Himachal Pradesh has reported ₹17.09 crore in financial assistance and welfare grants for 2,263 defence-related beneficiaries during FY 2025-26.
The support was provided through the Sainik Welfare Department and covered different categories including elderly beneficiaries, gallantry award winners, dependants of personnel killed or disabled in action and War-Jagir beneficiaries.
However, there is one important clarification:
₹17.09 crore is not a newly launched September 2026 scheme. It represents welfare assistance provided during the financial year 2025-26.
Together, these four groups account for 2,263 beneficiaries.
₹6.13 crore under the Old Age Pension Scheme
The largest beneficiary group by number was covered under the Old Age Pension Scheme.
A total of 968 beneficiaries received ₹6.13 crore during FY 2025-26.
This forms an important part of the state’s welfare support for the elderly defence community.
1,084 gallantry award winners received ₹3 crore
Himachal Pradesh also reported ₹3 crore in assistance for 1,084 gallantry award winners.
This is the largest beneficiary category in terms of the number of recipients.
₹7.62 crore for 57 defence dependants
Another major component of the expenditure was directed towards families affected by death or disability during defence service.
The state reported ₹7.62 crore for 57 dependants of defence personnel who were killed or disabled in action.
Although the number of beneficiaries is smaller, this category accounts for one of the largest financial allocations in the welfare breakup.
154 War-Jagir beneficiaries received ₹20.83 lakh
Under the War-Jagir component, 154 beneficiaries received ₹20.83 lakh during the financial year.
Other defence-welfare expenditure also reported
The September update contains several additional welfare measures beyond the four main beneficiary groups.
The state reported:
₹6 lakh for the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centres at Pune and Mohali.
₹6.74 lakh for maintenance of Sainik Welfare Buildings.
₹75,000 immediate assistance for the Next of Kin of Armed Forces personnel who die during service.
These measures form part of the broader defence-welfare framework.
Support also extends to future Armed Forces aspirants
The state’s defence-related expenditure is not restricted to ex-servicemen and existing beneficiaries.
During FY 2025-26, ₹2.28 crore was sanctioned for Army Recruitment Rallies in:
Kangra
Hamirpur
Mandi
Shimla
In addition, ₹10.26 crore was provided to the Major Somnath Sharma Training Academy at Barchwar in Mandi for strengthening training and preparatory facilities for young people aspiring to join the Armed Forces.
These amounts should be understood separately from the ₹17.09 crore beneficiary-assistance figure.
Is ₹17.09 crore a new September 2026 benefit?
No.
This is the most important point for ex-servicemen and defence families reading the update.
The ₹17.09 crore figure relates to assistance and grants provided during FY 2025-26.
A similar disclosure of more than ₹17 crore for the same financial year and 2,263 beneficiaries had already appeared earlier in 2026. The September disclosure provides the updated consolidated breakup.
Therefore, it should not be interpreted as:
“Every ex-serviceman in Himachal Pradesh will now receive money from a new ₹17.09 crore scheme.”
That would be incorrect.
What does the ₹17.09 crore figure actually show?
The figure shows how welfare expenditure was distributed across different defence-related groups rather than representing one single benefit.
The support covered:
elderly defence beneficiaries;
gallantry award winners;
dependants of personnel killed or disabled in action;
War-Jagir beneficiaries;
rehabilitation support; and
welfare infrastructure.
The wider state effort also included recruitment rallies and training facilities for Armed Forces aspirants.
Final takeaway
The Himachal Pradesh defence-welfare update shows that ₹17.09 crore was provided during FY 2025-26, with 2,263 beneficiaries covered across four major categories.
The key numbers are:
₹6.13 crore — 968 Old Age Pension beneficiaries
₹3 crore — 1,084 gallantry award winners
₹7.62 crore — 57 dependants of killed or disabled defence personnel
₹20.83 lakh — 154 War-Jagir beneficiaries
The important distinction is that this is a consolidated account of welfare assistance for FY 2025-26, not the announcement of a new ₹17.09 crore cash-benefit scheme in September 2026.
Sources:-
The Tribune — 28 September 2026
₹17 crore released for welfare of soldiers and families in Himachal
UNI — 27 September 2026
Himachal government extends ₹17.09 crore welfare assistance to 2,263 defence beneficiaries
The Tribune — 4 March 2026
Earlier FY 2025-26 disclosure of over ₹17 crore for veterans
Economic Times — March 2026
Himachal government disburses over ₹17 crore for ex-servicemen welfare
Director Public Relations, Shimla material reproduced by India News Calling — 27 September 2026
Read the state-government communication reproduction
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