Indian military veterans continue to report widespread difficulties with the Defence Ministry’s SPARSH pension platform, citing delayed credits, login failures, and unresolved data errors even as the government says nearly 31 lakh of 32 lakh pensioners have been onboarded as of March 28, 2025. Launched in 2021 and fully operational by 2022 to centralise disbursement under the Defence Accounts Department, SPARSH aimed to replace bank-led systems with direct digital payments, but veterans’ groups and media accounts describe months-long stoppages, incorrect demographics, and an unresponsive grievance process, with about 6.5 lakh cases pending redressal as of October 2024 and persisting into mid-2025. The Defence Ministry has highlighted outreach via Raksha Pension Samadhan Ayojans and facilitation efforts through 2024–2025, yet ex-servicemen allege support centres largely forward forms without authority to fix records, leaving elderly and rural pensioners stranded. Calls have intensified through July–August 2025 for reforms including bank-based options for older retirees, simplified interfaces, and an audit to restore confidence in the system.