On 15 OCT 2025, the Ministry of Defence announced that the Raksha Mantri approved a 100% increase in financial assistance for Ex-Servicemen (ESM) and their dependents, implemented by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare through Kendriya Sainik Board.
Key enhancements include:
* **Penury Grant:** Doubled from Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 per month per beneficiary, for aged and non-pensioner ESM and their widows above 65 years of age with no regular income.
* **Education Grant:** Increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per month per head for up to two dependent children (Class I to Graduation) or widows pursuing a two-year postgraduate course.
* **Marriage Grant:** Raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per beneficiary, applicable for up to two daughters of ESM and for widow remarriage, for marriages solemnised after issuance of this order.
The revised rates take effect for applications submitted from November 01, 2025 onwards, with an annual financial implication of approximately Rs 257 crore to be met from the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF). These schemes are funded through the Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund, which is a subset of the AFFDF.
Release ID: 2179240.
Key Entities Referenced
Ex-Servicemen: Beneficiaries of the increased financial assistance
Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF): Fund used to provide the financial assistance
Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund: Subset of AFFDF used for funding the schemes
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare: Department implementing the schemes
Kendriya Sainik Board: Channel through which the schemes are implemented
Ministry of Defence
Raksha Mantri approves 100% increase in financial
assistance for Ex-Servicemen & their dependents
Posted On: 15 OCT 2025 11:52AM by PIB Delhi
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has approved a 100% increase in financial assistance for Ex-Servicemen
(ESM) and their dependents under schemes implemented by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
through Kendriya Sainik Board. The approved enhancements are as follows:
Penury Grant has been doubled from Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 per month per beneficiary, providing
(cid:108)
sustained lifetime support to aged and non-pensioner ESM and their widows above 65 years of age with
no regular income.
Education Grant has been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per month per head for up to two
(cid:108)
dependent children (Class I to Graduation) or widows pursuing a two-year postgraduate course.
Marriage Grant has been raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per beneficiary. Applicable for up to
(cid:108)
two daughters of ESM and for widow remarriage, for marriages solemnised after issuance of this order.
The revised rates take effect for applications submitted from November 01, 2025 onwards, with an annual
financial implication of approximately Rs 257 crore to be met from the AFFDF. These schemes are funded
through the Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund, which is a subset of the Armed Forces Flag Day
Fund (AFFDF).
The decision strengthens the social security net for non-pensioner ESM, widows, and dependents
from lower-income groups, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to honouring the service and
sacrifice of the veterans.
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VK/Savvy
(Release ID: 2179240)