The Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) has extended the cut-off date for submission of online applications for the Marriage Grant Scheme for Ex-Servicemen (ESM) for the financial year 2026-27.
The extension has been announced because the KSB website was under maintenance/non-functional during the period from 18 August 2026 to 7 September 2026, causing inconvenience to applicants who were required to submit their applications within the prescribed 180-day period.
According to KSB letter No. 195/Welfare/Misc/2026-27 dated September 2026, eligible applicants whose 180-day application period expired between 18 August 2026 and 7 September 2026 have been permitted to submit their applications on the KSB portal up to 30 September 2026.
KSB Marriage Grant 2026: Important Update
The latest KSB communication provides a special extension only for applicants affected by the KSB website maintenance period.
| Particular | Details |
| Scheme | Marriage Grant for Daughter of ESM / Remarriage of Widow |
| Financial Year | 2026-27 |
| Normal application period | Within 180 days from date of solemnization of marriage |
| Website maintenance period | 18 August 2026 to 7 September 2026 |
| Specially affected applicants | Those whose 180-day period expired between 18 August and 7 September 2026 |
| Extended last date | 30 September 2026 |
| Application mode | Online through KSB portal |
| Implementing organisation | Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) |
The KSB letter specifically states that such cases will be treated as eligible even though the original 180-day cut-off has expired.
Who Can Get KSB Marriage Grant?
The KSB Marriage Grant is a welfare scheme under the Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF), funded from the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.
The scheme provides financial assistance for:
- Marriage of a daughter of an eligible Ex-Serviceman.
- Marriage of an orphan daughter of an eligible Ex-Serviceman, subject to the applicable conditions.
- Remarriage of the widow of an eligible Ex-Serviceman.
The KSB welfare scheme information published by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare states that the scheme is available to pensioner and non-pensioner ESM up to the rank of Havildar in the Army and equivalent rank in the Navy and Air Force. Assistance is applicable for up to two daughters and also for widow remarriage. (
Marriage Grant Amount
There has been an important revision in the amount of the grant.
The Ministry of Defence approved an increase in the Marriage Grant from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000 per beneficiary. The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare has also recorded that the enhanced welfare assistance came into effect from 1 November 2025. (
Therefore, the current revised amount is:
₹1,00,000 per beneficiary
The assistance is applicable for up to two daughters, while the same grant is applicable for eligible widow remarriage under the scheme.
Important: Older KSB/official welfare pages and publications may still display ₹50,000 because they have not necessarily been updated after the 2025 revision. The Ministry of Defence’s subsequent revision and PIB information confirm the enhanced amount of ₹1 lakh from 1 November 2025.
180-Day Rule for Marriage Grant
Normally, an eligible applicant has to submit the online application within 180 days from the date of solemnization of marriage.
This deadline is important because applications submitted after the prescribed period can become time-barred under the KSB scheme procedure. KSB’s published processing instructions have specifically emphasised the 180-day requirement.
Special Extension for 2026
The September 2026 KSB letter provides a specific relaxation because of the KSB website’s non-functionality.
The relaxation covers applicants:
- whose 180-day eligibility period fell between 18 August 2026 and 7 September 2026, and
- who were consequently affected by the KSB website maintenance/non-functionality.
Such applicants can now submit their applications online up to 30 September 2026.
This is a case-specific extension and should not be understood as a general extension of the 180-day period for every Marriage Grant applicant.
Example of the Special Extension
Suppose an eligible ESM’s daughter’s marriage took place on a date such that the normal 180-day application deadline fell between 18 August 2026 and 7 September 2026.
If the applicant could not submit the application because the KSB website was unavailable during the specified maintenance period, the applicant can use the special extension and submit the application by 30 September 2026.
Applicants whose normal 180-day deadline falls outside the specified period should continue to follow the normal scheme timeline.
Documents Required for KSB Marriage Grant
The KSB scheme procedure requires supporting documents to establish the applicant’s eligibility and the marriage.
The documents generally include:
- PPO, wherever applicable.
- Service document/Discharge Book of the ESM.
- Gallantry award Part-II order, wherever applicable.
- Proof of age of the daughter.
- Marriage certificate issued by the Marriage Registrar.
- Applicant’s certificate/declaration regarding non-receipt of similar financial assistance from the State Government/other source, as applicable.
- Bank account details, such as the first page of the bank passbook or a duly printed cancelled cheque showing the account holder’s name, account number and IFSC.
- Aadhaar card.
- Other documents prescribed by KSB/ZSB depending upon the applicant’s circumstances.
The official welfare information lists the PPO, discharge/service documents, proof of daughter’s age, marriage certificate, bank details and Aadhaar among the documents for the scheme.
How to Apply for KSB Marriage Grant
The application is submitted online through the Kendriya Sainik Board portal.
The general process is:
Step 1: Registration on KSB Portal
Eligible ESM/widow applicants need to register on the KSB website and create their login credentials.
Step 2: Login to the KSB Portal
After registration, log in using the credentials provided by KSB.
Step 3: Select Marriage Grant Scheme
Select the relevant Financial Assistance for Daughter’s Marriage/Widow Remarriage scheme from the welfare schemes available on the portal.
Step 4: Fill in Applicant and Beneficiary Details
Enter the required details carefully, including:
- ESM/service details
- Applicant details
- Daughter/widow details
- Marriage details
- Bank account details
Step 5: Upload Documents
Upload clear and legible copies of all documents required by KSB.
Step 6: Submit the Application
Submit the application online within the prescribed period.
The application is subsequently processed through the Zila Sainik Board (ZSB) and Rajya Sainik Board (RSB) before being processed by KSB, according to the scheme’s established procedure.
Important Points for Applicants
Apply within the extended deadline
For applicants covered by the September 2026 KSB relaxation, the extended deadline is:
30 September 2026
Do not wait until the last date
Applicants covered by the relaxation should submit their applications as early as possible rather than waiting until 30 September.
Check documents carefully
Differences in names, service numbers, bank details or other information can result in observations during verification.
Marriage certificate is important
The date of solemnization of marriage is particularly important because the normal eligibility period is calculated from the marriage date.
Keep application details safely
After submitting the application, applicants should keep their application number and copies/screenshots of the submitted application and uploaded documents for future reference.
KSB Marriage Grant: Who Should Take Note of This Extension?
This September 2026 extension is particularly relevant to:
- Ex-Servicemen eligible under the KSB Marriage Grant scheme.
- Widows of eligible Ex-Servicemen applying for remarriage assistance.
- Eligible applicants whose daughter’s marriage took place within the relevant period and whose 180-day deadline expired between 18 August and 7 September 2026.
- Applicants who were unable to complete online submission because of the KSB website maintenance/non-functionality during the specified period.
The KSB notification specifically directs Rajya Sainik Boards and Zila Sainik Boards to inform eligible/affected ESMs about the extension.
Where to Get Official Information
The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) lists the KSB welfare schemes and identifies the KSB as the nodal organisation implementing these welfare schemes through the network of Rajya Sainik Boards and Zila Sainik Boards.
Conclusion
The Kendriya Sainik Board has provided an important special extension up to 30 September 2026 for Marriage Grant applicants whose normal 180-day application period expired between 18 August and 7 September 2026, when the KSB website was affected by maintenance/non-functionality.
Eligible applicants falling within this specific category should use the extended period to complete their online applications. Applicants outside this category should continue to follow the normal 180-day application requirement.
The KSB Marriage Grant is a significant welfare assistance scheme for eligible lower-rank Ex-Servicemen and their families. Following the 2025 revision, the Marriage Grant was enhanced to ₹1 lakh per beneficiary, with assistance applicable to up to two daughters and to eligible widow remarriage.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the September 2026 KSB communication supplied for this update and official Ministry of Defence/DESW information. Applicants should verify the latest scheme instructions and document requirements on the KSB portal before submission.