The Ministry of Home Affairs administers the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana, a Central Sector Scheme providing pensions to freedom fighters and their eligible dependents. As of the latest data, the scheme has 12,898 total beneficiaries comprising 1,553 freedom fighters and 11,345 dependents (9,776 spouses and 1,569 daughters).
State-wise distribution shows Telangana has the highest number of beneficiaries at 2,812 (606 freedom fighters, 2,171 spouses, 35 daughters), followed by West Bengal with 1,912 beneficiaries (52 freedom fighters, 1,171 spouses, 689 daughters), and Maharashtra with 1,437 beneficiaries (153 freedom fighters, 1,193 spouses, 91 daughters). Union Territories collectively have 559 beneficiaries, with Jammu & Kashmir having the highest at 366 (32 freedom fighters, 267 spouses, 67 daughters).
The pension structure provides different amounts based on category: Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners receive ₹30,000 basic pension plus ₹16,800 dearness relief (total ₹46,800 monthly); freedom fighters who suffered outside British India receive ₹28,000 basic plus ₹15,680 DR (total ₹43,680); other freedom fighters including INA receive ₹26,000 basic plus ₹14,560 DR (total ₹40,560). Dependent parents and eligible daughters (maximum three at any time) receive 50% of the amount admissible to the freedom fighter.
Additional benefits include free lifetime railway passes in 2nd/3rd AC classes including Duronto, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Jan Shatabdi trains for freedom fighters and spouses with one companion; free medical facilities under Central Government Health Services and PSU hospitals; and free transit stay with meals at State Bhawan, New Delhi for freedom fighters and eligible dependents with one companion.
The scheme undergoes third-party evaluation at each Finance Commission cycle transition, with the last evaluation conducted by Indian Institute of Public Administration in December 2020 for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle. The evaluation for continuation beyond this cycle has been assigned to Quality Council of India, New Delhi. Policy guidelines provide for twice-yearly dearness relief revisions and occasional basic pension revisions, with the basic pension last revised effective August 15, 2016, and dearness relief last revised effective July 1, 2025, at 56%.