WHAT IS SPARSH? AND HOW DOES ITS BENEFIT DEFENSE PENSIONERS?
SPARSH stands for System
for Pension Administration (Raksha). It is an online pension
management system developed by the Ministry
of Defence (MoD), Government of India to manage the pensions of defence personnel, including:
·
Armed Forces pensioners (Army, Navy, Air Force)
·
Defence civilians (working in MoD organizations)
·
Family pensioners
🛡️ What is SPARSH?
SPARSH is a centralized system that
directly credits pension into the pensioner’s bank account and provides a single-window,
self-service portal for:
- Pension
sanction
- Pension
disbursement
- Life
certificate submission
- Grievance
redressal
- Updating
personal/family details
It replaces the old system of handling pensions through CPPCs
(Central Pension Processing Centres) of banks, aiming to reduce errors,
delays, and dependency on intermediaries.
✅ Key Benefits of SPARSH for Defence Pensioners:
1.
Direct
Pension Disbursement
·
Pension is directly
credited by the Defence Accounts Department into the pensioner’s bank
account.
·
No need for intermediary banks to calculate or
disburse pension.
2.
Digital
Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan)
·
Can be submitted online via SPARSH portal or app.
·
Removes the need to physically visit banks every
year.
3.
Self-Service
Portal
·
Defence pensioners get a login ID and password.
·
They can:
o Update
address, mobile, or bank details.
o Download
pension slips.
o View
pension entitlement.
o Track
grievances or service requests.
4.
Transparency
and Accountability
·
Full visibility into how pension is calculated.
·
Faster redressal of issues compared to
bank-based system.
5.
Faster
Grievance Redressal
·
SPARSH has an inbuilt grievance redressal system, managed by PCDA (Pensions),
Allahabad.
·
Pensioners can raise complaints and track status
online.
6.
Nominee
and Family Pension Management
·
Enables family pensioners to continue receiving
benefits with easier documentation and verification.
🔄 Migration to SPARSH
The government is migrating all legacy pensioners (pre-2016 retirees) to
SPARSH in phases.
What
Pensioners Should Do:
1.
Keep mobile and
email updated with SPARSH.
2.
Watch for
migration messages (you'll receive SMS/email from PCDA/SPARSH).
3.
After migration, activate
your SPARSH account via OTP.
4.
Set a new password and login at:
👉
https://sparsh.defencepension.gov.in
📱 How to Access SPARSH
You can use SPARSH on:
·
Website:
https://sparsh.defencepension.gov.in
·
Mobile App:
SPARSH app is available on Android.
Login with:
·
Your SPARSH
PPO number (or User ID)
·
Password (initially set during account
activation)
🧓 SPARSH for Widows &
Family Pensioners
SPARSH simplifies the transition to family
pension. After the death of a pensioner:
·
The family
member can log in, upload death certificate, and request family
pension.
·
PCDA verifies and approves.
⚠️ Challenges & Common Issues
Some pensioners have faced:
·
Difficulty activating accounts
·
Delays in pension due to incorrect data
migration
·
Confusion over new PPO numbers
👉 But help is available
via SPARSH toll-free helpline:
1800-180-5325 or by visiting the nearest Record Office or SPARSH
Service Centre.
If you're a defense pensioner or family
pensioner and not yet on SPARSH, I can help guide you on:
·
How to activate your SPARSH account
·
How to submit life certificate
·
How to reset your password
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