Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Statistics 2025: Pensioners and Funds
· 1 min read · 2 official sources
13,212 freedom fighter pensioners and 9,778 widow or spouse pensioners were still drawing the central samman pension in July 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs told Parliament. 1,71,689 pensions have been sanctioned so far, and Rs 599.29 crore was disbursed in 2024-25. Year-wise and state-wise figures are below.
Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme (SSSPS): key numbers
Infographic
Budget and money paid out, 2020-21 to 2024-25
Funds allotted and disbursed under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana in each of the last five financial years, as given by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
| Year | Budget allotted (Rs crore) | Funds disbursed (Rs crore) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 760 | 660.14 |
| 2021-22 | 717 | 717 |
| 2022-23 | 650 | 599.29 |
| 2023-24 | 589 | 539.67 |
| 2024-25 | 600 | 599.29 |
Source: pib.gov.in, as on 31 March 2025
Top 12 states by living pensioners (2025)
Central samman pensioners still alive (freedom fighter, spouse or daughter) and, separately, dependent spouse, widow or daughter pensioners, in the 12 states with the most pensioners.
| State | Pensioners still alive | Spouse, widow or daughter pensioners |
|---|---|---|
| Telangana | 3,017 | 2,165 |
| West Bengal | 1,799 | 1,095 |
| Maharashtra | 1,543 | 1,274 |
| Bihar | 988 | 693 |
| Tamil Nadu | 801 | 660 |
| Karnataka | 758 | 588 |
| Kerala | 602 | 483 |
| Goa | 406 | 304 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 387 | 314 |
| Punjab | 382 | 274 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 355 | 252 |
| Assam | 302 | 177 |
Source: pib.gov.in, as on 22 July 2025
Pensions sanctioned since the scheme began, top states (2025)
Freedom fighters and eligible dependents who have received a central pension so far. The Ministry lists some undivided states as one row, and Indian National Army veterans separately.
| State or group | Pensions sanctioned |
|---|---|
| Bihar and Jharkhand | 24,905 |
| West Bengal | 22,523 |
| Indian National Army | 22,472 |
| Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand | 18,004 |
| Maharashtra | 17,974 |
| Andhra Pradesh and Telangana | 15,286 |
| Karnataka | 10,105 |
| Punjab | 7,042 |
| Assam | 4,442 |
| Odisha | 4,197 |
| Tamil Nadu | 4,147 |
| Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh | 3,488 |
Source: pib.gov.in, as on 22 July 2025
How a samman pension is sanctioned
What the numbers show
The samman pension now goes to a small and shrinking group. The Ministry of Home Affairs told Parliament in July 2025 that 13,212 pensioners were still alive and drawing the central pension, and 9,778 widows or spouses were drawing it separately. Over the life of the scheme, 1,71,689 freedom fighters and their dependents have been sanctioned a pension.
Money paid out over five years
Disbursal fell from Rs 660.14 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 539.67 crore in 2023-24, then rose again to Rs 599.29 crore in 2024-25. The budget followed a similar path, from Rs 760 crore to Rs 589 crore and back to Rs 600 crore. Spending can rise even as pensioner numbers fall, because the basic pension of Rs 26,000 to Rs 30,000 a month carries Dearness Relief that is revised from time to time. In 2021-22 the full Rs 717 crore budget was paid out.
State differences
Telangana has by far the most living pensioners at 3,017, and also the most spouse or widow pensioners at 2,165. West Bengal and Maharashtra follow. The older count of all pensions ever sanctioned looks different: Bihar with Jharkhand leads at 24,905, followed by West Bengal and the Indian National Army group, which is counted separately from the states.
What the figures do not tell you
The Ministry does not keep state-wise spending figures, so the money cannot be split by state. The 1,71,689 figure counts sanctions since the scheme began, including pensions that ended long ago, and is not the number of people paid today. Some undivided states are reported as one row in the sanctions table.
Where to check the latest numbers
The Freedom Fighters and Rehabilitation Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs runs the scheme. Updated counts usually appear in PIB releases of written replies in Parliament.
Frequently asked questions
How many freedom fighters still get the samman pension?
13,212 central samman pensioners were still alive and drawing the pension, according to a Ministry of Home Affairs reply published by PIB on 22 July 2025. Separately, 9,778 widows or spouses were drawing it.
How many people have received the freedom fighter pension since it began?
1,71,689 freedom fighters and their eligible dependents have been sanctioned the central pension so far, as per the same July 2025 reply.
How much does the government spend on the scheme each year?
Rs 599.29 crore was disbursed in 2024-25 against a budget of Rs 600 crore. In 2020-21 the figure was Rs 660.14 crore.
Which state has the most living freedom fighter pensioners?
Telangana, with 3,017 pensioners still alive, followed by West Bengal with 1,799 and Maharashtra with 1,543, as per the July 2025 data.
Does the Ministry publish state-wise spending on the pension?
No. The Ministry of Home Affairs has said it does not maintain state-wise disbursement figures for the scheme. It publishes state-wise counts of pensioners only.
Eligibility, documents and how to apply: Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme (SSSPS) full guide
Charts, data files and the infographic are free to download, share and embed with a link back to this page.
Sources
This guide was checked against these official pages:
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2146785)
- mha.gov.in (www.mha.gov.in/en/divisionofmha/freedom-fighters-rehabilitation-division)