SPARSH: No more running around for your pension! 31.69 lakh defense pensioners are now connected to SPARSH..

There's great news for defense pensioners. The Ministry of Defence has announced that a total of 31.69 lakh defense pensioners in India and Nepal have been integrated into the SPARSH (System for Pension Administration - Raksha) digital platform.

This move is considered a major step towards making the pension system simpler, more transparent, and reliable. Now, pensioners will no longer need to visit multiple offices and agencies for their pensions.

The old system with 45,000 agencies was eliminated

Previously, defense pensions were managed through approximately 45,000 different agencies. This led to delays, errors, and grievances for pensioners. With the introduction of SPARSH, this fragmented system has been eliminated. Now, the entire pension management is handled through a single digital platform, managed by the Defence Accounts Department and the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj.

India's largest unified pension platform
SPARSH has become India's largest unified pension system. Importantly, it is a fully integrated digital solution for defense personnel. The entire process, from pension payment to viewing records, filing complaints, and making corrections, is now online. The government states that this system reflects its commitment to providing respect, convenience, and timely support to ex-servicemen and their families.

Real-time payment of ₹1.57 lakh crore in FY 2024-25
In the financial year 2024-25, ₹1,57,681 crore was disbursed in real-time through SPARSH under the defense pension budget. This means that pensions reached the pensioners directly through the system, without any additional delays or intermediaries. This has further strengthened confidence in pension payments.

OROP-III payments in just 15 days
Under OROP-III, implemented in July 2024, ₹1,224.76 crore was paid to 20.17 lakh pensioners in just 15 days. Normally, processing such a large number of payments would take months, but thanks to SPARSH, this task was completed in record time. This clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the digital system.

Record in Digital Life Certificates
During the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) 4.0 campaign conducted in November 2025, the Defence Accounts Department collaborated with 202 offices, 4.63 lakh Common Service Centers, and 15 banks. In just one month, 20.94 lakh digital life certificates were generated, the highest among all departments. This provided significant relief to elderly pensioners, allowing them to access services from the comfort of their homes.

Resolution of Old Cases
Out of 6.43 lakh erroneous cases from the old system, 6.07 lakh cases were rectified without compromising the rights of the pensioners. This was an extremely challenging task, but it was made possible with the help of the SPARSH platform. This resolved the long-pending issues of thousands of pensioners.

Outreach Programs and On-the-Spot Solutions

284 SPARSH outreach programs and 194 Defence Pension Adalat (grievance redressal) events were conducted across the country. During these programs in the current financial year alone, more than 8,000 grievances were resolved on the spot. This allowed pensioners to interact directly with officials and receive immediate relief.

Significant Improvement in Grievance Redressal
After the implementation of SPARSH, the average time for grievance redressal, which was 56 days in April 2025, reduced to just 17 days by November 2025. According to the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances report, the Defence Accounts Department received a 73 percent satisfaction score, placing it in the 5th position.

Complete Control in the Hands of Pensioners
Pensioners registered with SPARSH can now view all their details online and apply for corrections if needed. Overall, this system is making defence pensions simpler, more reliable, and future-ready.

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