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GS2 · Welfare

Grants for ex-servicemen doubled

1 min readWelfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections
Battle IAS current affairs title card: Grants for ex-servicemen doubled (GS2 · Welfare, 15 October 2025)

What happened

  • The Defence Minister approved doubling of grants for ex-servicemen and dependents: penury grant ₹4,000 to ₹8,000 a month; education grant ₹1,000 to ₹2,000; marriage grant ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh [PIB].
  • The new rates apply from 1 November 2025, costing about ₹257 crore a year from the AFFDF [PIB].

Background

  • The schemes are run by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare through the Kendriya Sainik Board [PIB].

Why it matters

  • Non-pensioner veterans and widows are the most vulnerable; the penury grant targets them.

How to use this in Mains

GS-II Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections

  1. As per PIB (2025-10-15): the Defence Minister approved doubling of grants for ex-servicemen and dependents: penury grant ₹4,000 to ₹8,000 a month; education grant ₹1,000 to ₹2,000; marriage grant ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh.
  2. Non-pensioner veterans and widows are the most vulnerable; the penury grant targets them.
Quotable data point

The new rates apply from 1 November 2025, costing about ₹257 crore a year from the AFFDF.

PIB: Defence: Increase in ESM financial assistance, 15 Oct 2025

Exam angle

UPSC

Prelims: veteran welfare.

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

New penury grant

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

Marriage grant raised to

Answer (c) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

Annual cost

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB.

Go deeper

ExplainerSocial Justice (GS-II): Constitutional Basis, Vulnerable Sections, Welfare Schemes, Statutory Bodies and Implementation Gaps (UPSC Notes)

Official source: PIB: Defence: Increase in ESM financial assistance, 15 Oct 2025

facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending