Defence officers retirement age likely to be increased from April 2021

The government is likely to increase the retirement age of all officers in defence forces of India by 1-3 years by April 2021.

The Department of Military Affairs, headed by General Bipin Rawat, under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had initiated the proposal for increasing the retirement age of officers of the armed forces

The government received a positive response to the retirement age extension proposal. The Department of Military Affairs is planning to implement this from April next year after due deliberation and discussion with the stakeholders.

( Also read: Proposal to increase the retirement age of military officers and cut in pension for premature retirees )

The retirement age was proposed to be increased to retain the highly-skilled manpower in the defence forces.

DMA will be bringing in more proposals to support and incentivise for officers who opt for longer service.

The proposal is to increase the retirement age of Colonels and equivalents in the Air Force and Navy would be increased to 57 from the existing 54.
Brigadiers and their equivalents are now proposed to retire at the age of 58 from the existing 56 and they would get two additional years. Major Generals would retire at the age of 59 from existing 58. 

The retirement age of Lieutenant Generals would remain at 60 years and it will remain unchanged.

The retirement age of officers and jawans from technical branches would be increased.

The retirement age for junior commissioned officers and jawans in logistics, technical and medical branch has also been increased to 57 years and this would include the EME, ASC and AOC branches of the Indian Army as well.