MNS officers to be eligible for re-employment benefits
Context: The Union Government has notified the Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Central Civil Services & Posts) Amendment Rules, 2026 under Article 309 of the Constitution, formally expanding the definition of ex-servicemen to include personnel of the Military Nursing Service (MNS).
- The amendment revises Rule 2(c)(i) to explicitly cover those who have served in any rank — combatant or non-combatant — in the Regular Army, Navy or Air Force, as well as the Military Nursing Service of the Indian Union. The change removes a long-standing ambiguity over the eligibility of MNS officers, who are commissioned officers, for re-employment benefits available to other veterans.
- MNS personnel are now entitled to the same re-employment provisions as other ex-servicemen.
Article 309 of the Constitution of India
👉 Provision relating to Recruitment and Conditions of Service of persons serving the Union or a State
Meaning and Scope
Article 309 provides that:
- Parliament (for Union services) and State Legislatures (for State services) have the power to make laws regulating the recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts.
- Until such laws are enacted,
- The President (for Union services) and
- The Governor (for State services)
may make rules regulating these matters.
Key Features
- Covers service conditions such as recruitment, pay, promotion, transfer, disciplinary action, and retirement of government employees.
- Rules made by the President or Governor under Article 309 have statutory force.
- If Parliament or a State Legislature later enacts a law, that law will prevail over the rules.
In Brief
Article 309 forms the constitutional basis of civil services administration in India, ensuring a legal framework for governing the service conditions of government employees.