Raksha Mantri doubles financial assistance for ex-servicemen and dependents: penury, education and marriage grants
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh approved a 100% increase in financial assistance for ex-servicemen and their dependents under Kendriya Sainik Board schemes, doubling the penury grant to Rs 8,000 a month from 1 November 2025 (PIB, 15 October 2025).
Summary
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has approved a 100% increase in financial assistance for ex-servicemen (ESM) and their dependents under schemes run by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare through the Kendriya Sainik Board, PIB reported on 15 October 2025. The penury grant for aged non-pensioner ESM and widows above 65 with no regular income doubles from Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 a month. The education grant rises from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 a month per head for up to two dependent children or widows doing a two-year postgraduate course. The marriage grant rises from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 for up to two daughters and for widow remarriage. The new rates apply to applications from 1 November 2025, at about Rs 257 crore a year, funded through the Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund, a subset of the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.
Key facts
- Penury grant
- Rs 4,000 → Rs 8,000/month (ESM/widows 65+, non-pensioners)
- Education grant
- Rs 1,000 → Rs 2,000/month per head
- Marriage grant
- Rs 50,000 → Rs 1,00,000
- Effective
- Applications from 1 Nov 2025
- Cost
- ~Rs 257 crore a year
- Fund
- RM Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund (part of AFFDF), via Kendriya Sainik Board
Practice MCQs 2 questions
After the increase approved in October 2025, what is the monthly penury grant for aged non-pensioner ex-servicemen and widows?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Rs 8,000
PIB: the penury grant has been doubled from Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 per month per beneficiary.
Consider the following statements about the enhanced assistance for ex-servicemen approved in October 2025: 1. The marriage grant has been raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per beneficiary. 2. The schemes are funded through the Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund, a subset of the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB: the marriage grant rises from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000; the schemes are funded through the Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund, a subset of the AFFDF.