Meaning of an Ex-Servicemen – Revised Definition

Meaning of an Ex-Servicemen – Revised Definition

WHO ARE EX-SERVICEMEN?

DEFINITION OF EX-SERVICEMEN

Those who were released between 01 Jul 66 and 30 Jun 68 (both days inclusive) – Any person who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union, has been released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency

(Authority: Min of Home Affairs Notification No F.14/26/64-Estt(D) dated 11 Oct 1966)

Those who were released between 01 Jul 68 and 30 Jun 71 (both days inclusive) – Any person who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months and released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency

(Authority: Min of Home Affairs Notification No 14/11/68-Estt(D)/Estt -C) dated 13 Feb 69)

Those who were released between 01 Jul 71 and 30 Jun 74 (both days inclusive) – Any person who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union and has been released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency

(Authority: Cabinet Secretariat, Department of Personnel Notification No 13/3/71-Ests(C) dated 14 Oct 71)

Those who were released between 01 Jul 74 and 30 Jun 79 (both days inclusive) – ESM means a person who has served in any rank(whether as a combatant or non-combatant) in the Armed forces of the Union, for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation and has been released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.

(Authority: Cabinet Secretariat, Department . of Personnel & Administrative Reforms Notification No 13/24/73-Estt(C) dated 26 Oct 74)

Those who were released between 01 Jul 79 and 30 Jun 87 (both days inclusive) – Any person who has served in any rank(whether as combatant or not)in the armed forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation if discharged for reasons other than at their own request or by way or dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency and not less than five years service if discharged at own request.

(Authority: Department . of Personnel & Administrative Reforms Notification No 39016/10/79-Estt(C) dated 15 Dec 79)

Those who were released on or after 01 Jul 87 – Any person who has served in any rank (whether as combatant or not) in the armed forces of the Union and was released/retired with any kind of pension from Defence Budget or released on completion of specific terms of engagement with gratuity otherwise than at his own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.

(Authority: DOP&T OM No 36034/5/85-Estt(SCT) dated 14 Apr 87)

Personnel of Territorial Army – Who are pension holders ;for continuous embodied service, persons with disability attributable to military service and gallantry award winners retired on or after 15 Nov 86.

(Authority: DOP&T OM No 36034/5/85-Estt(SCT) dated 14 Apr 87)

Personnel of Army Postal Service – Personnel of Army Postal Service , who are a part of regular Army and retire from such service (that is directly from APS without reversion to P&T Department) with a pension or who have been released from such service on medical grounds attributable to military service or circumstances beyond their control and awarded medical or other disability pension shall come within the definition of ex-servicemen

(Authority: Min of Defence OM No 9(52)/88/D)(Res) dated 19 Jul 89)

Note: As per Govt. of India, Min of Def/Department of ESW OM No 1(9)/2010/D(Res-I) dated 20/21 Jul 2011, personnel who were on deputation in APS for more than six months prior to 14 Apr 87 would also be considered as ex-servicemen with all consequential benefits.

Recruits – Who are boarded out/released on medical grounds and granted medical/disability pension. However, the operation of the OM has been kept in abeyance for the issuance of notification by DOP&T.

(Authority: Min of Def/Department of ESW OM No 12/1/2005/D(Res) dated 01 Feb 2006)

Those who were released on or after 10 Oct 2012 **

An ex-serviceman means a person-

(i) Who has served in any rank whether as a combatant or noncombatant in the Regular Army, Navy and Air Force of the Indian Union and

(a) Who either has been retired or relieved or discharged from such service whether at his own request or being relieved by the employer after earning his or her pension; or

(b) Who has been relieved from such service on medical grounds attributable to military service or circumstances beyond his control and awarded medical or other disability pensions; or

(c) Who has been released from such service as a result of a reduction in establishment; or

(ii) who has been released from such service after completing the specific period of engagement, otherwise than at his own request, or by way of dismissal, or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency and has been given gratuity; and includes personnel of the Territorial Army, namely, pension holders for continuous embodied service or broken spells of qualifying service; or

(iii) personnel of the Army Postal Service who are part of the Regular Army and retired from the Army Postal Service without reversion to their parent service on medical grounds attributable to or aggravated by military service or circumstances beyond their control and awarded medical or another disability pension; or

(iv) Personnel, who were on deputation in Army Postal Service for more than six months prior to the 14th April 1987; or

(v) Ex-recruits boarded out or relieved on medical grounds and granted medical disability pension irrespective of the date of boarding out/release.***

** Authority: DOP&T office Memo No.36034/1/2006-Estt(Res) dated 04 Oct 2012 and this order came into force from the date it is published in the Gazette of India vide G.S.R 757(E) dated 10th Oct 2012.)

*** Authority – Ministry of Defence, Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare D(Res I) OM dated 07th July 2014 ex-recruits have been granted ESM Status irrespective of the date of boarding out/release.

Note: The eligibility of the person to the status of ex-servicemen will be governed by the definition in vogue at the time of his discharge and will not be affected by the changes in the definition subsequent to the discharge.

Latest Position of Ex-Servicemen in India 2022

• How many ex-servicemen are in India?
• As per the latest data, the total number of ex-servicemen in India is 2645332.

The number of Ex-Servicemen (ESM) in the country as of December 31, 2021, is as follows:

Kendriya Sainik Board implements schemes for the welfare and rehabilitation of Ex-Servicemen and their dependents across the country. The details are placed below:

1. Benefits are given from Armed Forces Flag Day Fund under RMEWF:

1. Serious diseases Grant from AFFD Fund to Non-Pensioners ESM of all Ranks:

Modified Scooter Grant.  Rs one lakh is provided to those ESM, who are disabled after service with a disability of 50% or more and who are not covered under the scheme of AG’s Branch of IHQ (Army, Navy & Air Force).

Subsidy on Home Loan.   KSB Reimburses 50% of interest by way of subsidy on home loans from Bank/public sector institutions for the construction of houses for war bereaved, war disabled, and attributable peacetime casualties. Rs 1,00,000 (Max)

Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme: A total of 5500 scholarships are provided to eligible wards based on merit for the entire duration of the courses. The rates of Scholarship are as follows: –

• 2500/- per month for boys.
• 3000/- per month for girls.

1. Financial support to institutions involved in the rehabilitation of ESM: