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There’s a special kind of pride that comes with wearing the uniform; the long marches, the sleepless nights, the selfless service. But what happens after the final salute is given and the uniform is hung up for good? When a soldier steps out of the uniform for the last time, the nation stands behind them, with lifelong support, benefits, and dignity.
Through pensions, medical care, resettlement help, and many financial benefits, the Indian government ensures that our veterans live with respect, comfort, and pride. This guide is your simple, correct, and complete breakdown of what retirement means for defence personnel.
Unlike the regular jobs, careers in defense tend to be shorter due to the physical demands. Soldiers aka Jawans, usually retire by the time they're 35-40 years old, while officers retire a bit later. To help them lead a comfortable life after their service, the Government of India offers generous retirement benefits, making sure they are taken care of once they retire.
By December 2025, India had around 2.78 million ex-servicemen (ESM) across the country. The largest groups of ex-servicemen are from states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Kerala. Interestingly, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, which together make up less than 5% of India’s total population, are home to about 24% of all ex-servicemen.
|
State |
Ex-Servicemen Population |
|
Uttar Pradesh |
4,21,145 |
|
Punjab |
3,59,523 |
|
Rajasthan |
2,09,523 |
|
Maharashtra |
1,96,487 |
|
Haryana |
1,75,637 |
|
Himachal Pradesh |
1,28,576 |
|
Bihar |
1,13,000 |
|
Kerala |
1,05,000 |
|
Uttarakhand |
1,00,000 |
After retirement or in case of disability or death, different types of pension schemes are available for defence personnel and their families.
This pension is given to soldiers (both officers and enlisted personnel) once they’ve completed a certain amount of service.
Note: Through SPARSH, the pension is now automatically processed and updated online, making the process smoother and faster.
This pension provides financial support to the family of a soldier in case of their death, whether during or after their service.
Note: Divorced, widowed, or handicapped children can also be eligible for the pension under certain conditions.
This is a single, one-time payment given to a soldier upon their retirement.
Note: Gratuity is fully tax-free for defence pensioners.
Commutation of Pension means that when a soldier retires, they can choose to get a part of their pension as a one-time lump sum instead of receiving it monthly for that portion. This option is available to give retiring defense personnel a bigger amount of money all at once to help with their immediate financial needs. It’s completely voluntary, and not at all mandatory. You are not required to do it if they don’t want to.
|
Particular |
Details |
|
Who can apply? |
All retiring Armed Forces personnel who are granted a pension. |
|
How much pension can be commuted? |
Maximum 40% of basic monthly pension. |
|
Is it taxable? |
No, commutation lump sum is fully tax-free under Section 10 (10A) of Income Tax Act for defence pensioners. |
|
When to apply? |
Before retirement or within 1 year after retirement without needing a fresh medical examination. |
|
What if applied after 1 year? |
A fresh medical examination is mandatory. |
|
When is the commutation money paid? |
After final Pension Payment Order (PPO) is issued. |
When a veteran has to leave the military because of an injury or illness related to their service, they are entitled to a Disability Pension. This pension has two parts:
Service Element: This is based on the soldier's last salary. They get 50% of that amount.
Disability Element: This depends on how severe the soldier's disability is. For example:
If the soldier has a 100% disability, they get the full Disability Element, which is calculated at 30% of their last salary.
If the disability is less than 20%, they don’t receive the Disability Element at all.
If a soldier is injured while fighting in a war, they are eligible for a War Injury Pension. The amount they get will depend on the situation:
If a soldier has to leave the military because of an injury or illness that’s not related to their service, called Neither Attributable Nor Aggravated or NANA).
Before 2020, soldiers needed to have at least 10 years of service to qualify for this pension.
Since July 2020, the rule has changed. Now, soldiers with less than 10 years of service can qualify if they’re permanently disabled, either physically or mentally, because of an illness or injury that is not linked to their military service. This includes both soldiers who were serving before and after January 4, 2019.
This pension helps those who are unable to continue serving or even work in civilian jobs due to their permanent disability.
Reservists who have completed a total of 15 years of service (this includes both active duty and reserve time) will receive 2/3 of the minimum pension that a regular soldier aka sepoy would get.
There are over 26 lakh pensioners and family pensioners from the Armed Forces, and around 55,000 new pensioners join every year.
To make sure these pensions reach everyone, they are paid through various places across the country, including:
For Armed Forces pensioners who live in Nepal, pensions are paid through 3 Pension Paying Offices (PPOs).
The process to apply for a pension may vary depending on your situation. However, the guide provides step-by-step instructions to make the process easier.
To apply for your pension, you’ll need to gather some basic documents:
Once you have the necessary documents, submit them to the correct office:
You can submit your online application at Sparsh online portal.
Every single year, more than 50,000 veterans retire from the Indian Army, usually between the ages of 35 and 45. After leaving the service, many of them face difficulties finding the right job. To help, the Indian government offers several support programs to ensure that ex-servicemen (ESM) can live well and explore new career opportunities. Here are some of the main benefits available to ESM, based on the latest government initiatives.
In conclusion, when a soldier’s service to the nation ends, it’s the nation’s turn to serve the soldier. The Government of India honors its commitment by providing pensions, medical care, support for the soldier's family, and helping them transition to a fulfilling second career. When you, as a veteran, know this, it will be easier for you to move forward into this new chapter of life with confidence, feeling proud, prepared, and supported.
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There’s a special kind of pride that comes with wearing the uniform; the long marches, the sleepless nights, the selfless service. But what happens after the final salute is given and the uniform is hung up for good? When a soldier steps out of the uniform for the last time, the nation stands behind them, with lifelong support, benefits, and dignity.
Through pensions, medical care, resettlement help, and many financial benefits, the Indian government ensures that our veterans live with respect, comfort, and pride. This guide is your simple, correct, and complete breakdown of what retirement means for defence personnel.
Unlike the regular jobs, careers in defense tend to be shorter due to the physical demands. Soldiers aka Jawans, usually retire by the time they're 35-40 years old, while officers retire a bit later. To help them lead a comfortable life after their service, the Government of India offers generous retirement benefits, making sure they are taken care of once they retire.
By December 2025, India had around 2.78 million ex-servicemen (ESM) across the country. The largest groups of ex-servicemen are from states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Kerala. Interestingly, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, which together make up less than 5% of India’s total population, are home to about 24% of all ex-servicemen.
|
State |
Ex-Servicemen Population |
|
Uttar Pradesh |
4,21,145 |
|
Punjab |
3,59,523 |
|
Rajasthan |
2,09,523 |
|
Maharashtra |
1,96,487 |
|
Haryana |
1,75,637 |
|
Himachal Pradesh |
1,28,576 |
|
Bihar |
1,13,000 |
|
Kerala |
1,05,000 |
|
Uttarakhand |
1,00,000 |
After retirement or in case of disability or death, different types of pension schemes are available for defence personnel and their families.
This pension is given to soldiers (both officers and enlisted personnel) once they’ve completed a certain amount of service.
Note: Through SPARSH, the pension is now automatically processed and updated online, making the process smoother and faster.
This pension provides financial support to the family of a soldier in case of their death, whether during or after their service.
Note: Divorced, widowed, or handicapped children can also be eligible for the pension under certain conditions.
This is a single, one-time payment given to a soldier upon their retirement.
Note: Gratuity is fully tax-free for defence pensioners.
Commutation of Pension means that when a soldier retires, they can choose to get a part of their pension as a one-time lump sum instead of receiving it monthly for that portion. This option is available to give retiring defense personnel a bigger amount of money all at once to help with their immediate financial needs. It’s completely voluntary, and not at all mandatory. You are not required to do it if they don’t want to.
|
Particular |
Details |
|
Who can apply? |
All retiring Armed Forces personnel who are granted a pension. |
|
How much pension can be commuted? |
Maximum 40% of basic monthly pension. |
|
Is it taxable? |
No, commutation lump sum is fully tax-free under Section 10 (10A) of Income Tax Act for defence pensioners. |
|
When to apply? |
Before retirement or within 1 year after retirement without needing a fresh medical examination. |
|
What if applied after 1 year? |
A fresh medical examination is mandatory. |
|
When is the commutation money paid? |
After final Pension Payment Order (PPO) is issued. |
When a veteran has to leave the military because of an injury or illness related to their service, they are entitled to a Disability Pension. This pension has two parts:
Service Element: This is based on the soldier's last salary. They get 50% of that amount.
Disability Element: This depends on how severe the soldier's disability is. For example:
If the soldier has a 100% disability, they get the full Disability Element, which is calculated at 30% of their last salary.
If the disability is less than 20%, they don’t receive the Disability Element at all.
If a soldier is injured while fighting in a war, they are eligible for a War Injury Pension. The amount they get will depend on the situation:
If a soldier has to leave the military because of an injury or illness that’s not related to their service, called Neither Attributable Nor Aggravated or NANA).
Before 2020, soldiers needed to have at least 10 years of service to qualify for this pension.
Since July 2020, the rule has changed. Now, soldiers with less than 10 years of service can qualify if they’re permanently disabled, either physically or mentally, because of an illness or injury that is not linked to their military service. This includes both soldiers who were serving before and after January 4, 2019.
This pension helps those who are unable to continue serving or even work in civilian jobs due to their permanent disability.
Reservists who have completed a total of 15 years of service (this includes both active duty and reserve time) will receive 2/3 of the minimum pension that a regular soldier aka sepoy would get.
There are over 26 lakh pensioners and family pensioners from the Armed Forces, and around 55,000 new pensioners join every year.
To make sure these pensions reach everyone, they are paid through various places across the country, including:
For Armed Forces pensioners who live in Nepal, pensions are paid through 3 Pension Paying Offices (PPOs).
The process to apply for a pension may vary depending on your situation. However, the guide provides step-by-step instructions to make the process easier.
To apply for your pension, you’ll need to gather some basic documents:
Once you have the necessary documents, submit them to the correct office:
You can submit your online application at Sparsh online portal.
Every single year, more than 50,000 veterans retire from the Indian Army, usually between the ages of 35 and 45. After leaving the service, many of them face difficulties finding the right job. To help, the Indian government offers several support programs to ensure that ex-servicemen (ESM) can live well and explore new career opportunities. Here are some of the main benefits available to ESM, based on the latest government initiatives.
In conclusion, when a soldier’s service to the nation ends, it’s the nation’s turn to serve the soldier. The Government of India honors its commitment by providing pensions, medical care, support for the soldier's family, and helping them transition to a fulfilling second career. When you, as a veteran, know this, it will be easier for you to move forward into this new chapter of life with confidence, feeling proud, prepared, and supported.
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