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Government Extends ECHS Benefits to Cadets Disabled During Training
The government has announced that officer cadets who suffer medical disabilities during military training and are forced to leave will now be covered under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).
The decision, taken on humanitarian grounds, aims to ease the financial and emotional burden on affected families. Until now, these cadets were not eligible for ECHS benefits as they do not hold ex-servicemen (ESM) status.
The move will apply to cadets who were medically boarded out before completing training and those who may face similar situations in the future. According to an official statement, the initiative ensures free OPD care at ECHS polyclinics and cashless treatment for OPD, IPD, and diagnostic services at empanelled hospitals.
The facility will be provided only to the individual cadet, who must comply with ECHS regulations and should not be part of any other government health scheme. Notably, the one-time subscription fee of ₹1.2 lakh, usually charged to ESM officers, will not be applicable.
Although only a small number of cadets are affected annually, their families often face significant challenges. At present, these cadets receive a monthly ex-gratia payment and a disability award based on severity (20%–100%). The new benefit adds comprehensive healthcare support without financial caps.
Launched in 2003, ECHS currently serves over 63 lakh beneficiaries through 30 regional centres, 448 polyclinics, and more than 3,000 empanelled hospitals across India.
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Published: Aug 29, 2025
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