**Executive Summary**
The 10th Defence Forces Veterans Day was hosted at Air Force Station Pune on January 14, 2026, to honor Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and veterans. Approximately 4,200 veterans from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force attended. The event focused on welfare and grievance redressal, with a key aim of enhancing awareness among veterans and their dependents on pensions, grievances, and financial assistance.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Event Details**
* The 10th Defence Forces Veterans Day was held on January 14, 2026, at Air Force Station Pune.
* The event honored Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and veterans.
* Focus was given to welfare and grievance redressal.
* Approximately 4,200 veterans from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force participated.
* **Key Attendees**
* Shri Chandrakant Patil, Hon'ble Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra, was the Chief Guest.
* Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Southern Command.
* Vice Admiral Anil Jaggi, Commandant, National Defence Academy (NDA).
* Air Vice Marshal Gurjot Singh Bhullar, Senior Officer-in-Charge Administration (SOA), South Western Air Command.
* Air Commodore Satbir Singh Rai, Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Force Station Pune.
* **Key Objectives & Actions**
* Enhance awareness among veterans and their dependents on issues pertaining to pensions, grievances, financial assistance, and the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).
* Encouraged veterans and their dependents to project their problems, concerns, and suggestions.
* Informative lectures were conducted by the Directorate of Air Veterans (DAV), the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA) and the Zila Sainik Kalyan Board.
* Authorities reaffirmed their resolve to continuously improve outreach, strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms, and ensure veterans and their families receive proper respect, care, and support.
**Impact Analysis**
**Veterans and Dependents**
* **Impact:** The event aimed to address their welfare, grievances, and provide information on pensions, financial assistance, and ECHS.
* **Action Required:** Project problems, concerns, and suggestions to relevant authorities during the program.
**Ministry of Defence / Authorities**
* **Impact:** The Ministry of Defence is responsible for organizing and supporting the event.
* **Action Required:** Continuously improve outreach, strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms, and ensure veterans and their families receive proper support.
Key Entities Referenced
Defence Forces Veterans Day: Annual event to honour veterans and their service
Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS): Scheme providing healthcare to veterans
Ministry of Defence: The central authority overseeing matters related to defence.
Pune: The city and location where the event was held.
Ministry of Defence
10th Defence Forces Veterans Day Celebrated at
Air Force Station Pune
Focus on Welfare & Grievance Redressal, 4,200 Veterans
Participated in the Event
प्रव तथ: 14 JAN 2026 5:23PM by PIB Mumbai
Pune, 14 January 2026
Air Force Station Pune hosted the 10th ‘Defence Forces Veterans Day’ on 14 January
2026 to honour the legacy and yeoman service of Late Field Marshal K M Cariappa,
OBE, the First Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army, who retired on this
day in 1953. A towering figure in India’s military history, Field Marshal Cariappa led
the forces to victory in the 1947 War and laid the foundation for an enduring legacy
of service, discipline and patriotism. The day reaffirmed the nation’s deep respect
and gratitude towards its veterans and strengthened the bond among serving
personnel, veterans and citizens. A wreath-laying ceremony was conducted as a
mark of homage to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the service of the
nation. Approximately 4,200 veterans of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian
Air Force attended the event.The event was graced by the presence of Shri Chandrakant Patil, Hon’ble Minister
for Higher and Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra, who attended the
occasion as the Chief Guest. The event was also attended by Lieutenant General
Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C),
Southern Command; Vice Admiral Anil Jaggi, Commandant, National Defence
Academy (NDA); Air Vice Marshal Gurjot Singh Bhullar, Senior Officer-in-Charge
Administration (SOA), South Western Air Command; and Air Commodore Satbir
Singh Rai, Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Force Station Pune, along with senior
officers of the Defence Forces. The Chief Guest, in his address, acknowledged the
dedication, discipline and sacrifice of veterans and assured continued institutional
support towards their welfare. Speaking on the occasion, Lieutenant General Dhiraj
Seth, Army Commander, and Air Commodore Satbir Singh Rai, AOC, highlighted
important welfare measures undertaken by various agencies for veterans. During
interactions, they expressed heartfelt gratitude to the veterans for their service to
the motherland and their selfless contribution to nation-building.The key focus of the Veterans Day celebration was to enhance awareness among
veterans and their dependents on issues pertaining to pensions, grievances,
financial assistance, the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and
various other welfare schemes. Veterans and their dependents were encouraged to
project their problems, concerns and suggestions during the programme.
Informative lectures were conducted by the Directorate of Air Veterans (DAV), the
Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA) and the Zila Sainik Kalyan Board.
The celebration reaffirmed the resolve of the authorities to continuously improve
outreach, strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms and ensure that veterans and
their families receive the respect, care and support they rightfully deserve.PIB Pune | Ankush Chavan / Priti Malandkar
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