Centre announces 1,132 service medals for central and state police personnel

Among the majority of the 277 Gallantry Awards, 119 personnel from Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, 133 personnel from Jammu and Kashmir region, and 25 personnel from other regions are being awarded for their gallant action, a Home Ministry spokesperson said.

The President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG) and Medal 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, the risk incurred being estimated with due regard to the obligations and duties of the officer concerned.

“Out of the 277 Gallantry Awards, 72 personnel are being awarded for their gallant action in the Jammu and Kashmir region, 26 personnel from Chhattisgarh, 23 personnel from Jharkhand, 18 personnel from Maharashtra, 15 personnel from Odisha, eight personnel from Delhi. While 65 personnel are from the CRPF for their bravery in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, and 21 personnel from the SSB, and the remaining personnel are from the other states/UTs and CAPFs,” the spokesperson said.

The Centre has taken many steps in recent years to rationalise and transform the entire award ecosystem of various awards. In this regard, 16 Gallantry/Service Medals for Police, Fire Service, Home Guard and Civil Defence and Correctional Service have been rationalised and merged into the following four medals: President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG), Medal for Gallantry (GM), President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).

Among the personnel receiving the Gallantry Medals, two PMGs have been awarded to BSF personnel for their outstanding contribution in the prestigious task of peace keeping as part of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) as members of the 15th Congo Contingent of BSF at the Moroccan Rapid Deployment Battalion (MORRDB) Camp at Butembo.

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

“Out of the 102 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), 94 have been awarded to Police Service, four to Fire Service and four to Civil Defence and Home Guard Service. Out of the 753 Medals for Meritorious Service (MSM), 667 have been awarded to Police Service, 32 to Fire Service, 27 to Civil Defence and Home Guard Service, and 27 to Correctional Service,” the spokesperson said.