ECHS Medical Benefits Now Extended to Officer Cadets Invalidated on Medical Grounds — Registration Process Explained

ECHS Medical Benefits Now Extended to Officer Cadets Invalidated on Medical Grounds — Registration Process Explained

ECHS has issued an important order about the registration procedure for granting medical facilities to Officer Cadets who are invalidated from training on medical grounds due to causes attributable to or aggravated by military training.

The order, dated 26 September 2025, was circulated from the Adjutant General’s Branch, Integrated Headquarters of MoD (Army), Delhi Cantt, to all Commands and Regional Centres.

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As per the Government of India, Ministry of Defence (DESW) letter dated 29 August 2025, Officer Cadets who are released from training on medical grounds will now be eligible for free medical facilities under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). The government has also waived the one-time subscription fee of ₹1.20 lakh normally required to join the scheme.

Under this new provision, eligible Officer Cadets can:

• Apply for ECHS membership and accept its rules.
• Avail medical facilities for self only (dependents not covered).
• Access free OPD services from ECHS polyclinics.
• Get cashless OPD, IPD, and investigations at empanelled ECHS hospitals.
• Ensure they are not members of any other government health scheme.

Registration Process (Online Application):

1. Visit echs.sourceinfosys.com and register as a new applicant.
2. Select category “Ex-Servicemen (Pensioner)” and fill in service details including Service Number (Cadet No).
3. Enter a valid mobile number and email ID, create a password, and complete registration.
4. Log in using your credentials and choose the correct applicant category — “Pre-1996 retiree”, “1996–2003 retiree”, or “Post-2003 retiree not a member yet”.
5. Fill in personal details such as Date of Birth, Gender, Rank (Officer Cadet), and Service (Army/Navy/Air Force).
6. Upload required documents — PPO and Attributability to Military Service Certificate.
7. Carefully select the Parent Polyclinic under the correct Regional Centre, as this will remain fixed.
8. Once verified by the Record Office and CO ECHS, print the temporary slip, get it countersigned by OIC Polyclinic, and start availing ECHS services.
9. The printed ECHS card will later be dispatched to the Parent Polyclinic/Station HQ, and the cadet will receive an SMS OTP when it’s ready for collection.

The ECHS has clarified that this facility is only for individual cadets and dependents like parents, spouse, or children cannot be added. All ECHS polyclinics have been instructed to display this order prominently for information.