Uttar Pradesh Announces Double Gallantry Award Payments and ₹50 Lakh Stamp Duty Relief Limit

The news

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Saturday that the state government will double the lump-sum and annual payments made to gallantry award recipients who are residents of the state. The announcement was made at a mega ex-servicemen's rally in Meerut. The measures also include raising the property valuation limit for stamp duty relief for ex-servicemen and dependants of martyred soldiers from ₹20 lakh to ₹50 lakh, and a commitment to provide jobs to dependants of martyred soldiers in their home district or a nearby district.

Under the existing structure, a Param Vir Chakra recipient receives a lump sum of ₹52 lakh and an annual payment of ₹3.12 lakh from the state. After the doubling, these amounts will become ₹1.04 crore and ₹6.24 lakh respectively. For the Maha Vir Chakra, the existing lump sum of ₹31 lakh and annual payment of ₹2.37 lakh will be doubled. The Chief Minister listed similar existing payments for other awards including the Vir Chakra (₹20.80 lakh lump sum, ₹1.37 lakh annual), Ashoka Chakra (₹32.50 lakh, ₹1.50 lakh), Kirti Chakra (₹19.50 lakh, ₹1.30 lakh), Shaurya Chakra (₹13 lakh, ₹65,000), Sena Medal or Vayu Sena Medal (₹1 lakh, ₹15,000), Mention in Despatches (₹52,000, ₹13,000), Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (₹3,120, ₹12,000), Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (₹2.60 lakh, ₹11,000), and Yudh Seva Medal (₹83,200, ₹10,000). All these amounts are to be doubled.

The Chief Minister said that the state government had earlier raised the ex gratia amount for a martyr's family from ₹20 lakh before 2017 to ₹50 lakh, and that assistance of ₹59.50 crore had been provided to 150 families so far. A provision for employing a dependant of a martyred soldier has been in place since 2018.

What are the gallantry awards mentioned in the announcement?

The awards listed in the announcement are national honours conferred by the Government of India for acts of bravery or distinguished service in the armed forces. The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest wartime gallantry award, instituted on 26 January 1950. The Maha Vir Chakra is the second-highest wartime gallantry award, and the Vir Chakra is the third-highest, both also instituted on the same date. The Ashoka Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award, followed by the Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra, all three instituted on 4 January 1952. The Sena Medal and Vayu Sena Medal were instituted on 17 June 1960, while the Yudh Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal and Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal were instituted on 26 June 1980 to recognise distinguished service in a war or conflict environment.

What was the earlier arrangement for gallantry award payments?

Uttar Pradesh has been providing financial support to gallantry award recipients and families of martyred soldiers. The state reported that the ex gratia amount for a martyr's family had been raised from ₹20 lakh before 2017 to ₹50 lakh. A provision for employing a dependant of a martyred soldier has operated since 2018.

How will the doubling affect different award categories?

The announced doubling applies separately to lump-sum and annual state payments, so both components must be revised. For Param Vir Chakra recipients, the existing amounts of ₹52 lakh and ₹3.12 lakh correspond to ₹1.04 crore and ₹6.24 lakh respectively after doubling. A higher property valuation limit may extend the scope of stamp duty relief. The announcement should be distinguished from a completed payment or appointment.