Lok Sabha Question No. 5656 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Ex-servicemen
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Shri Arun Kumar Sagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5656 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 th  MARCH, 2026

## WELFARE SCHEMES FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

## 5656. SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the central welfare schemes being implemented by the Government for exservicemen in the country;
- (b) whether any provisions exist for pension and health facilities for ex-servicemen under these schemes and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of ex-servicemen in the Shahjahanpur parliamentary constituency who have been benefited from these schemes;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  identified  any  problems  in  creating  awareness  about  exservicemen welfare schemes and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether the Government has made any assessment regarding the impact of these schemes on the condition of ex-servicemen and if so, the details thereof?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SANJAY SETH)

(a)  &  (b)    The  Government  runs  various  welfare  schemes  for  Ex-Servicemen  and  their dependents through the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) and the Ex-Servicemen Contributary Health Scheme (ECHS). The details of welfare measures provided by KSB and the DGR are placed at Annexure-I and Annexure-II .

ECHS provides cashless and capless healthcare to ex-servicemen and other eligible beneficiaries through a wide network of 456 polyclinics and 3144 empanelled hospitals in India and Nepal.

(c) The total number of ESM/widows in the Shahjahanpur constituency in the State of Uttar Pradesh is 4,028 who are covered under the various welfare schemes as per their entitlement.

(d) and (e)    KSB's welfare schemes are implemented through the Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs) and Zila Sainik Boards (ZSBs) in the State /UTs. Outreach regarding the schemes is done by KSB, RSBs and ZSBs through display prominently in their offices and through wide publicity and awareness amongst the ESM community. Further, the DGR organizes job fairs for exservicemen across India in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and with the support of all the three Services Headquarters. These welfare schemes are reviewed regularly to ensure welfare of the ESM.

## ANNEXURE  I  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  &  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 5656 FOR 27.03.2026  REGARDING  WELFARE SCHEMES FOR    EX-SERVICEMEN.

## 1. Through Armed Forces Flag Day Fund-

|   Sr | Grants                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Amount (in Rs)                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    1 | Penury Grant (65 Yrs and above) (Non-Pensioners upto Hav Rank)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Rs 8,000/-pm                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|    2 | Education Grant (upto two children) (i) Boys/Girls upto Graduation (ii) Widows for PG (Pensioner/Non Pensioner upto Hav Rank) and upto two children                                                                                                                                                                                     | Rs 2,000/-pm                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|    3 | Disabled Children Grant (Pensioner/Non-pen upto JCO Rank)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Rs 3,000/-pm                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|    4 | Daughter's Marriage Grant (upto 02 Daughters) (Pensioner/Non-Pen upto Hav Rank)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Rs 1,00,000/-                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|    4 | Widow Re-Marriage Grant (Pensioner/Non-Pen upto Hav Rank)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Rs 1,00,000/-                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|    5 | Medical Treatment Grant (Non-pensioner upto Hav Rank)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Rs 50,000/- (Max)                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|    6 | Orphan Grant (Pensioner/Non-pen All Ranks)  Daughters of ex-servicemen till she is married.  One Son of ESM upto 21 years of age.                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Rs 3,000/- pm                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|    7 | Vocational Trg Grant for Widows (Pensioner/Non-Pen upto Hav Rank)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Rs 50,000/- (One Time)                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|    8 | Serious Diseases as listed below: - Angioplasty &Angiography, CABG, Open Heart Surgery, Valve Replacement, Pacemaker Implant, Cerebral stroke, Prostrate Surgery, Joint Replacement and Renal Failure. Other Diseases : Dialysis and Cancer treatment (Applicable to Non pensioners ESM/Widows/Dependents for wife of ESM in all ranks) | 75% & 90% of total expenditure for officers& PBORs respectively. Upto Rs 1.50 Lakh (max). 75% & 90% of total expenditure for officers& PBORs respectively. Upto a max of Rs 75,000/- per annum for Cancer and Dialysis. |
|    9 | Modified Scooter to Disabled Ex-servicemen applicable upto JCO rank. ESM who are disabled after service with a disability 50% or more.                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Rs 1,00,000 (re-apply after 10 yrs)                                                                                                                                                                                     |

| 10   | Interest Subsidy on Home Loan applicable upto JCO rank . Reimbursement of 50% interest charged by the banks or Govt/Public Sector including LIC,GIC and HUDCO etc for construction of house to War bereaved , War disabled and attributable peace time casualties. Rs time)   | 1,00,000 max (one   |
|------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|

2. Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme :    Total 5500 scholarship are provided annually to eligible wards based on merit for the entire duration of the courses. The rates of Scholarship are as follows: -
2. (a) Rs. 2500/- per month for boys.
3. (a) Rs. 3000/- per month for girls.
3. Financial support to institutions involved in rehabilitation of ESM :-
4. Reservation of seats in Medical/Dental Colleges for wards of Defence Personnel as Govt of India Nominee . A total of 42 MBBS seats and 3 seats in BDS courses for FY 2025-26 were allotted by Ministry of Health Family Welfare to KSB for wards of defence personnel as a Govt of India nominee.

|   Ser | Organisation                                                                                                                                       | Quantum of Aid/Grant                                                                                            |
|-------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|     1 | Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centers (i) Kirkee (ii) Mohali                                                                                           | Establishment grant (per annum) (i)Rs 1.20 Cr 30,000/- pa wef Apr 2016 per inmate (ii)Rs 10 lakh (wef Apr 2015) |
|     2 | All India Gorkha Ex-servicemen welfare association, Dehradun                                                                                       | Rs. 12 lakh per annum (enhanced to Rs 18 lakh per annum wef FY 2026-27).                                        |
|     3 | Cheshire Homes (i) Lucknow (ii) Dehradun (iii) Delhi                                                                                               | Rs 15,000/- per annum per inmate                                                                                |
|     4 | War Memorial Hostels. There are 36 WMHs which provide shelter to the children of War Widows/War disabled, attributable and non attributable cases. | Rs 1350/- per child per month                                                                                   |

## ANNEXURE  II  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  &  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 5656 FOR 27.03.2026 REGARDING  WELFARE SCHEMES FOR   EX-SERVICEMEN.

## Resettlement Opportunities

1 The Directorate General Resettlement implements a range of resettlement schemes to facilitate gainful employment and self-employment of Ex-Servicemen (ESM) from all three Services. These schemes are offered based on the willingness of ESM, fulfillment of prescribed eligibility criteria and availability of vacancies

## 2. Resettlement Schemes run by Directorate General Resettlement

2.1 Placement Assistance through Online Registration: DGR provides placement         assistance  to  Ex-Servicemen  through  online  registration  on  the  DGR Portal. ESM are sponsored against requisitions received from Government Departments, Public Sector   Undertakings (PSUs) and Private Sector organizations. Sponsorship  is  carried  out  based  on  voluntary  applications  by  the  ESM  for  the advertised job positions, ensuring transparency and equal opportunity.

2.2 DGR Empanelled ESM Security Services Scheme :  Under this scheme, DGR empanels and sponsors individual ESM Security Agencies and State ESM Corporations for  providing  security  services  to  Public  Sector  Undertakings,  Autonomous  Bodies, Organisations and Establishments under various GoI ministries/ departments, as also Private Sector organisations. This scheme has been in force vide a Government of India, Ministry of Defence   order of 1994, and ensures protection and security of all assets and  property  (including  vital,  sensitive  &  strategic  assets)  of  govt  organisations  & establishments, CPSUs/CPSEs, and autonomous bodies across the states & UTs, border areas and island territories by Ex-Servicemen. The scheme promotes entrepreneurship among  ESM  (Officers)  as  proprietors  of  Security  Agencies  while  simultaneously generating large scale employment opportunities for other ESM as security personnel.

2.3 ESM Coal Loading and Transportation Scheme :   This scheme is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Coal India Limited (CIL) and DGR. The scheme has remained suspended following unilateral withdrawal of CIL from the MoU with effect from 30 June 2020. After sustained efforts, a revised MoU was signed between DGR and CIL on 14 October 2025, restoring opportunities for ExServicemen  to  operate  Coal  Loading  and  Transportation  Companies  across  various subsidiaries  of  CIL.  This  scheme  involves  self-employment  of  ESM  Officers  as Directors  and  other  ranks  as  tipper  owners.  Widows/  wards  and  disabled  ESM  are attached with the ESM company for monetary benefits based on one-time investment.

- 2.4 Management of IGL/ MNGL CNG Stations by ESM: DGR has entered into an arrangement with Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), New Delhi, to provide a panel of retired defence officers (up to the rank of Brigadier and equivalent) for management of IGL/CNG stations in Delhi/ NCR.  Eligible ESM officers registered under the scheme are  sponsored  in  the  ratio  of  1:2  against  requisitions  received  from  IGL.  Selected officers are engaged on a contractual basis for five years, renewable annually. Monthly remuneration  is  approximately  Rs.90,000/-.  A  similar  scheme  has  been  operational since 2015 with Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL) in Pune, Maharashtra.
- 2.5 Management  of  Company  Owned  Company  Operated  (COCO)  Retail Outlets : As per the policy of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG), COCO retail outlets are offered for management by retired Armed Forces Officers and JCOs below 60 years of age on a contractual basis for a maximum period of three years. The scheme is operational pan-India. Officers are sponsored by DGR, while JCOs are sponsored through respective Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs). Oil Marketing Companies pay  a  fixed  remuneration  of  ₹30,000  per  month,  in  addition  to  performance-based incentives on sales. Detailed policy guidelines are available on the websites of IOCL, BPCL and HPCL.
- 2.6 Issue of DGR Eligibility Certificate for LPG / Retail Outlet Distributorship (8% Reservation  Quota ) : DGR issues  eligibility  certificates  to  eligible  ESM  for allotment  of  LPG  distributorships  and  Petrol/Diesel  retail  outlets  advertised  by  Oil Marketing Companies under the 8% reservation quota. Eligible categories include ExServicemen, War Widows, Widows/ dependents of personnel who died in war or in harness due to attributable/aggravated causes and personnel disabled due to servicerelated causes.
- 2.7 Allotment  of  Mother  Dairy  Milk  Booths  and  Safal  (Fruit  &  Vegetable) Shops in NCR :  This  scheme is operated under an MoU between DGR and Mother Dairy. Fully   furnished milk booths and Safal fruit and vegetable shops are allotted to ESM (below officer rank) in the NCR.ESM are sponsored by DGR in the ratio of 3:1 against  requisitions  received  from  Mother  Dairy.  Selected  candidates  undergo  two weeks of training and deposit a refundable security amount of ₹1,00,000 at the time of allotment.  A minimum assured commission of ₹15,000 per month is guaranteed for milk  booths,  while  ₹45,000  per  month  is  assured  for  Safal  booths  for  the  first  six months. ESM are permitted to operate booths up to the age of 60 years, extendable by two additional years.
- 2.8 DGR Technical Service Scheme: Under this scheme, DGR provides trained Ex-Servicemen as technical manpower  to Government  establishments through empanelled  State  Ex-Servicemen  Corporations.  The  scheme  leverages  the  technical expertise and discipline of ESM for public sector requirements.

2.9 Pradhan  Mantri  Bharatiya  Jan  Aushadhi  Pariyojana  (PMBJP)  for  ExServicemen: The  PMBJP  aims  to  provide  affordable  quality  generic  medicines through  dedicated outlets known as Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK). The scheme is implemented by the Pharmaceuticals  & Medical  Devices Bureau of  India  (PMBI),  under  the  Department  of  Pharmaceuticals.  Under  PMBJP, Janaushadhi kendras owners earn 20% margin on MRP of each medicine sold providing a  core  revenue  stream.  In  addition,  normal  incentives  are  paid  at  20%  of  monthly purchases made from PMBI upto Rs20,000 per month.

2.10 DGR  Ex-Servicemen  Seminars-cum-Job  Fairs: DGR  organizes  ExServicemen  Job  Fairs  across  the  country  with  the  support  of  the  three  Service Headquarters  and  CII/various  state  chambers  and  industry  bodies.  These  job  fairs provide a direct interface between employers and ESM, and include on-the-spot skill tests, interviews and employment opportunities in the public/ private sector.12 Job Fairs were conducted during FY 2024-25, and 14 out of 20 Job Fairs have been conducted in FY 2025-26 up to 31 January 2026.

3. Resettlement  Training  and  Skill  Development  Courses: Approximately  60,000 Armed Forces personnel retire every year at a relatively young age and require meaningful second career opportunities. To facilitate their smooth transition to civilian life, DGR conducts a wide range of resettlement training and skill development courses, details of which are as under:-

3.1 Management and Professional Courses: Management courses for officers are conducted for a duration of 24 weeks at reputed institutions such as Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other leading B-Schools. Additionally, a two-week Independent Directors Course is conducted at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Manesar, for officers of the rank of Colonels and above.

3.2 Resettlement  courses  for  JCO/OR  and  equivalent  ranks :  DGR  conducts Resettlement courses in various disciplines like IT, management, security, entrepreneurship, agribusiness and emerging technologies like AI, Data Science and Drone Technology. These courses  have  a  duration  of  three  to  four  months  and  are conducted in premiere govt/ govt autonomous institutes.

3.3 Eligibility :  Training is conducted during the terminal phase of service within the  last  one  year  for  officers  and  the  last  two  years  for  JCOs/OR.  Post-retirement, officers can avail training within three years, while JCOs/OR are eligible up to five years after retirement.

3.4 Fees/Financial assistance by Govt.: For officers, 60% of the course fee is borne by MoD/DGR and 40% by the individual. For JCOs/OR, 100% of the course fee is borne by MoD/DGR. Widows of officers, JCOs and OR are also eligible to undertake any DGR sponsored course.

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