UP govt doubles gallantry rewards, raises stamp duty exemption for soldiers

Yogi Adityanath announced three welfare decisions for soldiers and martyrs' families in Meerut. The measures expand financial support, housing relief and access to government employment.UP CM Yogi Adityanath. (Photo: PTI)Meerut,Nov 14, 2026 16:05 ISTUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday announced three major decisions for serving and retired soldiers and the families of martyrs, including doubling the financial rewards for gallantry award winners, increasing stamp duty exemption on residential property purchases and providing jobs to the dependents of martyrs in their home districts or neighbouring districts.Addressing the Poorv Sainik Punarmilan Samaroh in Meerut, Adityanath said the decisions were aimed at honouring the contribution of soldiers and supporting their families.The first decision concerns doubling the one-time financial assistance and annual allowances given to gallantry award winners from Uttar Pradesh. Under the revised arrangement, both components of the financial assistance will be doubled.The existing benefits include Rs 52 lakh as a one-time payment and Rs 3.12 lakh as an annual allowance for Param Vir Chakra recipients. For Maha Vir Chakra recipients, the existing benefits are Rs 31 lakh as a one-time payment and Rs 2.37 lakh annually. Similarly, Vir Chakra recipients receive Rs 20.8 lakh as a one-time payment and Rs 1.37 lakh annually. Ashok Chakra awardees receive Rs 32.5 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh annually, while Kirti Chakra recipients receive Rs 19.5 lakh and Rs 1.3 lakh annually.The existing benefits for Shaurya Chakra recipients stand at Rs 13 lakh as a one-time payment and Rs 65,000 annually. Sena Medal and Vayu Sena Medal recipients receive Rs 1 lakh and Rs 15,000 annually, respectively, while those mentioned in dispatches receive Rs 52,000 as a one-time payment and Rs 13,000 annually. The government will also double the benefits for recipients of the following awards:Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal: Rs 3.12 lakh as a one-time payment and Rs 12,000 annually.Uttam Yudh Seva Medal: Rs 2.6 lakh as a one-time payment and Rs 11,000 annually.Yudh Seva Medal: Rs 83,200 as a one-time payment and Rs 10,000 annually.The second decision involves increasing the stamp duty exemption available to ex-servicemen and the dependents of martyred soldiers for purchasing a house. Adityanath announced that the exemption limit would be raised from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.Under the third decision, dependents of soldiers who have lost their lives in service will be provided government employment in their home district or a neighbouring district, close to their residence.- Ends