Republic Day 2025: What are the different awards given on January 26?

Civilian Service Awards

Perhaps the best-known among all the categories, the highest honours among the civilian awards are the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Awards – the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri.

Bharat Ratna is India’s highest and most prestigious civilian honour, awarded for exceptional service in any field – art, literature, science, or public service. The Prime Minister recommends the nominees for this award, and a maximum of three persons can be conferred the Bharat Ratna in a year. 53 persons have been awarded the Bharat Ratna so far.

The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of higher order, and the Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field. The award winners are selected by the Padma Awards committee. Any person working in any field – with the exception of Government employees, barring doctors and scientists – are eligible for the award. The nomination process is open to the public, and allows people to nominate themselves.

Service Medals

These awards recognise distinguished service, dedication, and exceptional contributions by personnel in the Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces, and Police. They are announced on Republic Day and Independence Day.

The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) is awarded for a special distinguished record in service, while the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) is awarded for valuable service characterised by resource and devotion to duty.

This year, 101 PSMs were announced, of which 85 have been awarded to the police, five to the fire Service, seven to the Civil Defence & Home Guard Service, and four to the Correctional Service.

746 MSMs were announced this year, which include 634 to the police Service, 37 to the Fire Service, 39 to the Civil Defence & Home Guard Service, and 36 to the Correctional Service.

For the Armed Forces, the highest honours are the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal. The trio recognise exceptional and distinguished service by any member of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Gallantry Awards

Medals for gallantry are awarded to members of the armed forces, paramilitary forces, and civilians for bravery and heroic action.

WARTIME AWARDS: These are awarded for acts of bravery in the face of the enemy, and are primarily for armed forces personnel. The highest honours among the wartime gallantry awards are the Paramvir Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra and the Vir Chakra.

PEACETIME AWARDS: The highest honours in peacetime include the Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.

A government press release distinguishes these awards thus, “The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for the most conspicuous act of bravery and self-sacrifice in the face of the enemy, while the Ashok Chakra is awarded for similar acts of valour and self-sacrifice but, other than, in the face of the enemy.”

Peacetime awards can be awarded to armed forces, paramilitary forces, police, or civilians.

POLICE GALLANTRY MEDALS: Awards for members of the police are announced twice a year – on the eve of Republic Day and Independence Day – to recognise their acts of bravery, distinguished service, and exemplary conduct.

The President’s Medal for Gallantry is awarded to those who have done a “rare conspicuous gallant act of exceptional courage & skill in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals, apprehending a prisoner or in preventing their escape”, according to a government press release.

The Police Medal for Gallantry recognises acts of bravery and courage in the line of duty.

In a press release, the Home Ministry said that 17 of the 95 gallantry medals went to fire service personnel, with the rest awarded to police officers. Among the gallantry medals, 28 were awarded to security personnel including local police for their service in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas. 28 personnel from the Jammu & Kashmir region, three from the North-East and 36 personnel from other regions have been awarded gallantry medals this year.

1,132 service medals were awarded by the centre last year, including 277 for gallantry.

CIVILIAN GALLANTRY MEDALS: These awards recognise civilians for acts of bravery and saving lives.

The Jeevan Raksha Padak Awards originated as an offshoot of the Ashoka Awards. They are given for lifesaving acts of service by people from all walks of life, and may even be given posthumously. The award has three categories – Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak and Jeevan Raksha Padak.

This year, 17 persons will be awarded the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, nine the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak and 23 winners the Jeevan Raksha Padak. Six awardees are posthumous.

The National Bravery Awards recognises children who show exceptional courage and is awarded by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW).