Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday approved a major hike in financial support for ex-servicemen and their families under schemes run by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare through the Kendriya Sainik Board, the Ministry of Defence said in an official statement.

The penury grant has been doubled from Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 per month for each beneficiary, providing steady lifetime support to elderly and non-pensioner ex-servicemen and their widows above 65 years who have no regular income, the ministry said.

The education grant has also been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per month for each child, covering up to two dependent children from Class I to Graduation, or for widows pursuing a two-year postgraduate course.

The marriage grant has been raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per beneficiary. It will apply to marriages of up to two daughters of ex-servicemen and for widow remarriages, for weddings held after this order was issued.

These new rates will be effective for applications submitted from November 1 onwards, with an estimated annual financial impact of around Rs 257 crore, to be funded from the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund through the Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund.

The ministry said the move strengthens the social security net for non-pensioner ex-servicemen, widows, and their dependents from lower-income backgrounds, reaffirming the government’s commitment to honouring the service and sacrifices of India’s veterans.