SPARSH Revolutionises Defence Pension Administration India
The System for Pension Administration – Raksha (SPARSH) has transformed defence pension management in India by resolving legacy discrepancies and enhancing service delivery. As of 2025, it has onboarded over 31.5 lakh defence pensioners across India and Nepal, making it the world’s largest pension system for defence personnel. The platform has ensured timely disbursal of pensions and strengthened grievance redressal mechanisms, marking a milestone in transparent and efficient governance.
Legacy Discrepancies Resolved
SPARSH has addressed 5.60 lakh out of 6.43 lakh pending pension discrepancies, achieving an 87% resolution rate. This has safeguarded the financial entitlements of retired defence personnel. The system’s automated and integrated approach has eliminated manual errors and delays, ensuring pensioners receive their dues without prolonged disputes.
Improved Grievance Redressal
The grievance disposal time has dropped from 56 days in April 2025 to just 20 days. This rapid turnaround is due to streamlined processes and digital tracking. SPARSH’s proactive approach includes suo-moto scrutiny of pension cases, which led to ₹3.02 crore disbursed to 48 pensioners in May 2025 alone. Such measures have enhanced pensioner satisfaction and trust in the system.
Extensive Outreach and Awareness
More than 100 outreach events were conducted in the last year to educate pensioners about SPARSH services. In total, 211 SPARSH Outreach Programmes and 193 Raksha Pension Samadhan Ayojans (RPSAs) have been organised. These initiatives help pensioners understand their rights and the digital tools available, bridging the gap between technology and end-users.
Massive Pension Disbursal and OROP Implementation
In the financial year 2024–25, ₹1,57,681 crore was disbursed through SPARSH on a real-time basis. The implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP)-III in July 2024 saw ₹1,224.76 crore transferred to 20.17 lakh beneficiaries within 15 days. This rapid disbursal marks achievement in pension administration, reflecting the system’s efficiency and scale.
Infrastructure and Accessibility
SPARSH operates through 202 Defence Accounts Department offices, 4.63 lakh Common Service Centres, and over 5,200 bank branches acting as service centres. This extensive network ensures easy access for pensioners even in remote areas. The integration of multiple agencies under one platform has reduced fragmentation and improved service delivery.
Governance and Transparency
As a transparent and inclusive model, SPARSH has transformed pension administration from a fragmented system into a unified framework. It emphasises dignity and timely support for defence pensioners. The system’s digital backbone and real-time monitoring have set new standards in public service governance.
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