Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme

Launched on 15th August 1972, "Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme" is a Pension Scheme by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The scheme provides the grant of pension to living fre...

Key details

Department / Ministry: Ministry Of Home Affairs
Level: Central (all-India)
Category: Healthcare
Last date: Always open
Beneficiaries: senior, citizen

Benefits

**Category of Freedom Fighters:** Ex-Andaman Political/ Prisoners/ Spouses

**Basic Pension w.e.f. 15.08.2016 in Rupees (Per Month):** 30,000/-

**Total Amount of Pension Including 3% DR in Rupees (Per Month):** 30,900/-

**Category of Freedom Fighters:** Freedom Fighters Who Suffered Outside British India/Spouses

**Basic Pension w.e.f. 15.08.2016 in Rupees (Per Month):** 28,000/-

**Total Amount of Pension Including 3% DR in Rupees (Per Month):** 28,840/-

**Category of Freedom Fighters:** Other Freedom Fighters/ spouses including INA

**Basic Pension w.e.f. 15.08.2016 in Rupees (Per Month):** 26,000/-

**Total Amount of Pension Including 3% DR in Rupees (Per Month):** 26,780/-

**Category of Freedom Fighters:** Dependent parents/eligible daughters (maximum 3 daughters at any point of time)

**Basic Pension w.e.f. 15.08.2016 in Rupees (Per Month):** 50% of the sum that would have been admissible to the Freedom Fighter i.e. in the range of ₹ 13,000/- to ₹ 15,000/-

**Total Amount of Pension Including 3% DR in Rupees (Per Month):** 50% of the sum that would have been admissible to the Freedom Fighter i.e. in the range of ₹ 13,390/- to ₹ 15,450/-

Eligibility (who can apply)

For the purpose of granting a pension under the scheme, a freedom fighter is:

> **(a) A person who had suffered a minimum imprisonment of six months in the mainland jails before Independence.**

However, ex-INA personnel will be eligible for pension if the imprisonment/detention suffered by them was outside India.
The minimum period of actual imprisonment for pension eligibility has been reduced to three months, in the case of women and SC/ST freedom fighters from 01.08.1980.

**Explanation**

Detention under the orders of the competent authority will be considered imprisonment.
A period of normal remission of upto one month will be treated as part of actual imprisonment.
In the case of a trial ending in conviction, the trial period will be counted towards actual imprisonment suffered.
A broken period of imprisonment will be totalled up for computing the qualifying period.

**Eligible Dependents**

For the purpose of granting Samman pension, the family includes (if the freedom fighter is not alive) mother, father, widower/widow if he/she has not since remarried, and unmarried daughters.
Not more than one eligible dependent can be granted a pension and in the event of availability of more than one dependent the sequence of eligibility will be widow/widower, unmarried daughters, mother and father.

> **(b) A person who remained underground for more than six months provided he was:**

a proclaimed offender; or
one on whom an award for arrest/head was announced; or
one for whose detention order was issued but not served.

> **(c) A person interned in his home or externed from his district provided the period of internment/externment was six months or more.**

> **(d) A person whose property was confiscated or attached and sold

How to Apply

**Offline**
**Step 1:** The interested applicant should request a free copy of the [prescribed application form](https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-09/Annexure%25208%5B1%5D.pdf) from either of two officers, i.e., the State Government/UT concerned or Freedom Fighters’ Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, 1st Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi.
**Step 2:** In the application form, fill in all the mandatory fields, and attach copies of all the mandatory documents (self-attest if required).
**Step 3:** The first copy should be sent to the Chief Secretary of the State Government/Union Territory Administration concerned.
**Step 4:** The second copy should be sent to the Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, Freedom Fighters Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, First Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi – 3 as an advance copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme / what is the eligibility?

For the purpose of granting a pension under the scheme, a freedom fighter is: > **(a) A person who had suffered a minimum imprisonment of six months in the mainland jails before Independence.** 1. However, ex-INA personnel will be eligible for pension if the imprisonment/detention suffer...

What are the benefits of Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme?

**Category of Freedom Fighters:** Ex-Andaman Political/ Prisoners/ Spouses **Basic Pension w.e.f. 15.08.2016 in Rupees (Per Month):** 30,000/- **Total Amount of Pension Including 3% DR in Rupees (Per Month):** 30,900/- **Category of Freedom Fighters:** Freedom Fighters Who Suffered Outsi...

How to apply online for Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme?

**Offline** **Step 1:** The interested applicant should request a free copy of the [prescribed application form](https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-09/Annexure%25208%5B1%5D.pdf) from either of two officers, i.e., the State Government/UT concerned or Freedom Fighters’ Division,...

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Last updated: 03 Jul 2026