What DGR is

The Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) is an Inter-Service organisation functioning directly under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence. Its job is resettlement and welfare support for ex-servicemen, widows and their dependants — spanning reemployment, training, and self-employment support.

1. Reemployment sponsorship

DGR sponsors ex-servicemen to government organisations, PSUs, corporate houses and the private sector based on those organisations' own requisitions for ex-servicemen employment. Two specific channels worth knowing:

  • Security Agency Scheme: DGR-sponsored private security agencies and state ex-servicemen corporations providing security services to public and private sector organisations.
  • Technical Service Scheme: supplies trained ex-servicemen manpower to government establishments.

2. Skill training and development

DGR runs resettlement training and skill development courses aimed at the evolving needs of corporate and industry employers, to help retiring and retired personnel build a genuine second career rather than relying on reemployment sponsorship alone. Course fees are partly subsidised for officers and fully funded for JCOs, other ranks, and eligible widows — a meaningful practical distinction if you're budgeting for a course.

3. Self-employment schemes

Beyond training and reemployment, DGR runs specific self-employment initiatives — including coal loading and transportation-related schemes for officers and personnel below officer rank, and tipper attachment schemes specifically for widows and disabled soldiers — along with issuing DGR eligibility certificates needed to access various ex-servicemen-specific opportunities.

Scale, for context

In the most recent reporting period we found, over 28 lakh ex-servicemen were recorded nationally, with roughly 67,000 having benefited from DGR employment and self-employment schemes, and over 11,000 retiring and retired officers, JCOs and other ranks receiving resettlement training or skill development in a single year — giving a sense of scale, though exact annual figures will naturally shift year to year.

Frequently asked questions

What is DGR?
The Directorate General Resettlement, an Inter-Service organisation under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare that runs reemployment sponsorship, skill training and self-employment schemes for ex-servicemen and widows.

Is DGR skill training free?
It's fully funded for JCOs, other ranks and eligible widows, and partly subsidised for officers.

What is the DGR Security Agency Scheme?
A scheme sponsoring private security agencies and state ex-servicemen corporations that provide security services to public and private sector organisations, employing ex-servicemen.