Uttar Pradesh will double the one-time grants and annual annuities provided to gallantry award recipients, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced at an ex-servicemen reunion in Meerut on Saturday, 14 November 2026. The decision covers recipients of the Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal and Vayu Sena Medal, besides other specified gallantry and distinguished service awards.
The announcement also included measures for ex-servicemen and families of soldiers who died in the line of duty. The exemption from stamp duty on property purchases will rise from ₹20 lakh to ₹50 lakh. Dependants of such soldiers will be given preference for government employment in their home districts or adjoining districts, allowing them to remain closer to their families, according to the chief minister.
“From the revolutionary soil of Meerut, I make this announcement for the families of our brave soldiers: both the one-time lump-sum amount and the annuity for gallantry award recipients will be doubled,” Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said.
Revised benefits for major awards
The revised amounts announced at the event will substantially increase the state support attached to the three highest military decorations listed in the announcement:
| Award | One-time grant | Annual annuity |
|---|---|---|
| Param Vir Chakra | ₹1.04 crore | ₹6.2 lakh |
| Maha Vir Chakra | ₹62 lakh | ₹4.7 lakh |
| Vir Chakra | ₹41.6 lakh | ₹2.7 lakh |
Before the revision, Param Vir Chakra recipients received a one-time grant of ₹52 lakh and an annual annuity of ₹3.1 lakh. The corresponding figures for Maha Vir Chakra recipients were ₹31 lakh and ₹2.3 lakh, while Vir Chakra recipients received ₹20.8 lakh and ₹1.3 lakh respectively. The chief minister said the same doubling principle would apply to the other eligible awards covered by the announcement.
Support for military families
Adityanath said the employment preference would be extended to dependants of soldiers from Uttar Pradesh who died while serving the nation. The arrangement is intended to provide employment in the family’s home district or a neighbouring district rather than requiring a dependant to move farther away. The Sainik Welfare Department will be involved in coordinating the measure, according to the announcement.
At the Meerut gathering, the chief minister also felicitated Veer Naris and highlighted the state’s contribution to the armed forces. He said 2,685 soldiers from Uttar Pradesh had died in the service of the nation. The event was organised by the Pashchim UP Sub Area Command as an ex-servicemen rally.
Adityanath also referred to Uttar Pradesh’s expanding role in defence manufacturing, citing the production of BrahMos missiles in Lucknow and AK-203 rifles in the state. The remarks placed the welfare announcements alongside the state government’s emphasis on defence production and the continuing support of military veterans and their families.
