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What Are The Government Schemes For Widows Of Ex-Servicemen In India?

Komal Bajpai

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Updated: 16-04-2025 at 1:00 PM

The Indian government offers financial support to ex-servicemen of the Indian Army, Airforce and Navy widows through multiple assistance programmes because of their service contributions. These assistance programmes help the widows of ex-servicemen receive vital benefits that encompass pension payments as well as education awards, job opportunities, and subsidised housing. By providing services to over 7.4 lakh war widow beneficiaries, the government updates its services and support plans.

This article describes the main welfare programmes that India provides to war widows, including their qualification requirements and monetary support.

Financial Assistance For Widows of Ex-Servicemen

The government provides pensions and financial aid to support widows of ex-servicemen, helping them manage their daily expenses and secure a stable future.

Family Pension And Dearness Relief

The government updates the family pension for war widows through Pay Commission reviews.

The Dearness Relief gets updates regularly to compensate against rising costs in the economy.

Key Grants And Revised Financial Support

Scheme/Grant	Previous Amount (₹)	Revised Amount (₹)	Effective Date
Daughter’s Marriage Grant (Up to two daughters)	16,000	50,000	April 2016
Widow Re-Marriage Grant	Not specified	Available	April 2016
Penury Grant (For non-pensioner widows aged 65+)	1,000 per month	4,000 per month	April 2017
100% Disabled Child Grant (Up to JCO rank)	1,000 per month	3,000 per month	April 2021
Orphan Grant (For unmarried daughters and one son)	1,000 per month	3,000 per month	April 2022
Vocational Training Grant for Widows	20,000 (one-time)	50,000 (one-time)	August 2023
Medical Treatment Grant (For non-pensioners up to Havildar rank)	30,000	50,000	August 2023
Serious Diseases Grant (For non-pensioners and spouses)	1.25 lakh	1.50 lakh	August 2023
Subsidy on Home Loans (For war widows and disabled ex-servicemen)	50% interest reimbursement (Max 1,00,000)	1,00,000 (Max)	–

Let’s Read Them One By One In Detail:-

The government has introduced upgraded grant programmes to provide financial stability and social support to the widows of ex-servicemen. Below is a detailed explanation of these grants and their revised benefits.

1. Daughter’s Marriage Grant

State authorities offer a marriage subsidy through financial assistance to daughters of widows who lost their husbands during war service. The recent government revision of ₹16,000 to ₹50,000 through April 2016 applies to up to two daughters who receive this grant. The government aid helps war widows provide financial support to their daughters who wish to get married without causing any financial burden.

2. Widow Re-Marriage Grant

In April 2016, the government initiated the Widow Re-Marriage Grant as part of its efforts to give financial support to widows who want to start anew with remarriage. Through financial support, the government enables widows to pursue new beginnings beyond monetary concerns.

3. Penury Grant For Non-Pensioner Widows

War widows who lack pension benefits struggle to support themselves during their old age because they cannot afford their basic daily expenses. The Penury Grant serves as financial aid for non-pensioner widows above age 65. From April 2017, the Penury Grant amount shifted from ₹1,000 to ₹4,000 per month to supply widows with resources for essential living expenses.

4. 100% Disabled Child Grant

When war widows acquire children with total disabilities, the government supplies money to handle their health requirements as well as provide suitable care at all times. Finance from this grant used to be ₹1,000 per month until April 2021, then it increased to ₹3,000 per month. The initiative provides financial security for a lifetime to care for the disabled children of war widows by addressing their medical requirements in addition to meeting their everyday necessities.

5. Orphan Grant For Unmarried Daughters And One Son

The government provides financial assistance to all orphaned children who are related to war widows. Unmarried daughters, together with a maximum of one son from deceased ex-servicemen personnel, receive monthly financial benefits through this scheme. In April 2022, the grant payment for this support increased to ₹3,000 monthly from its previous total of ₹1,000. The governmental financial assistance guarantees that orphaned children never encounter economic difficulties.

6. Vocational Training Grant For Widows

Self-reliant development for war widows becomes possible through government funding, which supports their vocational training. This monetary assistance enables widows to develop new competencies by establishing businesses or finding employment opportunities. A previous maximum award amount of ₹20,000 for the Vocational Training Grant has changed to ₹50,000 since August 2023. War widows now obtain high-quality professional training through this funding system.

7. Medical Treatment Grant For Non-Pensioners

War widows, together with their relatives, frequently encounter costly medical expenses throughout their lives. Certain patients who avoid pension payments can use Medical Treatment Grant funds to cover healthcare expenses. In August 202,3, the medical treatment reimbursement for non-pensioner ex-servicemen extending to ranks up to Havildar increased from the previous limits of ₹30,000 to ₹50,000.

8. Serious Diseases Grant For Non-Pensioners And Spouses

The Serious Diseases Grant from the government offers financial help to war widows, together with their families, when they need to deal with expensive medical costs. In August 2023, the government raised the grant limit to ₹1.50 lakh after the previous maximum was set at ₹1.25 lakh. The financial support extends to non-pensioner ex-service personnel along with their spouses.

9. Subsidy On Home Loans For War Widows And Disabled Ex-Servicemen

The government provides home loan subsidy programs to war widows and disabled ex-servicemen to achieve stable housing. Until recently, ex-servicemen could recover both interest payments and receive up to ₹1,00,000 in benefits. The updated scheme of the government gives ₹1,00,000 direct subsidies, which help war widows and disabled veterans obtain homes at cheaper prices.

Also Read: Top Government Schemes For Girl Child In India

Educational Support For Children Of War Widows

The government supports ex-military personnel and war widow children's pursuit of higher education by offering scholarships and securing slots in professional study programmes. These programmes work to decrease families' financial strain and create educational possibilities for student candidates who demonstrate qualifications.

Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS)

Through the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS), the central government supports ex-servicemen's children and war widows students in their pursuit of higher education. Every year, the scheme provides scholarships for 5,500 of its eligible candidates who demonstrate academic excellence. Students receive money through this program according to their gender.

Boys receive ₹2,500 per month.
Girls receive ₹3,000 per month.

Through this programme, students from ex-servicemen backgrounds can pursue their engineering or medical science studies or professional degrees with no financial obstacles.

Reserved Seats In Professional Courses

Disabled and children of former defence personnel get exceptional admission slots throughout India in all professional degree programs. The government provides reserved enrollment options in different professional programs to enable qualified students to access their academic pursuits. The specified seats for military children exist in:

Engineering
Veterinary Sciences
MBA (Master of Business Administration)
BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications)

Participating educational institutions must assign a minimum of one space for students in their enrollment system who are ex-servicemen children or war widow children. Students who fulfil the required educational requirements along with eligibility standards can access these advantages.

Employment and Self-Employment Support For War Widows

War widows generally struggle to secure both stable professions and financial self-dependence. War widows benefit from public employment opportunities coupled with governmental backing for starting their businesses.

Officer-Level Positions In The Armed Forces

War widows of the Indian Armed Forces can join through the dedicated Short Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scheme. War widows seeking military officer positions can skip entrance examinations according to this recruitment programme. War widow applicants need to fulfil the exact educational standards that apply to occupational positions.

The war widow recruitment programmes enable job security through military officer careers while preserving their connection with the armed forces as prestigious professionals.

Self-Employment And Business Initiatives

War widows can develop self-reliance through self-employment programs launched by the government, together with NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development). The Social Empowered, Friendly and Entrepreneurial Excellence scheme (SEMFEX-III) provides funding support to war widows together with their families for opening business initiatives.

Apart from educational opportunities and employment programmes, the government has established welfare schemes which offer benefits to support war widows and their families in safe housing.

Also Read: Top Government Schemes For Girl Child In India

Housing and Welfare Schemes For War Widows

Apart from education and employment, the government has introduced housing benefits and welfare schemes to ensure that war widows and their families live in dignified conditions.

Property Tax And Registration Fee Concessions

War widows get substantial financial assistance when they handle property expenses. The government offers:

Up to 75% rebate on property tax for self-occupied houses within municipal areas.
The government provides a full waiver of land and flat registration fees so war widows can obtain property cost-free.

Through this programme, war widows obtain permanent housing benefits, which simultaneously decrease their financial burdens.

Financial Support For World War II Veterans And Their Widows

The government of particular states provides monetary support benefits directly to both World War II veterans and war widow beneficiaries. Members of World War II who served in Haryana receive a monthly financial assistance of ₹10,000 from the state government, which also supports their widowed dependents.

Through this initiative, the state recognises retired military personnel by providing care benefits as they age.

Conclusion

The Indian government stays dedicated to supporting war widows who benefit from improved financial help combined with better job training and housing options. The government programmes focus on securing financial stability and respect for the people who lost family members in service.

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