**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Defence issued a notification on June 10, 2026, introducing the "Draft Reservation of Shops in Public Markets by Cantonment Board Rules, 2026" to regulate shop allotments. The rules establish a mandatory 25% reservation for defence-related personnel and mandate competitive bidding for all shop categories. Interested parties have 30 days from the date copies of the notification are available to submit written objections or suggestions to the Director (Q&C), Ministry of Defence.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Scope and Applicability**
* The rules apply to all shops in public markets managed by Cantonment Boards across India.
* "Shops" include retail/wholesale premises, offices, storerooms, warehouses, sheds, and stalls, but exclude factories or commercial establishments.
* The rules will come into force upon their final publication in the Official Gazette.
**Reservation Quotas**
* **Defence Category (25%):** Reserved for war widows/widows of personnel killed on duty, disabled soldiers, ex-servicemen, and widows of ex-servicemen.
* **Other Categories (Remaining 75%):** Reservations for SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) will follow the prevailing rules of the adjoining state municipalities.
**Allotment and Bidding Process**
* Allotments are conducted through competitive bidding among eligible bidders within their respective categories (open or reserved).
* In the event of identical bids in the 25% reserved category, priority is given based on a specific hierarchy: (i) War-widows, (ii) Disabled soldiers, (iii) Ex-servicemen, and (iv) Widows of ex-servicemen.
* Un-allotted reserved shops must be re-advertised within one month. If they remain un-allotted after the second auction, they may be transferred to the "open" category with Board approval.
**Operations and Restrictions**
* Subletting, leasing, proxy operation, or transfer of shops is strictly prohibited.
* Exceptions for transfers may be granted by the Board only in cases of the allottee’s death, permanent incapacitation, or on medical grounds.
* Eligibility criteria and auction terms will be determined by the Cantonment Board periodically.
**Savings Clause**
* All existing shop allotments will continue to be governed by their original terms and conditions until their respective expiry dates.
**Impact Analysis**
**Defence Personnel and Families**
**Impact**
They receive prioritized access to 25% of market shops, providing dedicated economic opportunities for veterans and bereaved families.
**Action Required**
Eligible individuals must participate in competitive bidding processes for reserved slots and provide proof of eligibility under the specified sub-categories.
**Cantonment Boards**
**Impact**
Boards are responsible for administering auctions, defining eligibility criteria, and managing the transition of un-allotted reserved shops to the open category.
**Action Required**
Boards must align their allotment processes with these rules, re-advertise vacant shops within one month, and oversee compliance regarding subletting restrictions.
**General Public and Commercial Bidders**
**Impact**
Access to shops is regulated through competitive bidding, with 75% of shops subject to municipal-aligned reservation quotas (SC/ST/OBC/PwD) and the remainder open to the general public.
**Action Required**
Prospective bidders must monitor auction notifications and adhere to strict non-transferability and no-subletting clauses.
**Interested Stakeholders (Objectors/Suggestors)**
**Impact**
They have a formal 30-day window to influence the final version of these rules.
**Action Required**
Must submit written objections or suggestions via post to the Director (Q&C), Ministry of Defence, Sena Bhawan, New Delhi, within the 30-day deadline.
Key Entities Referenced
Cantonments Act, 2006: The primary legislation under which the Central Government exercises powers to draft and notify rules for the administration of cantonments.
Reservation of Shops in Public Markets by Cantonment Boards Rules, 2026: The specific draft rules governing the reservation and allotment of shops in public markets to categories such as war-widows, disabled soldiers, and ex-servicemen.
Ministry of Defence: The primary ministry responsible for issuing the notification and overseeing the management of Cantonment Boards.
Cantonment Board: The statutory body constituted under the Cantonments Act, 2006, responsible for managing public markets and conducting the shop allotment process.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-12062026-273401
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DL-E-12062026-273401
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 4
PART II—Section 4
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 09] नई दिल्ली, बधु वार, िनू 10, 2026/ज्य ष्े ि 20, 1948
No. 09] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2026/JYAISTHA 20, 1948
रक्षा मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 10 िून, 2026
का.जन.आ. 9(अ).— केन्द्रीय सरकार द्वारा, छावनी अजधजनयम, 2006 (2006 का 41) की धारा 346 की उपधारा
(2) के खडं (ड) के साथ पठित धारा 267 द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए बनाए िाने वाले जनम्नजलजखत प्रारूप
जनयमों को, उि अजधजनयम की धारा 346 द्वारा अपेजक्षत रूप से, प्रभाजवत होने वाली सभी िनता की िानकारी के जलए
प्रकाजित दकया िाता ह ै और यह सूचना िी िाती ह ै दक उि प्रारूप जनयमों पर केन्द्रीय सरकार द्वारा इस अजधसूचना की
प्रजतयां िनता को उपलब्ध कराने की तारीख से तीस दिन की समाजि के बाि जवचार दकया िाएगा।
प्रारूप जनयमों म ेंिाजमल प्रस्ट्तावों पर कोई भी आपजत्त या सुझाव िेन े के इच्छुक व्यजि, जनधााठरत अवजध के भीतर,
डाक द्वारा जनििे क (क्यू एवं सी ), रक्षा मंत्रालय, सेना भवन, नई दिल्ली – 110011 को जलजखत रूप में िे सकत े ह।ैं
छावनी बोडों द्वारा साविा जनक बािारों म ेंिकु ानों के आरक्षण सबं धं ी प्रारूप जनयम, 2026
1. सजं क्षि नाम, जवस्ट्तार और प्रारम्भ –(i) इन जनयमों का संजक्षि नाम "छावनी बोडों द्वारा सावािजनक बािारों में िकु ानों के
आरक्षण संबंधी जनयम, 2026" ह।ै
(ii) ये जनयम छावनी बोडों द्वारा प्रबंजधत सावािजनक बािारों की सभी िकु ानों पर लागू होंगे।
4185 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC.4]
(iii) ये जनयम, रािपत्र में इनके अंजतम प्रकािन की तारीख से लाग ूहोंगे।
2. पठरभाषाएँ – इन जनयमों में, िब तक दक संिभा से अन्द्यथा अपेजक्षत न हो:-
(क) “बोडा” से छावनी अजधजनयम, 2006 (2006 का 41) के तहत गठित छावनी बोड ाअजभप्रेत है;
(ख) “सावािजनक बाजार” से बोड ाद्वारा संचाजलत कोई बाजार अजभप्रेत ह;ै
(ग) “िकु ान” से कोई भी पठरसर िहाँ माल खुिरा या थोक म ें बेचा िाता है, या िहाँ ग्राहकों को सेवाएँ प्रिान की
िाती ह,ैं और इसम ें कोई कायाालय, स्ट्टोर-रूम, गोिाम, मालगोिाम, कायािाला या कायास्ट्थल िाजमल ह—ै चाह े
वह उसी पठरसर म ेंहो या कहीं और—जिसका उपयोग ऐस ेव्यापार या व्यवसाय के जलए या उसके संबंध म ेंदकया
िाता ह;ै लेदकन इसमें कोई कारखाना या वाजणजज्यक स्ट्थापन िाजमल नहीं है; और इन जनयमों के प्रयोिन के
जलए इसमें िेड, स्ट्टॉल और बाडा भी िाजमल ह ैंअजभप्रेत ह;ै और
(घ) “उप-दकरायेिारी” म ें दकसी अन्द्य व्यजि को—आवंटी की ओर से या स्ट्वतंत्र रूप से—कोई व्यवसाय चलान े की
अनुमजत िेना िाजमल ह;ै चाह ेऐसा करन ेसे आवंटी को कोई आर्थाक लाभ हो रहा हो या नहीं, और वह भी सक्षम
प्राजधकारी की पूवा अनुमजत के जबना।
3. िकु ानों का आरक्षण- िकु ानों का आरक्षण – (1) 25% िकु ानें व्यजियों के जनम्नजलजखत वगा के जलए आरजक्षत होंगी, अथाात:् -
(i) युद्ध-जवधवाएं / ड्यूटी के िौरान मारे गए रक्षा कर्मायों की जवधवाएं;
(ii) दिव्यांग सैजनक;
(iii) भूतपूवा सैजनक;
(iv) भूतपूवा सैजनकों की जवधवाएं।
(2) िषे 75 प्रजतित िकु ानों में से अनुसूजचत िाजत/अनुसूजचत िनिाजत/अन्द्य जपछडा वगा (गरै -क्रीमी लेयर)/दिव्यागं िनों
(पीडबल्यडू ी) के जलए आरक्षण, उनके प्रबंधन के अधीन िकु ानों के आवंटन के जलए वतामान समीपवती राज्य नगर पाजलकाओं
में जनधााठरत अनुसार होगा।
4. आवटं न की रीजत- (1) िकु ानों का आवंटन छावनी बोडा द्वारा प्रत्येक श्रणे ी के जलए (चाह े वह खुली हो या आरजक्षत) पात्र
बोलीिाताओं के बीच प्रजतस्ट्पधी बोली के माध्यम से अलग-अलग दकया िाएगा। जनयम 3 के उप-जनयम (1) के अधीन सूचीबद्ध
व्यजियों के वग ाको एक ही श्रेणी माना िाएगा।
(2) यदि जनयम 3 के उप-जनयम (1) के तहत जनर्िाष्ट जवजभन्न उप-श्रेजणयों से संबंजधत िो या अजधक बोलीिाताओं से समान
बोजलयाँ प्राि होती ह,ैं तो उस बोलीिाता को वरीयता िी िाएगी िो क्रम संख्या (i) से (iv) पर उजल्लजखत प्राथजमकता क्रम
के अनुसार संबंजधत उप-श्रेणी का हो।
(3) दकसी जवजिष्ट श्रेणी के जलए आरजक्षत िो िकु ानें प्रारंजभक नीलामी के बाि भी आवंठटत नहीं हो पाती हैं, उन्द्ह ेंएक महीन े
की अवजध के भीतर नीलामी के जलए पुनः जवज्ञाजपत दकया िाएगा। यदि ऐसी पुनः नीलामी के बाि भी िकु ान आवंठटत नहीं
हो पाती ह,ै तो उसे बोडा की मिं ूरी से खलु ी (अनारजक्षत) श्रेणी में स्ट्थानांतठरत कर दिया िाएगा।
5. जनयम और ित-ें (1) बोली लगान े वालों के जलए पात्रता मानिंड, साथ ही िकु ानों की नीलामी को जनयंजत्रत करन े वाल े
जनयम और ितें, समय-समय पर बोड ाद्वारा जनधााठरत दकए िाएंगे।
(2) दकसी िकु ान को उप-दकराए पर िने ा, पट्टे पर िेना, दकसी और के माध्यम स ेचलाना या उसका हस्ट्तांतरण करना—चाह े
वह पूरी िकु ान हो या उसका कोई भाग—अनुमत नहीं होगा; जसवाय उन असाधारण पठरजस्ट्थजतयों के जिनमें बोड ा की पूवा-[भाग II—खण् ड 4] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
अनुमजत प्राि हो, िैसे दक िकु ान-आवंटी की मृत्य ु या उसका स्ट्थायी रूप से असक्षम हो िाना, अथवा जचदकत्सा कारणों से,
िैसा दक बोडा द्वारा जनधााठरत दकया िाए।
6. व्यावजृ त्त – सभी जवद्यमान आवंटन, उन जनयमों और ितों के अधीन ही बन ेरहगें ेजिनके अधीन व ेमूल रूप से दकए गए थे,
िब तक दक उनकी संबंजधत अवजध समाि न हो िाए।
[फा. सं. 21(2)/2025- डी(क्य ूएवं सी)]
डॉ प्रीजत मीना, संयुक् त सजचव
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 10th June, 2026
S.R.O. 9(E)— The following draft rules, which the Central Government proposes to make in exercise of the
powers conferred by section 267 read with clause (m) of sub-section (2) of section 346 of the Cantonments Act, 2006
(41 of 2006) is hereby published, as required by section 346 of the said Act for information of all the public likely to be
affected thereby and notice is hereby given that the said draft rules shall be taken into consideration by the Central
Government on after the expiry of thirty days from the date on which the copies of this notification are made available
to the public;
Any person interested in making any objection or suggestion on the proposals contained in the draft rules may
do so in writing within the period so specified through post to the Director (Q&C), Ministry of Defence, Sena Bhawan,
New Delhi – 110 011.
Draft Reservation of Shops in Public Markets by Cantonment Board Rules, 2026
1. Short title, extent and commencement.–(1)These rules may be called the, Reservation of Shops in Public
Markets by Cantonment Boards Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall apply to all shops in public markets managed by Cantonment Boards.
(3) They shall come into force on the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Definitions.–In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:-
(a) “Board” means the Cantonment Board constituted under the Cantonments Act, 2006 (41 of 2006);
(b) “public market” means a market maintained by a Board;
(c) “shop” means any premises where goods are sold either by retail or wholesale or where services are rendered
to customers, and includes an office, a store-room, go-down, warehouse or work house or work place,
whether in the same premises or otherwise, used in or in connection withsuch trade or business but does
not include a factory or a commercial establishment and also include shed, stall, pen for the purpose of these
rules; and
(d) “subletting” includes permitting any other persons to run a business either on behalf of the allottees or
independently, with or without any pecuniary benefit accruing to him/her without prior permission of the
competent authority.
3. Reservation of Shops.–(1) 25% of the shops shall be reserved for the following class of persons namely:-
(i) War-widows/widows of defence personnel killed while on duty;
(ii) Disabled Soldiers;
(iii) Ex-Servicemen;
(iv) Widows of ex-servicemen.
(2) Out of the remaining 75% of shops, the reservation for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/Persons with
Disabilities (PwDs) shall be as prescribed in the prevailing adjoining state municipalities for allotment of shops
under their management.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC.4]
4. Manner of Allotment.–(1) Allotment of shops will be carried by Cantonment Boards through competitive
bidding between eligible bidders for each category separately either open or reserved. The class of persons
listed under sub-rule (1) of rule 3 shall be treated as a single category.
(2) In the event that identical bids are received from two or more bidders belonging to different sub-categories
specified under sub-rule (1) of rule 3, preference shall be accorded to the bidder belonging to the sub-category
in the order of priority as mentioned at serial numbers (i) to (iv).
(3) Shops reserved for a specified category that remain un-allotted after the initial auction shall be re-advertised
for auction within a period of one month. If the shop remains un-allotted even after such re-auction, it shall be
transferred to the open (unreserved) category, with the approval of the Board.
5. Terms and Conditions. –(1) The eligibility criteria for bidders, along with the terms and conditions
governing the auction of shops, shall be as specified by the Board from time to time.
(2) Subletting, leasing, proxy operation or transfer of a shop, whether in whole or in part, shall not be permitted,
except with the prior approval of the Board in exceptional circumstances such as the demise or permanent
incapacitation of the allottee, or on medical grounds, as may be specified by the Board.
6. Savings.–All existing allotments shall continue to be governed by the terms and conditions under which they
were originally made, until their respective expiry.
[F. No. 21(2)/2025-D(Q&C)]
Dr. PREETI MEENA, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.