How to File RTI for Defence Pension — PCDA(P), Disability Pension, Family Pension and ECHS Card

The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) PCDA(P), headquartered at Draupadi Ghat, Allahabad (Prayagraj), is the Central Government authority responsible for sanctioning and processing all defence pensions — including Service Pension, Disability Pension, Family Pension, Liberalised Family Pension, and War Injury Pension — for Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel. Army Record Offices (such as Infantry Records, Armoured Corps Records, and EME Records) maintain the service records that form the basis of every pension entitlement. The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Directorate under the Adjutant General's Branch handles healthcare entitlements, including the ECHS smartcard, for ex-servicemen and their dependents.

All these offices are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, and are obligated to respond to RTI applications within 30 days under Section 7(1). Defence pensioners, their widows, and dependents can use RTI to obtain pension sanction documents, understand the basis of disability pension assessments, and track ECHS smartcard applications — particularly when administrative channels have not yielded a clear answer.

Check the SPARSH Portal Before Filing RTI

Before filing an RTI, check SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha) at sparsh.defencepension.gov.in. SPARSH is the Ministry of Defence's integrated online platform for pension sanction and tracking. Log in using your service number and registered mobile to:

• View the current status of your pension sanction
• Obtain your Pension Payment Order (PPO) number
• Check whether the PPO has been forwarded to the Pension Disbursing Authority (your bank)

RTI is the right escalation when: SPARSH shows an incorrect or stalled status, when no status is visible despite a long wait, or when the PPO is shown as issued but the bank has not commenced payment. RTI to PCDA(P) establishes the official position in writing — something the SPARSH portal alone cannot provide.

Defence Pension Types and RTI Questions

Which Office to RTI

Filing with the right authority is critical — an RTI sent to the wrong office will either be transferred (causing delay) or rejected.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For

The following types of information are within PCDA(P)'s and Record Offices' records and can be sought through RTI:

1. PPO status: Whether the Pension Payment Order has been sanctioned for a named soldier/officer, the PPO number, date of issue, monthly pension amount, and the bank/branch to which it was forwarded.
2. Disability pension basis: The disability percentage assessed by the Medical Board, the specific disability/disease accepted, whether it was treated as attributable to service (A/S) or aggravated by service (A/AS), and the reasons for any rejection or reduction.
3. Family pension: Whether an ordinary family pension, special family pension, or liberalised family pension was processed for the widow/dependent; the date from which it is payable; the monthly amount; and — if rejected — the specific rule or provision relied upon for rejection.
4. ECHS smartcard: Date of receipt of the ECHS smartcard application, the current processing stage, whether the card has been issued or dispatched, and the reason for any delay or rejection.
5. Service records: Total qualifying service (years and months), rank at discharge, type of discharge, and whether the service record held by the Record Office is complete with no missing documents.
6. Pension Disbursing Authority update: Whether an update to the Pension Disbursing Authority (bank account change) has been effected in PCDA(P)'s records, and the date on which the updated bank details were entered.

Where to File

All Ministry of Defence bodies accept RTI applications through rtionline.gov.in. Follow these steps:

1. Go to rtionline.gov.in and click Submit Request
2. Select Ministry of Defence as the Ministry/Department
3. From the public authority list, select the appropriate office:
   • Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) — for pension sanction, PPO, disability pension, and family pension queries
   • Name of Record Office — e.g., Infantry Records, EME Records — for service record queries
   • ECHS Directorate — for ECHS smartcard queries
4. Draft your application, including the soldier's service number, rank, regiment/corps, and the specific information sought
5. Pay ₹10 online. BPL cardholders are exempt from the fee
6. Submit and save the registration number for tracking

If filing by post, send a written application to the CPIO at the relevant office with a ₹10 Indian Postal Order (IPO) in favour of the CPIO, accompanied by a self-attested copy of the relevant identity document.

Appeals

First Appeal — Section 19(1): If the CPIO does not respond within 30 days or the response is incomplete, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the same office within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. Address the appeal to the FAA, PCDA(P) Allahabad — or the FAA of the relevant Record Office or ECHS authority, as applicable.

Second Appeal — Section 19(3): If the First Appeal is also unresolved or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days. PCDA(P), all Army Record Offices, and ECHS are Central Government public authorities under the Ministry of Defence — second appeal therefore goes to the CIC. The CIC can direct disclosure of information and may impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on the defaulting CPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act.