Ex-Servicemen (ESM), disabled veterans and families of Armed Forces personnel who died in action have specific employment reservation and priority provisions in Central Government recruitment, Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) and Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
The most important recent development is the DoP&T Compendium of Guidelines on Reservation for Ex-Servicemen dated 25 December 2025, which consolidates the applicable instructions. The Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare (DESW) lists this Compendium as its current reservation reference. In addition, DoP&T issued a further amendment on 9 February 2026, restoring/including Military Nursing Service (MNS) in the definition of Ex-servicemen.
This article explains the current position for Ex-Servicemen, disabled veterans, war widows/Veer Naris and eligible dependents, including reservation in Central Government jobs, PSUs and Public Sector Banks.
Quick Summary: ESM Reservation in 2026
| Recruitment sector | Reservation for ESM |
| Central Government – Group ‘C’ direct recruitment | 10% |
| Central Government – Group ‘D’ direct recruitment | 20% |
| Central Para-Military Forces, up to Assistant Commandant level | 10% |
| Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) – Group ‘C’ | 14.5% |
| CPSUs – Group ‘D’ | 24.5% |
| Public Sector Banks – Group ‘C’ | 14.5% |
| Public Sector Banks – Group ‘D’ | 24.5% |
| Disabled ESM + dependents of service personnel killed in action in PSBs/CPSUs | 4.5% within the 14.5%/24.5% ESM quota |
The Central Government figures of 10% for Group C and 20% for Group D are stated in the DoP&T reservation framework. The 14.5%/24.5% figures for CPSUs and Public Sector Banks, including the 4.5% component for disabled ESM and dependents of personnel killed in action, are also repeatedly confirmed in Government/PIB records.
1. What Is the Latest DoP&T Order on ESM Reservation?
The most important recent document specifically dealing with ESM reservation is:
DoP&T Office Memorandum No. DOPT-1766747426976 dated 25 December 2025 – “Compendium of Guidelines on Reservation for Ex-Servicemen.”
DESW’s official website lists this Compendium dated 25 December 2025 among its current circulars. The Department of Financial Services also published the same Compendium for implementation/reference in the banking sector.
The Compendium consolidates instructions concerning:
- definition of Ex-Servicemen;
- reservation percentage;
- horizontal reservation;
- reservation roster;
- age relaxation;
- educational qualification relaxation;
- application/examination fee exemption;
- carry-forward of vacancies;
- priority in appointment;
- notification of vacancies to DGR and Sainik Boards;
- liaison officers and monitoring of reservation implementation.
Important 2026 amendment
On 9 February 2026, DoP&T notified the Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Central Civil Services and Posts) Amendment Rules, 2026, G.S.R. 115(E).
The amendment specifically added the Military Nursing Service of the Indian Union to the relevant definition of Ex-servicemen under the 1979 Rules. It came into force on publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Reservation for Ex-Servicemen in Central Government Jobs
Under the current DoP&T framework, ESM reservation is horizontal, not vertical.
For direct recruitment, the principal figures are:
Central Government
- 10% of vacancies in Group ‘C’ posts
- 20% of vacancies in Group ‘D’ posts
- 10% of vacancies in posts up to the level of Assistant Commandant in the specified Central para-military forces
The reservation applies to eligible vacancies filled through direct recruitment under the applicable rules. The Compendium also states that certain permanent vacancies initially filled temporarily and temporary vacancies likely to continue for three months or more can fall within the framework.
The original DoP&T rules and subsequent Government reports have consistently recorded the 10%/20% Central Government reservation structure.
3. What Does “Horizontal Reservation” Mean?
This is one of the most important points for ESM candidates.
Ex-Servicemen reservation is horizontal reservation.
It operates across the existing social categories rather than creating a completely separate vertical category.
For example, if an eligible OBC Ex-Serviceman is selected against an ESM-reserved vacancy, the candidate is adjusted against the appropriate OBC category. Similarly, an SC ESM candidate is adjusted against SC and an UR candidate against the corresponding UR category.
DoP&T’s material describes ESM reservation as horizontal in nature.
Simple example
Suppose a recruitment has an ESM-reserved vacancy and the selected candidate belongs to the OBC category.
That selection does not necessarily mean that the ESM vacancy becomes an additional vacancy over and above the normal OBC/SC/ST/UR structure.
The ESM reservation is adjusted horizontally.
This is why candidates should not calculate ESM reservation simply by adding 10% to the vertical reservation percentages.
4. Reservation in PSU Jobs for Ex-Servicemen
For Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs), the Government’s published framework provides:
Group ‘C’
14.5% reservation in direct recruitment
Group ‘D’
24.5% reservation in direct recruitment
Importantly, this ESM quota includes 4.5% for Disabled Ex-Servicemen and dependents of service personnel killed in action. Government answers placed before Parliament have repeatedly recorded these figures.
Therefore, eligible families of personnel killed in action should not assume that the employment provision is meant only for the veteran himself.
5. Reservation in Public Sector Banks
The same important employment reservation structure has been prescribed for Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
The Government has stated that:
- 14.5% of direct recruitment vacancies in Group ‘C’ posts are reserved for ESM;
- 24.5% of direct recruitment vacancies in Group ‘D’ posts are reserved for ESM;
- this includes 4.5% for Disabled ESM and dependents of service personnel killed in action.
These provisions trace back to Government instructions of the Ministry of Finance and Department of Economic Affairs relating to banking-sector recruitment and have been reiterated in later Government/PIB replies.
The Department of Financial Services currently identifies recruitment, welfare and reservation policy relating to ESM in Public Sector Banks, Public Sector Insurance Companies, Public Financial Institutions and related institutions as part of its assigned work.
Important caution for bank applicants
A candidate should always check the current recruitment notification of the particular Public Sector Bank.
The historical Group C/Group D terminology does not always map neatly onto the modern designations used in bank recruitment advertisements. Therefore, eligibility and category claims should be made exactly according to the recruitment notification and applicable Government instructions.
6. Special 4.5% Provision for Disabled ESM and Dependents of Personnel Killed in Action
This is particularly important for war widows/Veer Naris.
Within the ESM reservation in CPSUs and Public Sector Banks, the Government has prescribed 4.5% for Disabled Ex-Servicemen and dependents of service personnel killed in action.
The Government’s published information specifically states that this category includes dependents of service personnel killed in action.
The DESW’s official battle-casualty information also records this employment provision.
Does this mean every widow automatically gets the 4.5% quota?
No.
The candidate must satisfy the applicable definition and documentary requirements, and the recruitment must be one to which the reservation applies.
The recruitment notification may require a prescribed certificate establishing the relationship, casualty status and other eligibility conditions.
7. Employment Priority for War Widows and Dependents
There is an additional and important provision for employment under Central Government rules.
The DoP&T framework provides priority for disabled Ex-Servicemen and eligible family members of defence personnel who were killed or severely disabled in service.
The underlying Government instructions provide for up to two family members/dependents of defence personnel killed in service or severely disabled, with the widow included among the eligible family members for the relevant priority provision.
This is generally referred to as Priority-II-A in the relevant appointment framework.
Who can fall within the family/dependent provision?
Depending upon the applicable rule and circumstances, the family can include:
- widow;
- son;
- daughter;
- certain other near relations who agree to support the family.
The precise eligibility must be established under the applicable instructions and recruitment procedure.
8. War Widow vs. Dependent: Do Not Confuse the Categories
There is an important distinction.
War Widow / Veer Nari
A widow whose husband died in circumstances qualifying as death in action/battle casualty or under the relevant military-service criteria.
Dependent of personnel killed in action
This can include eligible family members such as the widow, son or daughter, subject to the applicable rules.
Disabled Ex-Serviceman
A veteran whose disability meets the conditions prescribed under the ESM rules.
These categories can have different documentation, priority and reservation provisions.
Therefore, simply describing every defence widow as an “ESM candidate” can create confusion. The candidate should claim the category specifically mentioned in the recruitment notification.
9. Priority-I for Disabled Ex-Servicemen
Under the Central Government employment priority framework, disabled Ex-Servicemen whose disability is attributable to military service receive priority for specified Group C and Group D employment.
The DoP&T explanatory material states that disabled Ex-Servicemen, whether disabled during wartime or peacetime, where the disability is attributable to military service, are accorded Priority-I for the relevant appointment framework.
This is different from the separate ESM reservation percentage.
Reservation and priority are related but not identical concepts.
10. Priority-II-A for Dependents of Battle Casualties
The Government framework provides Priority-II-A for eligible family members of defence personnel who were killed in service or severely disabled and became unfit for employment, subject to the prescribed conditions.
Up to two family members may receive the benefit under the applicable provisions, and the widow is specifically included within the family definition.
This is particularly relevant for families of:
- personnel killed in action;
- personnel severely disabled in service and rendered unfit for employment;
- eligible battle-casualty families meeting the prescribed conditions.
11. Age Relaxation for Ex-Servicemen
Reservation is not the only employment benefit.
The DoP&T Compendium also provides age-relaxation provisions.
For Group B Non-Gazetted, Group C and Group D posts, an eligible Ex-Serviceman may deduct the period of actual military service from his actual age.
If the resulting age does not exceed the prescribed maximum age by more than three years, the age condition is treated as satisfied under the stated rule.
For certain Group A and Group B posts, different age-relaxation provisions apply depending upon whether recruitment is through an All India Competitive Examination or otherwise.
Therefore:
Do not simply add a fixed number of years to your age. Calculate age relaxation according to the type of post and recruitment method.
12. Application/Examination Fee Exemption
The DoP&T ESM guidelines also provide exemption from payment of examination/application fee for eligible Ex-Servicemen under the applicable Central Government recruitment instructions.
However, the applicant should still carefully select the ESM category in the online application.
A candidate should not assume that merely possessing a discharge book automatically results in fee exemption if the application is incorrectly submitted under another category.
13. Educational Qualification Relaxation
There are also provisions allowing educational qualification relaxation in specified circumstances.
For example, under the Compendium, relaxation may be considered for certain reserved Group C vacancies where the prescribed qualification is relatively low, provided the ESM has the required Armed Forces service and is otherwise considered suitable.
There are also provisions under which a matriculate Ex-Serviceman with at least 15 years of Armed Forces service may be considered for certain Group C posts for which graduation is prescribed, subject to the conditions specified in the rules.
This is not an automatic relaxation for every graduate-level government job. The conditions of the particular post must be examined.
14. What Happens If ESM Candidates Are Not Available?
The reservation rules also contain provisions for carry-forward of unfilled ESM vacancies in specified circumstances.
For Central Government Group C and Group D recruitment, unfilled ESM vacancies may be carried forward according to the prescribed rules, subject to the applicable ceiling and time limits.
The 2025 Compendium explains that ESM reservation is horizontal and provides a framework for carry-forward before the vacancy can ultimately be filled by a non-ESM candidate under the prescribed conditions.
Therefore, an unfilled ESM vacancy should not automatically be treated as an ordinary vacancy in the same recruitment cycle without following the prescribed procedure.
15. 100-Point ESM Reservation Roster
Government establishments are required to maintain a separate vacancy-based roster for ESM reservation.
For a 10% reservation, the identified points in the 100-point roster include:
1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 and 91.
For example, if 23 vacancies are plotted in a 10% ESM roster, points 1, 11 and 21 fall within the ESM-reserved points.
The roster is maintained as a running account from year to year.
This is important because ESM reservation is based on the prescribed roster/vacancy mechanism, not simply on multiplying every recruitment advertisement by a percentage without reference to the applicable roster.
16. Vacancies Should Be Notified to DGR and Sainik Boards
The DoP&T Compendium says that reserved vacancies should be identified and notified to:
- Directorate General Resettlement (DGR)
- Rajya Sainik Boards
- Zila Sainik Boards
The guidelines provide for preferably three months’ advance notice to these organizations.
This mechanism is intended to improve access to employment opportunities for veterans and eligible candidates.
17. What About State Government Jobs?
The Central Government ESM reservation rules should not automatically be applied to State Government jobs.
States and Union Territories can have their own:
- ESM reservation percentages;
- priority categories;
- age relaxation;
- eligibility criteria;
- recruitment procedures.
Government sources have specifically noted that State Governments provide their own reservation/priority policies for Ex-Servicemen.
Therefore, a veteran applying for a West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra or other State Government job should check that State’s current rules separately.
18. Important Documents for ESM/War Widow Candidates
Candidates should keep the following documents ready, depending upon their category:
For Ex-Servicemen
- Discharge Book/Discharge Certificate
- PPO, wherever relevant
- ESM identity card
- Service certificate
- Relevant disability certificate, if applicable
- Caste/category certificate, if applicable
- Educational certificates
- Date-of-birth proof
- Prescribed ESM certificate/undertaking
For War Widows/eligible dependents
Depending upon the recruitment rules:
- death/battle-casualty certificate;
- relationship certificate;
- widow certificate, where prescribed;
- dependency certificate, where applicable;
- service records/casualty documents;
- prescribed certificate from competent military/State authority;
- educational certificates;
- identity and age documents.
The exact certificate format can differ between recruiting organisations.
19. What If an Ex-Serviceman Has Already Taken a Civil Job?
This is another frequently misunderstood issue.
The DoP&T framework provides that an Ex-Serviceman who has already secured regular civil employment under the Central Government generally cannot repeatedly claim the ESM reservation benefit for another appointment.
However, there is an important protection for applications that were made before joining the first civil employment.
If an ESM had already applied for other vacancies before joining civil employment, the relevant benefit can continue for those earlier applications subject to the prescribed self-declaration/undertaking requirements.
This is why veterans should maintain a record of:
Advertisement → Application date → Joining date of first civil employment.
20. Does the 2026 MNS Amendment Change the Reservation Percentage?
No new ESM percentage was created by the February 2026 amendment.
The 9 February 2026 amendment changed the definition of Ex-Servicemen in the 1979 Rules by expressly including the Military Nursing Service of the Indian Union.
The existing Central Government reservation structure continues to be:
- 10% – Group C;
- 20% – Group D;
- 10% – specified para-military posts up to Assistant Commandant.
Thus, the MNS amendment should not be described as a new “10% quota” or “20% quota.” It is primarily a definition/eligibility amendment.
21. PSU/Bank Reservation vs Central Government Reservation
This distinction is extremely important.
| Feature | Central Government | CPSUs / Public Sector Banks |
| Group C ESM quota | 10% | 14.5% |
| Group D ESM quota | 20% | 24.5% |
| Disabled ESM + dependents of personnel killed in action | Special priority provisions apply | 4.5% included within ESM quota |
| Nature | Horizontal | Government-prescribed ESM framework |
| Age relaxation | As per DoP&T rules | Recruitment rules/notification |
| State jobs | Not covered | Not applicable unless separately prescribed |
| Current principal reference | DoP&T ESM Compendium, 25.12.2025 | Government/DFS/PSB instructions + recruitment notification |
The 14.5% and 24.5% figures for PSBs/CPSUs have been specifically confirmed in Government and Parliamentary records.
22. Common Mistakes Made by ESM Applicants
❌ Mistake 1: Assuming every government job has ESM reservation
ESM reservation depends on the applicable rules, post, recruitment method and organisation.
❌ Mistake 2: Treating ESM as vertical reservation
ESM is generally horizontal reservation.
❌ Mistake 3: Assuming every defence widow automatically gets 4.5%
The 4.5% provision relates to Disabled ESM and dependents of service personnel killed in action within the applicable PSB/CPSU ESM reservation framework. Eligibility and documentation must be established.
❌ Mistake 4: Assuming all State Government jobs follow DoPT rules
State governments have their own policies.
❌ Mistake 5: Ignoring the recruitment notification
The notification remains essential for determining the actual application procedure, certificate format, crucial date, age calculation and vacancy category.
23. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How much reservation is available for Ex-Servicemen in Central Government jobs?
Generally, 10% in Group C and 20% in Group D direct recruitment, subject to the applicable rules.
Q2. What is the ESM quota in Public Sector Banks?
The Government’s published framework provides 14.5% in Group C and 24.5% in Group D direct recruitment, including the 4.5% provision for Disabled ESM and dependents of service personnel killed in action.
Q3. Do war widows get employment reservation?
Eligible widows/dependents of Armed Forces personnel killed in action can receive benefits under the applicable ESM employment provisions, including the specified 4.5% component in PSBs/CPSUs and the applicable Central Government priority provisions.
Q4. Can a son or daughter of a battle casualty apply?
An eligible dependent may receive the benefit subject to the applicable definition, priority and certificate requirements.
Q5. Is ESM reservation horizontal?
Yes. ESM reservation is horizontal and is adjusted against the candidate’s applicable vertical category.
Q6. Is there age relaxation?
Yes. The extent depends upon the post, group and recruitment method. For specified Group B Non-Gazetted, Group C and Group D posts, military service can be deducted from actual age subject to the prescribed three-year condition.
Q7. Is there examination-fee exemption?
Eligible ESM candidates are generally exempt from the applicable Central Government examination/application fee under the relevant instructions.
Q8. What is the latest ESM reservation Compendium?
The latest specifically identified DoP&T Compendium of Guidelines on Reservation for Ex-Servicemen is dated 25 December 2025. DESW lists it on its official website.
Q9. What changed in February 2026?
The Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Central Civil Services and Posts) Amendment Rules, 2026 added the Military Nursing Service to the relevant ESM definition.
Q10. Does the Central Government quota automatically apply to State Government jobs?
No. State Governments have separate reservation and recruitment policies.
24. Key Takeaways for Ex-Servicemen and War Widows
The current framework can be remembered through these numbers:
🇮🇳 Central Government
10% – Group C
20% – Group D
10% – specified para-military posts up to Assistant Commandant
🏢 CPSUs & 🏦 Public Sector Banks
14.5% – Group C
24.5% – Group D
4.5% – Disabled ESM + eligible dependents of service personnel killed in action, within the applicable ESM quota
The reservation is horizontal, and separate provisions exist for priority, age relaxation, educational qualification relaxation, fee exemption and carry-forward.
Latest Official References
For publication on ESM Info Club, I recommend linking readers primarily to the following Government sources:
- Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare (DESW): its official circular listing records the Compendium of Guidelines on Reservation for Ex-Servicemen dated 25 December 2025.
- Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT): the underlying Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Central Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1979 and related instructions.
- Department of Financial Services (DFS): handles policy matters concerning ESM reservation in Public Sector Banks and has published the 2025 Compendium.
- Press Information Bureau (PIB): Government confirmation of the 14.5%/24.5% PSB and CPSU reservation and 4.5% component.
- DGR: official material on reservation for Ex-Servicemen in Central Government, CPSUs and Public Sector Banks
- 2026 Gazette notification: G.S.R. 115(E), dated 9 February 2026, amending the ESM Rules to include Military Nursing Service.