Working on OROP's 'arithmetic translation': Jaitley

The central government is working on the "arithmetic translation" of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday, even as anticipation is building over an announcement on the issue on Saturday.

"The government is committed to OROP principle; only arithmetic translation is being worked out," Jaitley said in response to a question at a press conference.

This comes as expectations were high over Prime Minister Narendra Modi making an announcement on OROP during his Independence Day speech.

According to sources, the file on OROP was sent from the defence ministry to the finance ministry and was then under the scrutiny of the prime minister's office.

The government has been tight lipped over the exact status of the file on OROP.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar called the issue as "highest priority" for the government.

"Various welfare measures pertaining to pension including broadbanding, ex-gratia compensation and OROP are receiving highest priority of the government," Parrikar said on Friday.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, however, said an announcement was to be made "soon".

"We are committed to the ex-servicemen and an announcement for One Rank One Pension may be made soon," Rathore told reporters at the BJP headquarters.

"The prime minister had announced complete support to One Rank One Pension... We have just done 18 months in power, wait and watch a lot of (things) will happen," he said.