Children of ex-servicemen can get financial support for education through schemes administered by the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), Ministry of Defence, Government of India. These include the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme and separate education assistance for dependent, disabled and orphan children of ex-servicemen.
The right scheme depends on the student’s course, family circumstances and the service details of the parent.
Quick Overview of Scholarships for Children of Ex-Servicemen
| Scheme | Who Can Apply? | Benefit |
| PM Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) | Eligible wards and widows of deceased/ex-service Armed Forces personnel | ₹2,500/month for boys; ₹3,000/month for girls |
| Education Assistance for Children of ESM | Eligible dependent children of ex-servicemen | ₹2,000/month per child |
| Assistance for 100% Disabled Children | Eligible 100% disabled children of ex-servicemen | ₹3,000/month |
| Assistance for Orphan Children | Eligible orphan children of ex-servicemen | ₹3,000/month |
Scholarships for Children of Ex-Servicemen
1. Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS)
- Eligibility: Wards and widows of eligible deceased or ex-service Armed Forces personnel pursuing approved technical or professional courses.
- Benefits: ₹2,500 per month for boys and ₹3,000 per month for girls.
- Application Portal: Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) online portal.
PMSS covers courses such as engineering, medicine, dental, veterinary, MBA, MCA and other equivalent technical programmes approved by the relevant authorities. A total of 5,500 fresh scholarships are awarded each year.
Read more: Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme (PMSS-KSB)
2. Education Assistance for Children of Ex-Servicemen
- Eligibility: Dependent children of eligible ex-servicemen and their widows, subject to the scheme’s rank and other conditions.
- Benefits: ₹2,000 per month per child, for up to two dependent children. The revised amount applies to applications submitted from November 1, 2025.
- Application Portal: Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) / concerned Sainik Welfare Board.
This assistance covers education from Class I through graduation. The scheme is generally available to eligible ex-servicemen up to the rank of Havildar in the Army and equivalent ranks in the Navy and Air Force.
Note: The DESW welfare-schemes page currently displays the older ₹1,000 figure, but the Ministry of Defence announced the revised ₹2,000 monthly education grant in October 2025, effective for applications from November 1, 2025.
3. Financial Assistance for 100% Disabled Children of Ex-Servicemen
- Eligibility: 100% disabled children of eligible ex-servicemen who satisfy the prescribed conditions.
- Benefits: ₹3,000 per month.
This assistance is listed among the education and welfare schemes administered through the Kendriya Sainik Board. The applicable service-rank conditions should be checked before applying.
Read more: Financial Assistance to 100% Disabled Child of Ex-Servicemen
4. Financial Assistance for Orphan Children of Ex-Servicemen
- Eligibility: Orphaned children of eligible ex-servicemen. The scheme is available to eligible personnel of all ranks, subject to the prescribed conditions.
- Benefits: ₹3,000 per month.
The scheme covers orphaned sons up to 21 years of age and orphaned unmarried daughters, as specified by the Kendriya Sainik Board.
Read more: RMEWF – Financial Assistance to Orphan Children of Ex-Servicemen
Steps to Apply for Scholarship for Children of Ex-Servicemen?
The general application process is:
- Check the eligibility of the relevant scholarship or education assistance scheme.
- Visit the official application portal of the Kendriya Sainik Board or the concerned Sainik Welfare Board.
- Register and complete the application form with the required personal, academic and service-related information.
- Upload the required documents, such as identity proof, educational records, bank details and service-related certificates.
- Review the information and submit the application.
- Save the application number or acknowledgement for future reference.
- Wait for verification by the concerned authorities before the scholarship or financial assistance is released.
Note: The application method can differ between schemes. Students should follow the latest instructions provided by KSB, the Rajya Sainik Board or the Zila Sainik Board.
Documents Required
Applicants may be asked to provide:
- Aadhaar or other valid identity proof
- Educational certificates or marksheets
- Bank account details
- Ex-serviceman/service-related documents
- Proof of relationship with the ex-serviceman
- Disability certificate, where applicable
- Documents confirming orphan status, where applicable
- Admission or course-related documents, where required
The exact document list depends on the scheme and should be checked before submission.
Which Scholarship Is Suitable for You?
The appropriate option depends on the student’s circumstances:
- Professional or technical course: Check PMSS first.
- School or undergraduate education: Check the Education Assistance for Children of ESM.
- 100% disabled child: Check the dedicated disabled-child assistance scheme.
- Orphan child of an ex-serviceman: Check the orphan-child assistance scheme.
Students should not assume that qualifying as the child of an ex-serviceman automatically makes them eligible for every scheme. Each programme has its own conditions relating to the parent’s service status, rank, course and other requirements.
Conclusion
There are several government-supported education benefits available to eligible children of ex-servicemen in India. PMSS is the main option for approved technical and professional education, while KSB also provides separate financial assistance for dependent, 100% disabled and orphan children.
Before applying, students should verify the latest eligibility rules, benefit amount and application procedure through the Kendriya Sainik Board and Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, as scheme conditions and financial assistance can be revised.
