20 Tamil Nadu Police personnel honoured with Presidential Service Medals on Independence Day
Synopsis
On Independence Day 2025, the Union government honoured 20 Tamil Nadu Police personnel with Presidential service medals — 3 for Distinguished Service and 17 for Meritorious Service. The awardees span the state's most critical units: coastal security, cyber crime, anti-corruption, and intelligence, with several women officers among the recognised.
Key Takeaways
20 Tamil Nadu Police personnel selected for Presidential service medals on 15 August 2025 .
3 officers receive the President's Medal for Distinguished Service : K.
Vijay Anand , and S.
17 personnel awarded the Medal for Meritorious Service , representing units including the Coastal Security Group , Cyber Crime Wing , and DVAC .
Awardees span ranks from Sub-Inspector to Additional Superintendent of Police .
Several women officers are among the honoured, reflecting growing representation in specialised policing roles.
Twenty personnel from the Tamil Nadu Police have been selected for prestigious Presidential service medals announced by the Union government on the occasion of Independence Day, 15 August, officials confirmed. The honours span two categories — the President's Medal for Distinguished Service and the Medal for Meritorious Service — recognising contributions across investigative, intelligence, coastal security, and cyber crime wings.
Distinguished Service Medal Recipients
Three senior officers have been chosen for the President's Medal for Distinguished Service, the higher of the two honours, which recognises an exceptional record in policing. The recipients are K. Ramachandran, Additional Superintendent of Police at the Virudhunagar Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption; J. Vijay Anand, Additional Superintendent of Police at Chennai 'Q' Branch CID; and S. Kumar, Assistant Commandant of the Tamil Nadu Special Police IX Battalion, Manimuthar.
Meritorious Service Medal Awardees
The remaining 17 personnel have been selected for the Medal for Meritorious Service, which honours sustained professional commitment and exemplary performance. The awardees represent a cross-section of the state's policing apparatus, including the Coastal Security Group, Crime Branch-CID, State Intelligence, Cyber Crime Wing, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), and the Tamil Nadu Special Police.
Among those honoured are M. Somasundaram, Additional Superintendent of Police Headquarters, Salem; K. Shivashankar, Additional Superintendent of Police (Coastal Security Group), Nagapattinam; P. Govindaraju, Additional Superintendent of Police Headquarters, Tirupathur; and S. Shanmugam, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Muthukulathur.
Also recognised are S. Manimaran, Assistant Commandant of Tamil Nadu Special Police XIII Battalion, Avadi; I. Jeya Princess, CBCID Inspector, Thoothukudi; C. Mathimaran, SBCID Inspector, Chennai; P. Mariappan, Security Branch CID Inspector, Chennai; K. Saraswathi, CBCID Inspector, The Nilgiris; and S. Lakshmi, CBCID Inspector, Tiruchi.
The list further includes G. Batharunissa Begum, Crime Record Bureau Inspector, Tirupur; K. Gopal, DVAC Inspector, Chennai; C. Lakshmi, 'Q' Branch CID Inspector, Chennai; and S. Malathi, Cyber Crime Wing Inspector, Chennai. Sub-Inspectors N. Sathuragiri ('Q' Branch CID, Chennai), R. Senthil Kumar (Special Branch, Tiruchi), and S. Baskar (Intelligence Section, Chennai) round out the awardees.
What the Awards Signify
The Independence Day honours underline the breadth of responsibilities shouldered by the Tamil Nadu Police — from combating corruption and investigating organised crime to securing the coastline and responding to emerging cyber threats. Notably, several of the awardees are women officers, reflecting the growing representation of women across specialised policing units in the state.
Broader Context
Presidential police medals are among the highest civilian honours conferred on law enforcement personnel in India and are announced twice yearly — on Republic Day (26 January) and Independence Day (15 August). This year's Tamil Nadu tally of 20 medals spans units that collectively address the state's most complex security challenges, from coastal infiltration to digital fraud.
Point of View
Cyber crime, anti-corruption, and intelligence all feature, mirroring the state's evolving threat landscape. What stands out is the number of women officers recognised across specialised investigative wings, a quiet indicator of structural change in a force historically dominated by men. Presidential police medals are awarded twice a year, yet they rarely get the public attention they deserve; the officers on this list have, in many cases, worked in units that operate well outside the public eye. The recognition is warranted — but so is a wider conversation about resourcing these units adequately.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Tamil Nadu Police personnel received Presidential medals on Independence Day 2025?
A total of 20 Tamil Nadu Police personnel were selected for Presidential service medals on Independence Day 2025. Of these, 3 received the President's Medal for Distinguished Service and 17 were awarded the Medal for Meritorious Service.
Who are the recipients of the President's Medal for Distinguished Service from Tamil Nadu?
The three recipients are K. Ramachandran (Additional Superintendent of Police, Virudhunagar DVAC), J. Vijay Anand (Additional Superintendent of Police, Chennai 'Q' Branch CID), and S. Kumar (Assistant Commandant, Tamil Nadu Special Police IX Battalion, Manimuthar).
What is the difference between the Distinguished Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal?
The President's Medal for Distinguished Service recognises an exceptional overall record in policing, and is the higher of the two honours. The Medal for Meritorious Service recognises sustained professional commitment and exemplary performance over a career.
Which Tamil Nadu Police units are represented among the 2025 awardees?
The awardees come from a wide range of units including the Coastal Security Group, Crime Branch-CID, State Intelligence, Cyber Crime Wing, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, the Tamil Nadu Special Police, and various district headquarters.
When are Presidential police medals typically announced in India?
Presidential police medals are announced twice a year in India — on Republic Day (26 January) and Independence Day (15 August). They are among the highest honours conferred on law enforcement personnel by the Union government.
