Pension and Welfare Support for War Widows and Families of Martyrs under Various Armed Forces Pension Rules ( युद्ध विधवाओं एवं शहीदों के परिवारों के लिए पेंशन और कल्याण सहायता – विभिन्न सशस्त्र बल पेंशन नियमों के अंतर्गत)

 

 

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

RAJYA SAВНА UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2592

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16TH MARCH, 2026

PENSION AND WELFARE SUPPORT FOR WAR WIDOWS AND FAMILIES OF MARTYRS

2592. MS SWATI MALIWAL

Will the Minister of Defence be pleased to state:

(a) the total number of war widows and families of martyrs receiving pension under various Armed Forces Pension Rules, category-wise and rank-wise;

(b) the average monthly pension disbursed to war widows and eligible family members, rank-wise, along with the total amount paid annually during the last five years;

(c) the number of beneficiaries who have received ex-gratia or battle casualty compensation during the said period, along with the amount disbursed; and

(d) the details of additional welfare measures extended to war widows and families of martyrs, including housing, medical facilities, educational support for children and employment assistance?

A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI SANJAY SETH) IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a) The number of widows and families of martyrs drawing Liberalised Family Pension (LFP) through SPARSH, as on 31.01.2026, under Category D and E is 8329 and 1368 The detailed breakup is attached at Annexure-I (table-1).

(b) There is no concept of average pension since amount of pension is dependent upon rank, pay last drawn, degrees of disablement and nature of However, the amount of LFP disbursed through SPARSH in the month of Feb 2026 is Rs 9,91,71,086 for ICOs (Indian Commissioned Officers) and Rs. 59,70,85,819 for JCOs (Junior Commissioned Officers)/Ors (Other Ranks). The rank wise detail is attached at Annexure-I (table-2). The total amount paid annually during the last five years combined is Rs 19,16,26,84,026 (Rs 1916.27 cr approx)

 (c) The number of beneficiaries to whom ex-gratia lumpsum has been sanctioned through SPARSH in the last five years is 930 and the corresponding total ex-gratia lumpsum is to 293.20 cr.

(d) Various welfare measures/ schemes are extended by DGR (Directorate General Resettlement) and KSB (Kendriya Sainik Board). The details are placed at Annexure II and III. Further to provide medical assistance the war widows are exempted from one-time Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS contribution) towards ECHS membership through which medical facilities are provided. War widows have also been facilitated with the facility of home delivery of Authorized Local Chemist Medicines. In addition to this Air Force Naval Housing Board (AFNHB), (a welfare organization) gives first priority for allotment of a dwelling unit to widows of martyred Air force and Naval personnel in ongoing AFNHB housing schemes on actual cost basis without deriving any

a. Number of widows and families of martyrs drawing Liberalised Family Pension through SPARSH, as on 31.01.2026, under Category D & E (as per GoI letter dated 31.01.2001 as amended from time to time

1. DGR has no schemes exclusively earmarked for the war widows, widows and their families. However, DGR runs following Re-settlement and Skill Development Training schemes for which widows of Armed Forces Personnel and widows & Dependents of Ex-servicemen are also eligible:

(a) Coal Tipper Attachment Scheme for Widows/ Disabled and Dependents of Ex- Servicemen as Disabled soldiers/widows & dependents of ex-servicemen pay a seed money of Rupees One Lakh and they get monthly reimbursement of Rs.3,000/-. At the end of contract, Rupees One Lakh is returned to the widows/ Disabled Soldiers.

(b) Allotment of Safal Outlets. Safal outlets, a subsidiary of Mother Dairy Private Limited comprising of Fruit & Vegetable Shops are provided to Widows/ Dependents of service personnel who passed away in service / Ex-servicemen. The same is only applicable in Delhi & NCR Region.

(c) Issue of DGR Eligibility Certificate for allotment of Oil Product Agencies advertised under 8% Reserved Quota. The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has reserved 8% quota for allotment of LPG Distributorship and Petrol/Diesel Retail Outlets for Defence personnel which also include Widows/dependents of members of Armed Forces who died in war or in harness due to attributable or aggravated causes to Military Service. The eligibility certificate, certifying an individual’s eligibility to apply for the above distributorship, is issued by the office of DGR to eligible persons. The final selection/ allotment is done by the concerned Oil Company as per their policy in vogue on the subject issue.

(d) Skill Development (Resettlement Training) Courses. Directorate General Resettlement is mandated to conduct skill development (resettlement training) course for retiring / retired officers, JCOs/ OR & Equivalent of Indian Army, Navy & Air Force at various training institutes of India. There is also a built-in provision for widows to undergo above stated skill development training courses. Towards this, a quota 3% of vacancies are reserved for them in each financial year.

2. The existing quota of reservations available for Ex-Servicemen (ESM) in Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) in which widows can apply are as follows: –

(a) Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs):

(i) 5% in all Direct Recruitment Group ‘C’ Posts.

(ii) 5% in all Direct Recruitment Group ‘D’ Posts.

(Including 4.5% for Disabled ESM and Dependents of Service personnel killed in action)

(b) Central Civil Services & Posts (CCS&P) of Central Government Ministries/ Departments and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs): The benefit of reservation has been extended to two dependents (including widows) and given Priority II-A to secure a job in Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ categories of posts under Central Govt Organizations

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

Government tender alerts

(a) Rs. 2500/- per month for boys

(a) Rs. 3000/- per month for girls

Reservation of seats in Medical/Dental Colleges for wards of Defence Personnel as Govt of India Nominee. A total of 42 MBBS seats and 3 seats in BDS courses for FY 2025-26 were allotted by Ministry of Health Family Welfare to KSB for wards of defence personnel as a Govt of India nominee.

 

 

 

 

भारत सरकार

रक्षा मंत्रालय

पूर्व सैनिक कल्याण विभाग

राज्यसभा असित प्रश्न संख्या: 2592

उत्तर दिया जाना है: 16 मार्च, 2026

विषय: युद्ध विधवाओं एवं शहीदों के परिवारों के लिए पेंशन और कल्याण सहायता

2592. सुश्री स्वाति मालिवाल

क्या रक्षा मंत्री कृपया यह बताने की कृपा करेंगे:

(a) विभिन्न सशस्त्र बल पेंशन नियमों के अंतर्गत श्रेणीवार एवं रैंकवार पेंशन प्राप्त करने वाली युद्ध विधवाओं और शहीदों के परिवारों की कुल संख्या;

(b) युद्ध विधवाओं और पात्र पारिवारिक सदस्यों को रैंकवार वितरित की जाने वाली औसत मासिक पेंशन तथा पिछले पाँच वर्षों में वार्षिक रूप से वितरित कुल राशि;

(c) उक्त अवधि में जिन लाभार्थियों को अनुग्रह राशि (Ex-gratia) अथवा युद्धजन्य क्षति मुआवजा प्राप्त हुआ उनकी संख्या तथा वितरित राशि;

(d) युद्ध विधवाओं और शहीदों के परिवारों को प्रदान की गई अतिरिक्त कल्याणकारी सुविधाओं का विवरण, जैसे आवास, चिकित्सा सुविधाएँ, बच्चों की शिक्षा सहायता और रोजगार सहायता।

उत्तर

रक्षा मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री संजय सेठ):

(a) 31.01.2026 तक SPARSH के माध्यम से श्रेणी D एवं E के अंतर्गत उदार पारिवारिक पेंशन (LFP) प्राप्त करने वाली विधवाओं और शहीदों के परिवारों की संख्या क्रमशः 8329 और 1368 है। विस्तृत विवरण परिशिष्ट-I (तालिका-1) में संलग्न है।

(b) औसत पेंशन की कोई अवधारणा नहीं है क्योंकि पेंशन की राशि रैंक, अंतिम वेतन, विकलांगता की डिग्री और सेवा की प्रकृति पर निर्भर करती है। तथापि, फरवरी 2026 में SPARSH के माध्यम से वितरित LFP की राशि ICOs के लिए ₹9,91,71,086 तथा JCOs/ORs के लिए ₹59,70,85,819 रही। रैंकवार विवरण परिशिष्ट-I (तालिका-2) में संलग्न है। पिछले पाँच वर्षों में कुल वार्षिक भुगतान ₹19,16,26,84,026 (लगभग ₹1916.27 करोड़) रहा।

(c) पिछले पाँच वर्षों में SPARSH के माध्यम से जिन लाभार्थियों को एकमुश्त अनुग्रह राशि (Ex-gratia

lumpsum) स्वीकृत की गई उनकी संख्या 930 है और कुल राशि ₹293.20 करोड़ रही।

(d) युद्ध विधवाओं और शहीदों के परिवारों को विभिन्न कल्याणकारी योजनाएँ/सुविधाएँ प्रदान की जाती हैं। DGR (महानिदेशालय पुनर्वास) और KSB (केन्द्रीय सैनिक बोर्ड) द्वारा चलाई जाने वाली योजनाओं का विवरण परिशिष्ट-II एवं III में दिया गया है।

•             चिकित्सा सहायता हेतु युद्ध विधवाओं को ECHS सदस्यता के लिए एकमुश्त योगदान से छूट दी गई है।

•             अधिकृत स्थानीय केमिस्ट से दवाओं की होम डिलीवरी की सुविधा उपलब्ध कराई गई है।

•             AFNHB (एयरफोर्स नेवल हाउसिंग बोर्ड) द्वारा आवास योजनाओं में युद्ध विधवाओं को प्राथमिकता दी जाती है।

•             DGR द्वारा पुनर्वास एवं कौशल विकास प्रशिक्षण योजनाएँ चलाई जाती हैं जिनमें विधवाएँ एवं आश्रित भी पात्र हैं।

•             सार्वजनिक क्षेत्र के बैंकों एवं उपक्रमों में समूह ‘C’ एवं ‘D’ पदों पर 5% आरक्षण उपलब्ध है।

•             प्रधानमंत्री छात्रवृत्ति योजना के अंतर्गत प्रतिवर्ष 5500 छात्रवृत्तियाँ प्रदान की जाती हैं (लड़कों हेतु ₹2500 प्रति माह, लड़कियों हेतु ₹3000 प्रति माह)।

•             रक्षा कर्मियों के बच्चों हेतु मेडिकल/डेंटल कॉलेजों में नामांकन हेतु सीटें आरक्षित की जाती हैं।