The basic formula

Defence service pension is calculated as 50% of reckonable emoluments last drawn — or the average of reckonable emoluments over the last 10 months of service, whichever works out more beneficial to the pensioner. "Reckonable emoluments" for defence personnel means Basic Pay plus Military Service Pay (MSP), not basic pay alone.

Qualifying service required

  • Officers: minimum 20 years of qualifying service for a full service pension
  • JCOs/ORs: minimum 15 years of qualifying service

The minimum pension floor

Since 1 January 2016 (7th CPC implementation), the minimum basic pension is ₹9,000 per month, excluding any additional pension admissible to older pensioners. This is a floor — no qualifying pensioner receives less than this, regardless of what the 50%-of-emoluments calculation works out to.

How this differs from family pension

Family pension — paid to eligible dependants after a pensioner's death — uses a different rate: 30% of reckonable emoluments last drawn, not 50%. See our dedicated guide to family pension after the death of a defence pensioner for the full breakdown, including enhanced-rate rules.

Pension figures are revised with each Pay Commission and periodic government orders — the ₹9,000 floor reflects the 7th CPC period. Always confirm your exact current entitlement with PCDA(P) Allahabad or your Record Office rather than relying on a fixed number from any article, including this one.

Frequently asked questions

What is the formula for defence service pension?
50% of your last-drawn reckonable emoluments (Basic Pay + MSP), or the average of the last 10 months' emoluments, whichever is higher.

What's the minimum defence pension?
₹9,000 per month as a floor, as of the 7th CPC period — this is periodically revised.

How many years of service do I need for a full pension?
20 years for Officers, 15 years for JCOs/ORs.