In a move to improve pension services for defense personnel, the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) of the Ministry of Defence has signed MoUs with Bank of India, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank. This collaboration aims to establish SPARSH [System for Pension Administration (Raksha)] Service Centres across 1,128 branches of these banks nationwide, enhancing accessibility for pensioners, particularly in remote regions.
These newly established SPARSH Service Centres will serve as critical touchpoints for pensioners, facilitating a range of services including profile updates, grievance registration, digital annual identification, data verification, and access to detailed pension information. Importantly, these services will be provided free of charge to the pensioners, with nominal service charges being covered by the DAD.
With this development, the SPARSH network expands significantly, now accessible at over 26,000 branches of 15 banks across the country. This is in addition to the 199 dedicated service centres operated by DAD and the extensive network of more than 3.75 lakh Common Service Centers.
SPARSH, an initiative of the Ministry of Defence, aims to streamline and enhance the management of defense pensions by prioritizing efficiency, responsiveness, and transparency. The onboarding of these banks marks a pivotal step towards ensuring last-mile connectivity for pensioners, enabling them to access essential services seamlessly, irrespective of their geographical location.
The Defence Accounts Department’s commitment to improving the pension administration system underscores its dedication to the welfare of defense personnel, providing them with the support and services they rightfully deserve.
For more information, pensioners are encouraged to visit the nearest SPARSH Service Centre or access services through the SPARSH portal.
