The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand announced on Sunday, 26 July 2026 that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has raised the ex-gratia amount paid to Param Vir Chakra awardees from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2 crore, marking a significant enhancement in the state government's veteran welfare commitments.

Context

Addressing the announcement, CM Dhami stated — translated from Hindi — 'Veer sainikon ke samman ke prati hamari sarkar purnatah samarpit hai' ('Our government is fully dedicated to honouring brave soldiers'). He declared the enhancement as part of an ongoing effort to recognise the supreme sacrifice and extraordinary valour of gallantry awardees. The announcement was made on 26 July, which is observed nationally as Kargil Vijay Diwas, commemorating India's victory in the 1999 Kargil War.

Policy Backdrop

The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest wartime gallantry award, instituted in 1950, conferred for acts of extraordinary valour in the face of the enemy. Uttarakhand, with its deep-rooted military tradition — particularly from the Garhwal and Kumaon regions — has consistently maintained active veteran welfare policies alongside central government schemes. Indian states periodically revise ex-gratia payments for recipients of national gallantry awards, and this enhancement follows that broader pattern of state-level supplementation of central benefits.

The revised amount of Rs 2 crore represents an increase of Rs 50 lakh over the previous ex-gratia figure of Rs 1.5 crore. These state disbursements function independently of the pensions and benefits provided by the central government to Param Vir Chakra awardees and their families.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of this revision are recipients of the Param Vir Chakra and, in cases where the awardee is deceased, their next of kin. Uttarakhand has one of the highest per-capita representations in the Indian armed forces among all Indian states, making veteran welfare a politically and socially significant policy area. The enhancement signals the state government's intent to position Uttarakhand as a leader in recognising military sacrifice at the state level.

Defence veterans' groups and families of gallantry awardees are the direct stakeholders, while the broader ex-servicemen community in the state watches such announcements closely as indicators of the government's overall commitment to armed forces welfare.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the budgetary provisions and the disbursement mechanism through which the revised Rs 2 crore ex-gratia will be operationalised. Observers will also watch for any parallel announcements covering recipients of other high gallantry awards such as the Mahavir Chakra. The announcement, made on Kargil Vijay Diwas, is likely to be followed by formal orders from the state government detailing eligibility criteria and timelines for disbursement.