.
RAJENDRA PRASAD
July 30, 2025 at 8:20 pmDear Sir ! I have added my surname as Maheshwari.I have relevant official documents in support. I want to add my surname in my service record . Pl. advice . Thanks
Yours truly
Rajendra Prasad
Ex CPO (P) 83729W
Lt Col K N SAXENA
July 30, 2025 at 8:24 pmVery very difficult to to get info from sparsh.
Most of the time the sparsh app is not working
We are in great trouble even for life certificate
Kanhai Lal Mukherjee
July 30, 2025 at 8:37 pmSparsh pension system is not good for aged and rural soldiers who mostly live in remote areas. Banking System was very good and helpful.
The toll free does not respond or no available. Needs reform.
Antony N. U
July 30, 2025 at 8:49 pmMy sparsh designation wrongly made as junior works manager non technical. Iam junior works manager not junior works manager non technical. Please correct.
Uttam kumar Nath
July 30, 2025 at 11:34 pmSparsh system really problematic and no solution find in the horizon.my request for updating dependent family members pending in sparsh since July 2024. Sparsh call center replies that you service request forwarded to DAV and DAV does not attend any call.In this situation,I cannot use sparsh system for any other purpose such as change of permanent address or bank details.
Rajnesh kumar
July 31, 2025 at 6:38 amSparsh not resolving the grievances raised with tkt no.alloted. we find after few days they just send sms issue resolved but nothing done. So many emails written to DAV but no action. Now I have sent Regd post with hard copies which was recd by DAV on 14 July 2025 but no acknowledgement recd. Where to go.