Dearness Relief for Freedom Fighter Pensioners Increased to 51%

Key Highlights

Dearness Relief (DR) for Central Freedom Fighter Pensioners increased by 3% to a total of 51%, effective from July 1, 2024.
Updated pension amounts for various categories of freedom fighters have been outlined.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced an enhancement in the Dearness Relief (DR) for Central Freedom Fighter Pensioners, including their spouses and eligible dependents. As per the notification dated December 17, 2024, the DR rate has been increased from 48% to 51%. The revised rates apply retrospectively from July 1, 2024.

This adjustment follows the general enhancement of DR for Central Government pensioners, approved by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare on October 30, 2024.

Revised Pension Amounts

Below is the updated monthly pension for different categories of freedom fighters after incorporating the new DR rate of 51%:

Category of Freedom Fighters	Basic Pension (₹/Month)	Enhanced Pension with 51% DR (₹/Month)
Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners/Spouses	₹30,000	₹45,300
Freedom Fighters Who Suffered Outside British India/Spouses	₹28,000	₹42,280
Other Freedom Fighters/Spouses, Including INA	₹26,000	₹39,260
Dependent parents/eligible daughters (maximum 3 daughters at any point of time)	50% of the sum that would have been admissible to the freedom fighters, i.e. in the range of Rs.13,000/- to Rs.15,000/-	50% of the sum that would have been admissible to the freedom fighters, i.e. in the range of Rs.19,630/- to Rs.22,650/-

Important Clarifications

Tax Deduction at Source (TDS): The policy explicitly states that Central Samman Pension is exempt from TDS as per the guidelines dated August 6, 2014.
The notification includes directives to relevant authorities for implementation, including State Governments, UT Administrations, and authorized banks.

Next Steps

This decision aims to ensure financial security for those who contributed to India’s independence and their families. Beneficiaries are advised to check with their respective pension disbursing authorities to confirm the updated amounts.

View original letter: