A recent ruling by the Armed Forces Tribunal has granted liberalised family pension benefits to Rakhi Pandey, widow of IAF pilot Flight Lieutenant SK Pandey, who died in a rescue mission in 1999. Despite initial refusals and bureaucratic hurdles, including the lack of a battle casualty certificate, the Tribunal upheld her entitlement, emphasizing that the government’s 2001 circular retroactively applied to her case. This decision reflects the importance of recognizing and addressing the needs of families of armed forces personnel who sacrifice their lives during non-combat missions, aligning with the government’s commitment to their welfare and the need for efficient administrative processes to support such beneficiaries.