Supreme Court Takes Up Plight of Cadets Disabled During Military Training
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the difficulties faced by military cadets who are medically discharged due to disabilities sustained during training. A bench will hear the matter, prompted by reports that these cadets are not granted ex-servicemen status, depriving them of essential medical benefits and pensions available to commissioned soldiers. This judicial intervention could lead to significant policy reforms for the welfare of hundreds of such cadets discharged from institutions like the NDA and IMA.
Unpacked:
Current rules only grant ex-servicemen (ESM) status and associated benefits to personnel who are commissioned as officers or complete service as soldiers. Cadets disabled during training, being uncommissioned, are excluded from ESM status, making them ineligible for military medical benefits, unlike similarly disabled soldiers.
Discharged cadets receive an ex gratia payment of up to ₹40,000 per month, depending on the extent of disability. However, typical medical expenses often exceed ₹50,000 per month, so this support falls short of covering basic medical and living needs.
Since 1985, approximately 500 officer cadets have been medically discharged from institutions like the NDA and IMA due to training-related disabilities. At the NDA alone, around 20 cadets were discharged on medical grounds between 2021 and July 2025.
Proposals include increasing ex gratia compensation and granting ex-servicemen status to disabled cadets, making them eligible for lifelong medical care under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved a proposal for increased compensation, but implementation is pending. Former service chiefs advocate treating compensation as an entitlement, not charity.