Are There Financial Benefits Attached to Military Awards?

While military awards such as the Param Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, and others are primarily conferred to recognize acts of bravery, courage, and self-sacrifice, there are also financial benefits attached to these awards in India. These benefits aim to honor the recipients for their exceptional service and provide support to them or their families, especially in the case of posthumous awards or those who have sustained injuries in the line of duty.

Financial Benefits Attached to Military Awards:

Increased Pension and Allowances:

Military personnel who receive gallantry awards like the Param Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, or Ashoka Chakra may be eligible for an increase in their pension and allowances.

• Gallantry award recipients are typically granted higher pensions as a mark of recognition for their bravery and service to the nation.
• The paramilitary and defense personnel who receive these awards may receive specialized allowances and financial support in the form of war injury pensions if the award was earned during combat operations.

War Injury Compensation:

For soldiers who are awarded military honors while injured during combat, there are provisions for compensation and rehabilitation.

• Financial compensation may be given to the family of a soldier posthumously awarded for their sacrifices or if the soldier is severely injured.
• Soldiers with permanent disabilities resulting from injuries sustained in battle can receive war injury pensions and disability benefits as part of the financial support for their service.

Ex-Gratia Payments:

In addition to the pensions, soldiers or their families may receive ex-gratia payments, which are one-time financial assistance for outstanding service, bravery, or injuries sustained.

• This is particularly applicable for those awarded the Param Vir Chakra or Vir Chakra.
• The Government of India also offers financial assistance in the form of one-time monetary benefits to the families of deceased soldiers who have received these gallantry awards.

Government Jobs and Support:

While not a direct financial benefit tied to the award itself, recipients of gallantry awards may have an advantage when applying for government jobs or in seeking special employment opportunities, often with higher pay scales.

Compassionate appointments (in case of death or incapacitation of a recipient) ensure that the families of awardees receive financial stability through government employment.

Special Benefits for Awardees:

Some awards, like the Param Vir Chakra, also confer special recognition in the form of honorary ranks, special allowances, and even free medical facilities for the recipients and their families.

• Soldiers awarded the Param Vir Chakra or Maha Vir Chakra may also be entitled to special housing benefits or free education for their children, provided by various government schemes aimed at supporting defense personnel.

Tax Exemptions:

Gallantry awards such as the Param Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra are often exempt from income tax under Indian tax laws. This means that the monetary benefits and pensions received due to these awards are non-taxable, which is an additional financial relief for awardees and their families.

Recognition in Social Benefits:

Awardees and their families may also receive social security benefits, such as healthcare, travel concessions, and educational scholarships for their children, which indirectly contribute to their financial welfare.

The Armed Forces Flag Day Fund and various other organizations provide financial assistance and support for the families of gallantry awardees in cases where they are in need of additional help.

Example of Financial Support:

Example 1:

Captain Vikram Batra, posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his actions in the Kargil War, was also recognized with financial benefits like a higher pension for his family, as well as state honors and government schemes for his parents and siblings. His parents were also given the benefit of free medical treatment and educational support for his siblings.

Example 2:

Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously for his bravery during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war, was provided ex-gratia payments for his family, alongside the pension and other benefits that are part of the financial relief for gallantry award recipients.

Conclusion:

Military awards like the Param Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, and Ashoka Chakra come with significant financial benefits aimed at recognizing and supporting the brave actions of military personnel. These benefits help ease the financial burden on awardees and their families, especially in the case of disability, death, or severe injury sustained during active service. The government ensures that these individuals are adequately supported with pensions, compensation, ex-gratia payments, and other welfare benefits to honor their courage and service to the nation.