Efforts to bring financial inclusion to defence service retirees and their families under the bank’s ‘Parivartan’ programme
New Delhi, March 06, 2025: India’s leading private bank – HDFC Bank today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Air Force and CSC Academy through the Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff – Accounts and Air Veterans. On the occasion of this day, Project Haqq (Air Veteran Welfare Centre) – Serving Those Who Served was launched. Project Haqq has been designed to provide assistance and services to defence pensioners, ex-servicemen and their families.
Initially, 25 centers have been proposed in Air Force units like New Delhi, Bengaluru, Gurgaon, Pune, Secunderabad, Guwahati, Jodhpur and Chandigarh.
HDFC Bank, under its transformation programme, will provide financial inclusion to retired defence personnel and their families. The bank will provide skill development and training in financial products and services through the CSC Academy run by Common Service Centre e-Governance Limited, so that they become financially empowered.
The signing of the MoU was attended by Air Marshal P.K. Ghosh AVSM-Air Officer in Charge Administration , Smt . Smita Bhagat , Group Head – HDFC Bank , Mr. Sanjay Rakesh , President , CSC Academy and other senior officials of Indian Air Force , HDFC Bank and CSC e-Governance.
Shri Satyen Modi , The MoU was signed by Executive Vice President and Business Head , Alternate Banking Channels and Partnerships – HDFC Bank , Air Vice Marshal Upesh Sharma VSM – Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Accounts and Air Retirees) and Mr. Praveen Chandekar , CEO-CSC Academy.
Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Smita Bhagat said, ‘This MoU demonstrates our commitment to the welfare of retired Indian Air Force personnel and their families. The bank deeply respects the contribution that the armed forces make to the country. Through these centers, we aim to provide essential banking services to retired soldiers, ex-servicemen and families of martyrs.’
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sanjay Rakesh said, ‘It is our honour to bring G2C and Sparsh Pension Seva to the retired soldiers, ex-servicemen and their heirs of our Air Force, helping those who served us. This further strengthens our commitment for their welfare.’
Through this service, the defence personnel/ex-servicemen and their families will be provided with the benefits of more than 500 G2C and B2C services including Aadhaar services, NPS, PAN card , passport , bill collection etc. HDFC Bank will help in settlement related issues to help pensioners/pensioners’ heirs. Service centers will be set up for this. They will also get access to HDFC Bank’s product portfolio and services. They will also get easy and convenient access to digital banking products.
As part of this MoU, HDFC Bank will play a key role in interacting with and supporting the defence personnel/retirees and their families in the country. The individuals managing the service centres will be trained by the CSC Academy. They will also be provided with a monthly financial subsidy for the first year.