RMEWF Penury Grant Statistics: Beneficiaries, Payments and States
· 1 min read · 4 official sources
The RMEWF Penury Grant reached 10,411 non-pensioner ex-servicemen and widows in 2023-24, with Rs 49.99 crore paid, according to the Ministry of Defence in the Lok Sabha. The grant doubled to Rs 8,000 a month for applications from 1 November 2025. Year-wise and state-wise figures are below.
Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund - Penury Grant: key numbers
Infographic
Penury Grant beneficiaries by year
Ex-servicemen and widows who received the Penury Grant each year, from Annexure A to Lok Sabha unstarred question 698 answered on 29 November 2024.
| Year | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 7,335 |
| 2020-21 | 12,520 |
| 2021-22 | 12,486 |
| 2022-23 | 12,392 |
| 2023-24 | 10,410 |
Source: sansad.in, as on 29 November 2024
Penury Grant payments by year
Beneficiaries and amount paid under the Penury Grant, from Lok Sabha unstarred question 910 answered on 26 July 2024. The grant was Rs 4,000 a month in these years.
| Year | Amount paid (Rs crore) | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 59.95 | 12,486 |
| 2022-23 | 59.49 | 12,392 |
| 2023-24 | 49.99 | 10,411 |
Source: sansad.in, as on 26 July 2024
Top 12 states by Penury Grant cases (2023-24)
Penury Grant cases sanctioned in 2023-24 by Rajya Sainik Board state, from the state-wise RMEWF annexure to Lok Sabha unstarred question 698 of 29 November 2024.
| State | Cases sanctioned |
|---|---|
| Punjab | 2202 |
| Kerala | 1632 |
| Rajasthan | 1541 |
| Maharashtra | 1334 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 709 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 531 |
| Uttarakhand | 509 |
| Karnataka | 313 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 274 |
| Telangana | 242 |
| Tamil Nadu | 230 |
| Mizoram | 123 |
Source: sansad.in, as on 31 March 2024
How the Penury Grant is claimed
What the numbers show
The Penury Grant is a small, targeted scheme. Around 10,000 to 12,500 elderly non-pensioner ex-servicemen and widows have received it each year since 2020-21, according to Ministry of Defence replies in the Lok Sabha. In 2023-24 the count was 10,411 and payments totalled Rs 49.99 crore.
The trend over the years
The number of beneficiaries jumped from 7,335 in 2019-20 to 12,520 in 2020-21 and stayed near that level for two more years before falling to about 10,400 in 2023-24. Payments followed the same pattern: Rs 59.95 crore in 2021-22, Rs 59.49 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 49.99 crore in 2023-24. All of these years were at the old rate of Rs 4,000 a month, which had applied since 1 April 2017.
State differences
The grant is concentrated in states with many former soldiers. In 2023-24 Punjab had the most cases sanctioned with 2,202, followed by Kerala (1,632), Rajasthan (1,541) and Maharashtra (1,334). Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand each had 500 to 700 cases.
The 2025 increase
On 15 October 2025 the Raksha Mantri approved doubling the grant to Rs 8,000 a month for applications submitted from 1 November 2025. Payments at the new rate are not yet reflected in any published year-wise figures.
What the figures do not tell you
The two Lok Sabha replies differ by one case for 2023-24 (10,410 and 10,411). State tables count cases sanctioned by each Rajya Sainik Board, so a person who moved states is counted where the claim was processed. The replies do not report how many applications were rejected or pending.
Frequently asked questions
How many people get the RMEWF Penury Grant?
10,411 beneficiaries received the Penury Grant in 2023-24, according to a Lok Sabha reply of 26 July 2024. The number was 12,486 in 2021-22 and 12,392 in 2022-23.
How much is paid under the Penury Grant each year?
Rs 49.99 crore was paid in 2023-24, Rs 59.49 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 59.95 crore in 2021-22, at the old rate of Rs 4,000 a month.
What is the Penury Grant amount now?
Rs 8,000 a month for applications submitted from 1 November 2025, after the Raksha Mantri approved doubling it from Rs 4,000, as announced by PIB on 15 October 2025.
Which state has the most Penury Grant beneficiaries?
Punjab had the most cases sanctioned in 2023-24 with 2,202, followed by Kerala with 1,632 and Rajasthan with 1,541.
Why did beneficiary numbers fall in 2023-24?
The official replies give the counts but not the reasons. The grant is lifelong and limited to non-pensioners aged 65 or more, so numbers change as old beneficiaries die and new ones apply.
Eligibility, documents and how to apply: Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund - Penury Grant full guide
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Sources
This guide was checked against these official pages:
- sansad.in (sansad.in/getFile/lsapps/loksabhaquestions/annex/182/AU910_pAKjNX.pdf?source=lsa)
- sansad.in (sansad.in/getFile/lsapps/loksabhaquestions/annex/183/AU698_xXeA4Q.pdf?source=lsa)
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2179240)
- ksb.gov.in (ksb.gov.in/ex-servicemen-penury.htm)