There is a misleading message doing the rounds on WhatsApp pertaining to donation to a particular bank account for the modernisation of the Indian Army and for the soldiers injured or killed in action. The message quotes a Cabinet decision to this effect and invokes the name of actor Shri Akshay Kumar as being the prime mover of the proposal.

The account details in the said message are wrong, leading to online donations getting dishonoured. People must remain cautious and not fall prey to such fraudulent messages.

The Government has initiated several welfare schemes for soldiers killed or disabled during active combat operations.

• In 2020, Government instituted ‘Armed Forces Battle Casualty Welfare Fund (AFBCWF)’ which is utilised for grant of immediate financial assistance to the families of soldiers/sailors/airmen who lay down their lives or get grievously injured in active military operations. The Indian Army, on behalf of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence maintains the accounts for the fund. Contribution can be made directly in the account of Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund. Details of the bank accounts are given below:

1^st Account

2^nd Account

Donations can also be made through a Demand Draft drawn in favor of AFBCWF payable at New Delhi which may be sent by post to the following address:

Accounts Section

Adjutant General’s Branch

Ceremonial & Welfare Directorate

Room No 281-B, South Block

IHQ of MoD (Army), New Delhi – 110011

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VK/Savvy