Union Govt grants ex-servicemen benefits to former military nursing personnel

In a gesture of goodwill, the Union Govt. brought in an important amendment to the Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Central Civil Services & Posts) Rules on February 9, granting ex-servicemen benefits to former Military Nursing Service (MNS) officers. This amendment makes them eligible for re-employment in central civil services from this year.

The purpose of the amendment is to clarify and expand the definition of ex-servicemen’s eligibility for re-employment in central government. This change in rule comes under Article 309 of the Constitution.

The amendment virtually resolves the previous ambiguities involving the status of Military Nursing Service (MNS) officers. These officers previously faced ambiguity in accessing second-career opportunities after their military service.

The MNS personnel have now been officially included within the ambit of ex-servicemen, no matter whether they served as combatants or non-combatants.

According to the notification, ex-servicemen now explicitly lists the ‘Military Nursing Service of the Indian Union’ alongside the Regular Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The new rule is applicable to all, irrespective of the rank they served and the nature of their duties. This official recognition is believed to create a pathway for a broader group of former defence personnel to access post-retirement rehabilitation measures and government employment.

This amendment grants them access to benefits like reservation and age relaxation. Now MNS personnel are eligible for 10% reservation in Group ‘C’ posts and 20% in Group ‘D’ posts under central government jobs.

Apart from reservation, the amendment also provides for age relaxation, according to which eligible candidates can now deduct their years of military service, plus an additional three years, from their actual age while applying for civil employment, in line with existing benefits for other ex-servicemen.

The new provision thus provides a level playing field for MNS officers so that the time they spent in service does not become a barrier to their employment prospects.

The former MNS officers will also be able to get new benefits and employment priority as the rules bring MNS personnel on an equal footing with other ex-servicemen in examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Staff Selection Commission (SSC).

The notification said that the amendment to Rule 2 took effect immediately upon publication.

This change is meant for strengthening the prospects of rehabilitation and second-career advancement for the MNS community.

This latest amendment brings with it the assurance of equal treatment and support to all eligible former defence staff—including those from the Military Nursing Service—to seek re-employment in Central Civil Services.