The Centre on Friday, 14 August announced gallantry and service medals for 1,057 personnel from the Police, Fire Service, Home Guard and Civil Defence (HG&CD), and Correctional Services ahead of Independence Day. The awards recognise acts of bravery, distinguished service, and meritorious duty across some of India's most challenging operational theatres.

Gallantry Awards: Who Got Them and Where

A total of 301 Medal for Gallantry (GM) awards were announced — 272 for police personnel and 29 for fire service personnel. The medals are conferred for conspicuous acts of bravery in saving lives and property, preventing crime, or apprehending criminals, with explicit consideration of the risks borne in the line of duty.

Of the 301 gallantry awards, the largest share — 197 — went to personnel deployed in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas. Another 51 awards recognised gallant actions in Jammu and Kashmir, while 12 went to personnel operating in the North-East. The remaining 41 awards covered personnel from other regions across the country.

CRPF Leads Among Central Forces

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) emerged as the largest recipient among central paramilitary forces, securing 86 gallantry and service medals in total. This included 24 Gallantry Medals, five President's Medals for Distinguished Service (PSM), and 57 Medals for Meritorious Service (MSM).

According to officials, the CRPF's gallantry medals were earned for two counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir and one anti-insurgency operation in Manipur, all conducted during 2024. The Border Security Force (BSF) was the only other Central Armed Police Force to receive gallantry medals, with 20 gallantry awards and 47 service medals.

Service Medals: Distinguished and Meritorious

In the service medal category, 92 personnel received the President's Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), awarded for an exceptional record of service. Of these, 83 went to police personnel, four to fire service personnel, three to Civil Defence and Home Guard personnel, and two to correctional service personnel.

A further 664 personnel received the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM), recognising valuable service marked by resourcefulness and devotion to duty. Police personnel accounted for the majority with 606 awards, followed by 28 from the Fire Service, 18 from Civil Defence and Home Guard, and 12 from Correctional Services.

Context and Significance

This is the second consecutive year in which the Centre has spotlighted LWE-theatre deployments as the dominant category for gallantry recognition, reflecting the ongoing operational intensity in states such as Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Notably, the combined tally of 1,057 medals underscores the breadth of security and emergency services that the awards programme covers — from frontline anti-Naxal units to correctional facility staff. The recognition ahead of 78th Independence Day celebrations on 15 August 2025 is expected to be formally conferred in the coming weeks.