A total of 1.7 lakh freedom fighters and their eligible dependents have been granted freedom fighters pension since the scheme was launched in 1972, the government said Tuesday.
Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh said in a statement in the Lok Sabha that the maximum of 24,883 beneficiaries came from undivided Bihar.
This was followed by West Bengal (22,516), undivided Uttar Pradesh (17,999), Maharashtra (17,960) and Andhra Pradesh (15,261).