Pension Guidelines: Major update for THESE pensioners! New rules for name and DoB changes in PPO

Pension guidelines: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently came out with a uniform procedure to simplify the process of updating names and dates of birth in Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) for retired personnel and their dependents.

This comes following recommendations from a Tri-Service Committee led by the Additional Director General of Military Personnel (Policy & Planning). The simplified procedure was approved by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) via a directive issued in October 2024.

A unified approach for all services

Previously, the process of correcting names or dates of birth in PPOs varied across the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The new uniform procedure ensures consistency across all three services, reducing the documentation burden for retired personnel and their families.

Key objectives:

Streamline the process of making corrections to PPOs.

Minimise the complexity of documentation required.

Simplified Steps for Changing Date of Birth

For retired personnel:

Corrections to the date of birth of retired officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and Other Ranks (ORs) will only be permitted for bonafide mistakes. These errors will be rectified based on the commissioning letter or enrolment form.

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For dependents:

To correct or endorse the date of birth of dependents, the following documents are required:

A self-attested copy of PAN Card, Matriculation Certificate, Passport, ECHS Card, Driving License, Election ID, or Aadhar Card.

A declaration on non-judicial stamp paper affirming the correct date of birth.

For children, a birth certificate from the Registrar, municipal authorities, local panchayat, or head of a recognized school.

Procedure for name changes

For retired personnel:

Retired personnel seeking corrections or amendments to their names, including surnames, first names, middle names, or spelling errors, must follow these steps:

Submit a personal application.

Provide a Gazette notification (required for officers, honorary commissioned officers, and JCO equivalent ranks). For ORs, submit an affidavit from a First Class Magistrate along with an advertisement in an English-language newspaper.

Include newspaper clippings from two national dailies.

Attach self-attested copies of your PAN Card and Aadhar Card.

Provide details of your latest pension account.

For dependents:

Corrections to Surnames or Spelling Errors:

Submit a personal application.

Attach self-attested copies of your PAN Card and Aadhar Card.

Provide an affidavit from a First Class Magistrate.

Changes to first and middle names:

Submit a personal application.

Attach self-attested copies of your PAN Card and Aadhar Card.

Provide an affidavit from a First Class Magistrate.

Include newspaper clippings from at least two national dailies.

Supporting documents and formats:

To ensure clarity, the MoD has provided standardized formats for declarations, affidavits, and applications. These are detailed in the respective appendices of the policy document.

Conclusion:

By providing a clear and consistent framework, the Ministry of Defence aims to reduce delays and improve the overall experience for those seeking corrections in their PPOs. Retired personnel are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these guidelines to ensure smooth processing of their requests.