The Centre has amended the Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Central Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1979, to extend Ex-Servicemen (ESM) status to officers of the Military Nursing Service (MNS), the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said on Tuesday.
The amendment modifies Section 2(c)(i) of the Rules to explicitly include the Military Nursing Service of the Indian Union within the definition of an Ex-Serviceman. The revised provision now covers personnel who have served in any rank, whether combatant or non-combatant, in the Regular Army, Navy, Air Force or the Military Nursing Service.
With this change, MNS officers will be placed on par with other uniformed services for the purpose of post-retirement benefits. Officers retiring or being released from service will now be eligible for benefits available to Ex-Servicemen under government policy, including reservation and age concessions in Central Civil Services and posts, along with related welfare measures.
The Military Nursing Service functions under the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), alongside the Army Medical Corps and Army Dental Corps. MNS officers are commissioned officers who serve across Army, Navy and Air Force medical establishments, providing nursing care in military hospitals and medical support during operations and emergencies.
The reform is expected to benefit the MNS officers with immediate effect.
