National Current Affairs
Armed Forces Flag Day
- 09 Dec 2025
- 2 min read
Why in News?
The nation observed the Armed Forces Flag Day on 7th December 2025, with the Defence Minister urging generous contributions to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund to support the welfare of Veer Naris, ex-servicemen, and their dependents.
Key Points
- About: Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) has been held every year on 7th December since 1949 to honor the bravery and sacrifices of Indian Armed Forces personnel, especially veterans.
- The day recognizes not only the sacrifices of fallen soldiers but also the contributions of their families, especially the war-disabled soldiers and War Widows (Veer Naris).
- AFFD Fund: The Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, originally created by the Ministry of Defence in 1949, was consolidated in 1993 by merging various welfare funds for war victims and ex-servicemen into a single unified fund.
- The Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) is responsible for administering the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF).
- KSB also formulates and implements welfare and rehabilitation schemes for ex-servicemen and their families across India.
- Digital Solutions: SAMBANDH, a WhatsApp-based chatbot, allows veterans to easily report and resolve grievances. The platform has helped address over 1,700 cases in less than a year.
- Skill Development for Women: The Nari Sashaktikaran initiative focuses on empowering women, including widows of fallen soldiers, by providing job training and opportunities for economic independence.
- Project NAMAN: It aims to simplify pension services for veterans, ensuring easier access to services such as life certificate submissions and pension disbursements.
