Defence Ministry flags misleading WhatsApp message on donations; points to Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund
The Ministry of Defence on 27 April 2025 cautioned against a misleading WhatsApp message seeking donations to a bank account for Army modernisation and directed donors to the official Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund.
Summary
The Ministry of Defence on 27 April 2025 cautioned against a misleading WhatsApp message seeking donations to a particular bank account for modernisation of the Indian Army and for soldiers injured or killed in action; the message cited a supposed Cabinet decision and invoked actor Akshay Kumar's name. The Ministry said the account details were wrong, causing donations to be dishonoured. It noted that in 2020 the Government instituted the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF) for immediate financial assistance to families of soldiers, sailors and airmen who lose their lives or are grievously injured in active military operations; the Indian Army maintains its accounts on behalf of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare.
Key facts
- Warning
- Misleading WhatsApp message with wrong account details
- Official fund
- Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF), instituted 2020
- Purpose
- Immediate aid to families of personnel killed or grievously injured in active operations
- Accounts kept by
- Indian Army, for the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
Practice MCQs 2 questions
In which year did the Government institute the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund, as cited by the Defence Ministry on 27 April 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2020
The Government instituted the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund in 2020.
Consider the following about the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF): 1. Its accounts are maintained by the Indian Army on behalf of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare. 2. It provides immediate financial assistance to families of personnel who lose their lives or are grievously injured in active military operations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct, as stated in the Ministry of Defence release of 27 April 2025.