Every single year, thousands of ex-servicemen and their families rely on the support extended by the Kendriya Sainik Board. After the retirement of a defence personnel, a new chapter begins, one that equally deserves dignity, support, and recognition. Here KSB plays a very important role offering welfare schemes that aim to ease challenges, open opportunities, and provide a measure of stability to veterans and their families.

As we step into 2025, some of these schemes have seen changes, updated guidelines, revised benefits, and in some cases, entirely new support measures. These updates reflect current needs and aim to ensure our retired defence personnel gets all the essential assistance and benefits to continue living with pride. 

In this article, we’ll explore what’s new, what remains relevant, and how these changes can have a great impact on your life.

History and Importance of KSB to Veteran Welfare in India

The roots of the Kendriya Sainik Board go back over a century. On 7th September 1919, the Government of India decided to dissolve the Central Recruiting Board and set up a new body called the Indian Soldiers’ Board. The new Board was set up to look after the well-being of defence personnel, whether they were serving, retired, or deceased. Its role also included supporting their families and others who had served in non-combat roles.

• As the Indian Navy and Air Force grew during the Second World War, it became clear that all three services needed a single organization to look after their interests. So, in 1944, the Board was restructured to cover the Army, Navy, and Air Force. But, by March 1951, it was renamed the Indian Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Airmen Board.
• In 1975, the Board was renamed Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB). That same year, Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs) and Zila Sainik Boards (ZSBs) were established at the state and district levels, creating a nationwide structure to support veterans and their families more effectively.
• Since 2009, KSB has operated as an attached office under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), which is part of the Ministry of Defence.

As of the latest notification dated 15th February 2025, the Board includes:

• President: Hon’ble Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister)
• Vice President: Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri (Minister of State for Defence)
• Secretary: Secretary, KSB

It also includes 46 other members, such as:

• Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors from various States and Union Territories
• Members of Parliament
• Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force
• Senior government officials
• Representatives from the ex-servicemen community

A senior officer, often a Brigadier or someone of equivalent rank from the Navy or Air Force, heads the KSB Secretariat. This leadership helps maintain strong ties with the Armed Forces while focusing on the needs of veterans and their families across the country.

Top KSB Welfare Schemes 202

Here’s an overview of the essential welfare programs the Kendriya Sainik Board is supporting in 2025. These initiatives offer financial aid, education scholarships, special grants, and various other supports to ex-servicemen and their families.

1. Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS)

This scholarship helps widows and children of ex-servicemen who have passed away or retired, easing their financial challenges and giving the younger generation a chance to focus on their education without worrying about any financial problems.

 What does PMSS Scheme Offer?

Eligible sons receive a monthly scholarship of RS. 2,500, while daughters get RS. 3,000 each month. These amounts have been in place since the 2019-20 financial year, highlighting the government’s ongoing support for education in these families. Around 5,500 students receive this scholarship each year, demonstrating the program’s wide reach and its impact in empowering thousands of young minds.

Over the last three years, the scheme has made a significant difference:

• In 2022-23, around Rs. 52.53 crore was distributed, helping about 15,653 students.
• In 2023-24, Rs. 49.19 crore supported nearly 14,720 students.
• In 2024-25, the amount rose again to RS. 55.50 crore, reaching approximately 16,380 students.

These figures reflect how the scheme continues to grow and adapt, reaching more and more defence families every year.

How to Apply PMSS Scheme

Applying for the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme is simple and can be done online. Forms are available on the official websites of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) and the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), making it easier for eligible families to access the support they’re entitled to, without unnecessary delays.

2. Financial Support Via Armed Forces Flag Day Fund RMEWF

The Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF) provides one-time financial assistance to ex-servicemen and their families during times of need. These grants offer essential support in situations like financial difficulties, medical emergencies, or education related expenses.

1. Penury Grant & Financial Aid

This grant is intended for veterans or their dependents who are facing severe financial hardship, particularly those without a steady source of income or struggling to meet basic needs. They will get Rs. 4,000 per month, provided for life to each eligible beneficiary.

Additionally, earlier, widows applying for the penury grant had to be over 65 years. However, with a notification in April 2023, this age restriction has now been removed, making it easier for younger widows to access support when they need it most.

2. Marriage & Remarriage Grant

This grant is specifically created to help manage the costs of marriage in two specific situations:

• Marriage of daughters: Rs. 50,000 per daughter. This is available for up to two daughters per eligible defence family.
• Remarriage of widows: Rs. 50,000 as a one-time assistance for remarriage of the widow of the deceased armed force personnel.

The grant amount was previously Rs. 3,000 in 1981, and then revised at Rs. 16,000 in 2007. However, now in 2016, it was increased to 50,000, keeping the rising costs and providing far better financial support.

3. Medical & Health Grants

To provide ease in medical emergencies, the RMEWF provides two key types of medical assistance. As of August 2023, the following welfare scheme amounts have been revised to provide greater financial support:

• Vocational Training Grant: Increased from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 50,000
• Medical Treatment Grant: Increased from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000
• Serious Disease Grant: Increased from Rs. 1.25 lakh to Rs. 1.50 lakh

These grants are meant to support ex-servicemen and their families during major medical treatments or hospitalizations, particularly in serious or life-threatening conditions.

    4.  Armed Forces Flag Day & Battle Casualties Welfare Fund

Every year on December 7, India marks Armed Forces Flag Day to pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of our servicemen and women. It’s not just a day of remembrance, it is also an opportunity for citizens to contribute to a national fund that supports battle casualties, veterans, and their families.

The Flag Day Fund, together with the Battle Casualties Welfare Fund, provides financial assistance to those impacted by war, counter-insurgency operations, and other military duties. Support is extended to:

• Soldiers who have been wounded or disabled in the line of duty
• Families of personnel who lost their lives in service
• Veterans facing hardship due to service-related injuries or health conditions

By FY 2024-25, the total corpus of the fund had grown to Rs. 360 crore. This shows both public support and dedicated government commitment to the welfare of armed forces.

In the financial year 2024-25 alone, approximately Rs. 378.3 crore was disbursed, directly helping around 1.78 lakh beneficiaries across the country.

That means nearly 1.8 lakh individuals, many of them widows, children, or wounded veterans, received vital aid when they needed it most.

3. Sainik Rest Houses (SRH)

Sainik Rest Houses are pretty affordable accommodation facilities established all over India for our ex-servicemen, widows, and their families. Whether you are traveling for medical treatment, official matters, or personal reasons, veterans can count on these safe, low-cost accommodations.

There are over 300 Sainik Rest Houses across India, these facilities are widely accessible to the veteran community. They are spread throughout the country, including:

 From small towns to major cities, this network ensures that veterans and their families have an affordable and safe place to stay, keeping them supported and connected wherever they travel.

4. CSR & Strategic Partnerships

The welfare of ex-servicemen and their families is not a sole responsibility of the government. Over the years, the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) has formed strong partnerships with corporations, educational institutions, and social organizations to expand the reach and effectiveness of its welfare programs

KSB has entered into several partnerships to enhance support for ex-servicemen and their families. Some recent examples include:

• Shree Cement: Signed an MoU to supply free cement for construction of houses to the next of kin of the deceased personnel. This is simply to offer feasible assistance to families rebuilding their lives.
• Assam Skill University: Establishing a dedicated partnership that will work towards providing vocational training for dependents of ex-servicemen. This will surely help improve their employment prospects.
• Brahma Kumaris: Collaborating on mental wellness programs for veterans and their families, with a focus on emotional and psychological well-being.

Additionally, several major organizations contributed to army welfare efforts through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in 2024-25, such as SBI and REC Foundation.

How to Access Kendriya Sainik Board Welfare Schemes?

Here is how you can avail welfare schemes of Kendriya Sainik Board:

1. Check Eligibility: Each scheme has specific eligibility criteria. Widows, ex-servicemen, and their dependents may qualify based on factors such as service history, income, or family status. Therefore, it is essential that you review the conditions carefully before applying.
2. Apply Online: Application forms are available on the official websites of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) and the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB). Schemes such as the Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) are accessible through these portals.
3. Get Local Assistance: You can also contact your nearest Zila Sainik Board (ZSB) for guidance. These district level offices can help with documentation, eligibility clarification, and submitting applications.

Furthermore, keep checking the latest updates from DESW through newsletters, such as the June-July 2025 edition, or you can get local assistance from ZSB to know about the latest welfare schemes, policy changes, and application deadlines. 

You can also download the Fouji Adda App or visit the website to stay updated with the latest news and affairs regarding KSB welfare schemes.