<b>Govt to resolve one-rank-one-pension issue by June end: Prez</b>

The government today said it would seek to resolve the 'one rank-one pension' issue of ex-servicemen by this month-end and that a committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary was already looking into it.

President Pratibha Patil, in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament, said the committee, headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, "has already commenced its work and expects to complete it by the end of June 2009."

She also said the welfare of ex-servicemen would continue to be accorded high priority by the government.

As Lok Sabha polls were in progress, the government had on May 4 announced the formation of the committee, but later backtracked before the Election Commission after it was slapped a notice accusing it of violating the model code of conduct.

Promising that the armed forces would be fully enabled with modern technology to repel any threat from land, sea or air, Patil said,"To enhance combat efficiency, as also to address the requirements of modern day warfare, a number of steps are under way."