Government to offer lifetime free rail travel to Medal of Valor recipients

New Delhi: The government has ordered a railway concession to provide lifetime free rail travel to gallantry medal recipients, defense officials said on Thursday.They added that each recipient may be accompanied by one person who will also travel for free.For a beneficiary after death, his or her parents or spouse are eligible to avail the scheme. A spouse can only continue to benefit from the plan until marriage, while for parents, the benefit is available only if the beneficiary died unmarried.“The Government of India has issued orders granting railway concessions in the form of free lifetime travel in first class/2 AC/AC chair coaches with a companion in the train. indian railways Awarded to recipients of the Sanaa/Nausena/Wayusena Medal for Gallantry/their spouses (widows/widowers until remarriage)/parents of the recipients who died unmarried,” officials told news agency ANI.‘cooperation framework‘ initiativeIndian Railways and the Army have launched a ‘collaboration framework’ to expand post-retirement employment opportunities in Agnivir and serving Army personnel transitioning to civilian life.According to the Ministry of Railways, the initiative aims to facilitate the smooth transition of retirees to jobs, raise awareness of employment prospects, and establish a support system for retirees.According to the regulations, 10% of the posts of Class II and above and 20% of the posts of Class I are reserved for retired military personnel, while 5% of the posts of Class II and above and 10% of the posts of Class I are reserved for retired military personnel. There are 14,788 reserved positions in 2024 and 2025, including 6,485 first-level positions and 8,303 second-level and above positions. Recruitment is conducted through competitive examination through RRC (Level 1) and RRB (Level 2/above).To fill vacancies more quickly, ex-servicemen are recruited as contract players. More than 5,000 first-level posts are being processed and nine divisions have signed MoUs for recruitment with Army organizations.The framework also calls on the Army recruiting agency to coordinate with the Railways to expedite recruitment.(with ANI input)