DEFINITION OF EX-SERVICEMEN

AS PER THE DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING, GOVT OF INDIA

1. The eligibility of the retired Defence personnel to the status of ex-Servicemen is governed by the definition as laid down by Department of Personnel and Training, Govt of India. The definition has been undergoing changes from time to time. The following is the broad categorization:-
   1. (a) Those released before 01 Jul 68. Any person who had served in any rank (whether as Combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union and has been released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.
   2. (b) Those released on or after 01 Jul 68 but before 01 Jul 79. Any person who had served in any rank (whether as a Combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation and released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.
   3. (c) Those released on or after 01 Jul 79 but before 01 Jul 87. Any person who had served in any rank (whether as a Combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation if discharged for reasons other than at their own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency and not less than 5 years of service if discharged at own request.
   4. (d) Those released on or after 01 Jul 87. Any person who had served in any rank (whether as a Combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Indian Union and was released/retired with any kind of pension from Defence Budget or released on completion of specific terms of engagement with gratuity otherwise than at his own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.
2. In addition the personnel of Territorial Army (TA) of the following categories viz. pension holders for continuous embodied service; persons with disability attributable to military service; and gallantry award winners retired on or after 15.11.86 and the personnel of the Army Postal Service (APS) who are a part of the regular Army and retired from such service, i.e. directly from the Army Postal Service itself without reversion to P&T Department with a pension or who have been released from such service on medical grounds, attributable to military service or circumstances beyond their control and awarded medical or other disability pension are also covered within the definition of ex-Servicemen w.e.f.19 Jul 89.
3. In all cases Recruits are not ex-Servicemen. Armed Forces of the Union means the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Indian Union including Armed Forces of the former Indian States but excludes the persons who have served in Defence Security Corps, General Reserve Engineering Force, Lok Sahayak Sena and Para Military Forces (PMF).
4. The eligibility of the person to the status of ex-Servicemen will be governed by the definition in vogue at the time of his discharge and will not be affected by the changes in the definition subsequent to his discharge.

Explanation:-

The persons serving in the Armed Forces of the Union who on retirement from service would come under the category of 'Ex-serviceman' may be permitted to apply for re-employment one year before the completion of the specified terms of engagement and avail themselves of all concessions available to Ex-servicemen but shall not be permitted to leave the uniform until they complete the specified terms of engagement in the Armed Forces of the Union.