Gujarat Police: 6 officers win Home Minister's Medal for Investigation 2026
Synopsis
Six Gujarat Police officers have been honoured with the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Investigation-2026 — only the second cycle of an award instituted in February 2024. Announced on National Unity Day, the recognition is part of a 490-strong national list and signals a Centre-driven push to professionalise criminal investigation across India's police forces.
Key Takeaways
Six Gujarat Police officers selected for the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Investigation-2026 , announced on 31 October .
Awardees: SP Anshul Jain , ASP Simran Bhardwaj , DSP Ranjitsinh Singhal , PI Jayesh Thakor , PI Parthendrasinh Vaghela , and PI Gunvant Manubhai Hadiya .
A total of 490 personnel from across India were selected for the medal this year.
The award was instituted on 1 February 2024 under PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah .
DGP Gyanendra Singh Malik called the recognition a moment of pride for Gujarat and an inspiration for other officers.
Six Gujarat Police officers have been selected for the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Investigation-2026, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced on 31 October — National Unity Day, observed annually to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The recognition places Gujarat among the states contributing to a national pool of 490 awardees drawn from police and security forces across the country.
The Six Officers Recognised
The Gujarat officers selected for the medal are SP Anshul Jain, ASP Simran Bhardwaj, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ranjitsinh Singhal, Police Inspector Jayesh Thakor, Police Inspector Parthendrasinh Vaghela, and Police Inspector Gunvant Manubhai Hadiya. They were chosen for deploying scientific, logical, and methodical approaches to investigating complex criminal cases — work that officials say has meaningfully strengthened the judicial process.
What the DGP Said
Director General of Police (DGP) Gyanendra Singh Malik congratulated the awardees and called the recognition a source of pride for the entire state. “This prestigious national recognition received by the dedicated officers of the Gujarat Police is a moment of pride for the entire state. Their in-depth and sincere work in the field of investigation will also serve as an inspiration to other police personnel,” Malik said.
About the Award
The Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation was instituted on 1 February 2024, under the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and on the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The award is designed to acknowledge outstanding investigative work within India’s security forces, with the dual aim of raising professional standards and boosting the morale of serving personnel. This is only the second year of the award’s existence, making the 2026 cycle an early but significant milestone in establishing it as a credible national benchmark.
Broader Significance
Notably, the announcement was timed with National Unity Day, a deliberate choice that frames investigative excellence within the broader ideal of national integration that Sardar Patel embodied. With 490 personnel recognised nationwide, the award covers a wide cross-section of forces, and Gujarat’s six selections signal consistent performance by the state’s investigative units. This comes amid ongoing efforts by the Centre to professionalise police investigation methods across states, including the rollout of new criminal laws that place greater emphasis on forensic and scientific evidence.
Point of View
Yet it is already being used as a visible instrument of Centre-state policing alignment — announced on National Unity Day, no less. What merits scrutiny is whether the selection criteria and process are transparent enough to make the award a genuine professional benchmark rather than a ceremonial one. With new criminal procedure laws placing forensic evidence at the centre of prosecution, institutionalising investigative excellence is the right instinct; the question is whether 490 medals a year is a number that signals rigour or dilutes it.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which six Gujarat Police officers won the Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Investigation 2026?
The six officers are SP Anshul Jain, ASP Simran Bhardwaj, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ranjitsinh Singhal, Police Inspector Jayesh Thakor, Police Inspector Parthendrasinh Vaghela, and Police Inspector Gunvant Manubhai Hadiya. They were recognised for their scientific and methodical approach to investigating complex criminal cases.
What is the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Investigation?
It is a national award instituted on 1 February 2024 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to recognise outstanding investigative work by personnel in India's police and security forces. The award aims to raise professional standards and boost morale across the force.
How many officers were selected for the medal across India in 2026?
A total of 490 personnel from across the country were selected for the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Investigation-2026. Gujarat contributed six officers to this national list.
Why was the award announced on National Unity Day?
National Unity Day, observed on 31 October, marks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs chose this date to announce the awards, framing investigative excellence within the spirit of national integration associated with Patel.
What did Gujarat DGP Gyanendra Singh Malik say about the recognition?
DGP Malik congratulated the awardees and described the honour as a moment of pride for the entire state. He said the officers' 'in-depth and sincere work in the field of investigation will also serve as an inspiration to other police personnel.'
