Those who were released between 01 Jul 66 and 30 Jun 68 (both days inclusive) - Any person who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union, has been released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.

Those who were released between 01 Jul 68 and 30 Jun 71 (both days inclusive) - Any person who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months and released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.

Those who were released between 01 Jul 71 and 30 Jun 74(both days inclusive) - Any person who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union and has been released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.

Those who were released between 01 Jul 74 and 30 Jun 79(both days inclusive) - ESM means a person who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or non -combatant) in the Armed forces of the Union, for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation and has been released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.

Those who were released between 01 Jul 79 and 30 Jun 87(both days inclusive) - Any person who has served in any rank (whether as combatant or not) in the armed forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation if discharged for reasons other than at their own request or by way or dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency and not less than five years’ service if discharged at own request.

Those who were released on or after 01 Jul 87 - Any person who has served in any rank (whether as combatant or not) in the armed forces of the Union and was released/retired with any kind of pension from Defence Budget or released on completion of specific terms of engagement with gratuity otherwise than at his own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.

Personnel of Territorial Army - Who are pension holders; for continuous embodied service, persons with disability attributable to military service and gallantry award winners retired on or after 15 Nov 86.

Personnel of Army Postal Service - Personnel of Army Postal Service, who are a part of regular Army and retire from such service (that is directly from APS without reversion to P&T Department) with a pension or who have been released from such service on medical grounds attributable to military service or circumstances beyond their control and awarded medical or other disability pension shall come within the definition of ex-servicemen.
Note: As per Govt. of India, Min of Def/Department of ESW OM No 1(9)/2010/D(Res-I) dated 20/21 Jul 2011, personnel who were on deputation in APS for more than six months prior to 14 Apr 87 would also be considered as ex-servicemen with all consequential benefits.

Recruits - Who are boarded out/released on medical grounds and granted medical/disability pension. However, the operation of the OM has been kept in abeyance for issuance of notification by DOP&T.

Those who were released on or after 10 Oct 2012 - An ex-servicemen means a person-

1. Who has served in any rank whether as a combatant or non-combatant in the Regular Army, Navy and Air Force of the Indian Union and
   1. Who either has been retired or relieved or discharged from such service whether at his own request or being relieved by the employer after earning his or her pension; or
   2. Who has been relieved from such service on medical grounds attributable to military service or circumstances beyond his control and awarded medical or other disability pension; or
   3. Who has been released from such service as a result of reduction in establishment;

or

2. Who has been released from such service after completing the specific period of engagement, otherwise than at his own request, or by way of dismissal, or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency and has been given gratuity; and includes personnel of the Territorial Army, namely, pension holders for continuous embodied service or broken spells of qualifying service;

or

3. Personnel of the Army Postal Service who are part of Regular Army and retired from the Army Postal Service without reversion to their parent service on medical grounds attributable to or aggravated by military service or circumstances beyond their control and awarded medical or other disability pension;

or

4. Personnel, who were on deputation in Army Postal Service for more than six months prior to the 14th April,1987;

or

5. Ex-recruits boarded out or relieved on medical ground and granted medical disability pension irrespective of the date of boarding out/release.

Note: The eligibility of the person to the status of ex-servicemen will be governed by the definition in vogue at the time of his discharge and will not be affected by the changes in the definition subsequent to the discharge.