The Centre on Saturday announced 942 service medals, including 95 for gallantry, for personnel of various central and state police forces on the eve of India’s 76th Republic Day.
Last year, 1,132 service medals – including 277 for gallantry – were awarded by the Centre.
According to the Union Home Ministry, out of the 95 gallantry awards, 28 have been awarded to security personnel, including the local police, for their service in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas and 28 medals went to security forces in the Jammu and Kashmir region, while three medals were awarded to personnel in the North-East and 36 others to personnel from other regions. Fire services personnel won 17 medals.
Among the gallantry awards, 19 were won by personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for bravery in LWE-affected areas, while five went to personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF) and the remaining were awarded to security personnel from other states/Union territories and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
Medals for Gallantry (GM) are awarded on the “ground of rare conspicuous act of gallantry and conspicuous act of gallantry respectively in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals”, as per a central government release. The risk incurred will be estimated with due regard to the obligations and duties of the officer concerned.
The list published by the Union Home Ministry contains the names of personnel who have been decorated with the President’s Medal for Gallantry, Police Medal for Gallantry, President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
Out of 101 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service (PSM), 85 have been awarded to personnel in the police service, five to those in the fire service, seven to personnel in civil defence home guard service and four to those in correctional service.
Out of 746 Medals for Meritorious Service (MSM), 634 have been awarded to police service, 37 to fire service, 39 to civil defence & home guard service and 36 to correctional service.
The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service is awarded for special distinguished record in service and Medal for Meritorious Service is awarded for valuable service characterised by resource and devotion to duty.
