Now, kin of 'battle casualty' Agniveers to get Rs 1 crore

The Haryana Government has issued two notifications, providing for an ex-gratia grant of Rs 1 crore for battle casualties among Agniveers as well as a one-time cash award for winners of gallantry awards: Rs 2 crore for the Param Vir Chakra, and Rs 1 crore each for Mahavir Chakra and Ashok Chakra.

Param Vir Chakra awardee to get Rs 2 cr; Mahavir Chakra and Ashok Chakra awardee Rs 1 cr each

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With this, the government has brought Agniveers on par with other military personnel.

The state government provides an ex-gratia grant of Rs 1 crore to the families of battle casualties in defence and paramilitary forces, and has decided to extend this benefit to Agniveers in the May 5 Cabinet meeting. Battle casualty implies personnel who die in harness during bona fide official duties while serving in operational areas or war, terrorist, militant attack, or border skirmishes, and the United Nations Peace Keeping Force.

The notification for one-time cash award stated that among wartime gallantry awards, Vir Chakra awardees will receive Rs 50 lakh, Sena Medal and equivalent will receive Rs 21 lakh, and Mention-in-Despatches (gallantry) will receive Rs 10 lakh. War-time awards apply to awardees who get an award during a declared war. Previous cases shall not be reopened.

Among the peace-time gallantry awards, Kirti Chakra awardees will get Rs 51 lakh, and Shaurya Chakra awardees Rs 31 lakh. Additionally, the Sena Medal and its equivalent in the Air Force and Navy, as well as the President's Tatrakshak Medal, will receive Rs 10 lakh. The Mention-in-Despatches will get Rs 7.50 lakh, and Tatrakshak medal winners will receive Rs 6 lakh.

The distinguished service awards, including the Sena Medal, will entitle awardees to a one-time cash award of Rs 1.75 lakh. The President's Tatrakshal Medal and Tatrakshal Medal, for distinguished service, will make awardees eligible for cash awards of Rs 1.75 lakh and Rs 1.50 lakh, respectively.

The one-time cash award will not be admissible if a similar grant has been given by any other state government to the awardee (Agniveer) for the same award.

The notification, dated June 17, issued by the Additional Chief Secretary, Sainik and Ardh Sainik Welfare Department, Vijayendra Kumar, further said, “The competent authority to sanction a one-time cash award to award winners (Agniveer) is the Administrative Secretary, Sainik and Ardh Sainik Welfare Department, Haryana, and payment of which shall be made by the concerned Deputy Commissioner-cum-President, District Sainik and Ardh Sainik Welfare Office through RTGS in Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of the beneficiaries.”

A total of 1,830 Agniveers were selected from Haryana in 2022–23; 2,215 in 2023-24; and 2,108 in 2024-25. The first batch of Agniveers is scheduled to be relieved from the defence forces in 2026-27.