The National Defence Fund was set up to take charge of voluntary donations in cash and kind received for promotion of the national defence effort, and to decide on their utilisation. The Fund is used for the welfare of the members of the Armed Forces (including Para Military Forces) and their dependents. The Fund is administered by an Executive Committee, with PM as Chairperson, and Defence, Finance and Home Ministers as Members. Finance Minister is the Treasurer of the Fund and the Joint Secretary, PMO dealing with the subject is Secretary of the Executive Committee. Accounts of the Fund are kept with the Reserve Bank of India.Collection account number of NDF is 11084239799 with State Bank of India, Institutional Division, 4th Floor, Parliament Street, New Delhi. IFSC Code of the Branch is SBIN0000691. The fund has also been allotted a Permanent Account Number of NDF is XXXXXX009F
The Income and Expenditure Statement of the NDF for last five years is follows:-
| Year | Total Expenditure (Rs. in crore) |
Receipt (Rs. in crore) |
Balance (Rs. in crore) |
31.03.2019 | 17.49 | 103.85 | 1200.97 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31.03.2020 | 54.62 | 103.04 | 1249.96 |
| 31.03.2021 | 52.51 | 87.04 | 1284.49 |
| 31.03.2022 | 70.75 | 90.64 | 1304.38 |
| 31.03.2023 | 77.76 | 110.74 | 1337.36 |
Schemes under the National Defence Fund
1. A scholarship scheme to encourage technical and post graduation education for the widows and wards of the deceased personnel of Armed Forces, Para Military Forces, all State Police and Railway Protection Force is being implemented. The scheme is being implemented by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence in respect of armed forces. Ministry of Home Affairs is the implementing agency for the personnel of Para Military Forces and State Police Force. Ministry of Railways is the implementing agency for the personnel of Railway Protection force.
Salient Features of "PM's Scholarship Scheme" being implemented out of National Defence Fund:-
The scheme applies to Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces, State Police Forces and Railway Protection Force.
Monthly scholarships are awarded to
(a) The wards of Ex-service personnel (below officer rank only),
(b) Widows and wards of widows of serving personnel and Ex-service personnel despite their ranks.
(c) In case of state police officials, wards of only those police officials, who are martyred during any terror/naxal attacks. Scholarships are available for education at technical institutions (medical, dental, veterinary, engineering, MBA, MCA, and other equivalent technical professions with suitable AICTE/UGC approval).
Under the scheme, every year number of new scholarship given is 5500 for wards of Armed Forces controlled by Ministry of Defence, 2000 for wards of Paramilitary Forces and 500 for wards of State Police officials under Ministry of Home Affairs and 150 for the wards of Railway Protection Forces controlled by Ministry of Railways.
The existing rate of scholarship is Rs. 2500/- per month for boys and Rs. 3000/- per month for girls.
2. Annual grant of Rs. 15 lakh from NDF is being released to the SPG Family Welfare Fund to undertake various welfare activities for the benefit of its personnel and their families.
3. Grants are released annually to the Ministry of Defence for purchase of books and other reading materials for the personal of the three Defence Services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the Coast Guard. The Existing scale of grant is Rs.55 lakh for Army, Rs.37 lakh for Air Force, Rs. 32 lakh for Navy and Rs.2.50 lakh for Coast Guard total amounting to Rs.126.50 lakh.
(Updated as on 15.04.2023)