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Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces
Military awards and decorations of India
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Military awards and decorations of India
The Armed Forces of India are eligible for many military decorations awarded for extraordinary bravery and distinguished service during times of war and peace. Service and campaign medals have been awarded throughout India's history as an independent state.
Post-nominal letters for wartime gallantry decorations were approved when those decorations were created in 1950. Until 27 January 1967, when they received their present names, the two lower peacetime gallantry decorations and the two higher peacetime distinguished service medals were respectively distinct classes of the Ashoka Chakra and the Vishisht Seva Medal. Post-nominals for peacetime gallantry, peacetime distinguished service and branch distinguished service awards were approved in August 1967.
Gallantry medals
;Wartime gallantry awards
| [[Image:Vir Chakra ribbon bar.svg | 105px]] | Vir Chakra (VrC) |
|---|
;Peacetime gallantry awards
| [[File:Shaurya Chakra ribbon.svg | 105px]] | Shaurya Chakra (SC) |
|---|
Distinguished service medals
;Wartime distinguished service medals
| [[File:Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg | 105px]] | Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) |
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;Peacetime distinguished service medals
| [[File:Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg | 105px]] | Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) |
|---|
;Branch distinguished service medals
| [[File:Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg | 105px]] | Vayu Sena Medal (Air Force) (VM) |
|---|
Service and campaign medals
Long service awards
| [[File:IND Territorial Army medal.svg | 105px]] | Territorial Army Medal |
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Independence medals
| [[File:IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg | 105px]] | 25th Independence Anniversary Medal |
|---|
Mention in Dispatches
Mention in Dispatches has been used since 1947, in order to recognize distinguished and meritorious service in operational areas and acts of gallantry which are not of a sufficiently high order to warrant the grant of gallantry awards.
Eligible personnel include all Army, Navy and Air Force personnel including personnel of the Reserve Forces, Territorial Army, Militia and other lawfully constituted Armed Forces, members of the Nursing Service and Civilians working under or with the Armed Forces.
Personnel can be mentioned in dispatches posthumously and multiple awards are also possible. A recipient of a Mention in a Despatch is entitled to wear an emblem, in the form of a lotus leaf on the ribbon of the relevant Campaign Medal. They are also issued with an official certificate from the Ministry of Defence.
Commendation Card
Main article: Commendation Card (Indian Army)
All three branches of the military issue Commendation Cards, which are badges awarded for "individual acts of gallantry or distinguished service or devotion to duty performed either in operation or non-operational areas. It is a type of gallantry award. The award will be for a specific act of bravery or distinguished service or special service. The award will not be made posthumously."
All three branches issue Commendations Cards at the level of the highest officer (Chief of the Army Staff, Chief of the Naval Staff and Chief of the Air Staff). Additionally, Chief of Defence Staff also issues the Commendation Cards. The awards at lower levels seem to vary between services.
Order of wearing
The various decorations and medals are worn in the following order:
| Precedence | Award name | Ribbon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bharat Ratna | [[File:Bharat_Ratna_Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 2 | Param Vir Chakra | [[File:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 3 | Ashoka Chakra | [[File:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 4 | Padma Vibhushan | [[File:Padma Vibhushan Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 5 | Padma Bhushan | [[File:Padma Bhushan Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 6 | Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal | [[File:Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 7 | Param Vishisht Seva Medal | [[File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 8 | Maha Vir Chakra | [[File:Maha Vir Chakra ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 9 | Kirti Chakra | [[File:Kirti Chakra ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 10 | Padma Shri | [[File:Padma Shri Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 11 | Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak | [[File:Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 12 | Uttam Yudh Seva Medal | [[File:Uttam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 13 | Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | [[File:Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 14 | Vir Chakra | [[File:Vir Chakra ribbon bar.svg | 75px]] |
| 15 | Shaurya Chakra | [[File:Shaurya Chakra ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 16 | Yudh Seva Medal | [[File:Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 17 | Sena Medal (for army personnel) | [[File:Sena Medal ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| Nau Sena Medal (for navy personnel) | [[File:Nao Sena Medal ribbon.svg | 75px]] | |
| Vayu Sena Medal (for air force personnel) | [[File:Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg | 75px]] | |
| 18 | Vishisht Seva Medal | [[File:Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 19 | Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak | [[File:IND Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak ribbon.png | 75px]] |
| 20 | Wound Medal | [[File:Wound Medal-India.svg | 75px]] |
| 21 | General Service Medal | [[File:India General Service Medal 1947.svg | 75px]] |
| 22 | Samanya Seva Medal | [[File:IND Samanya Seva medal.svg | 75px]] |
| 23 | Special Service Medal | [[File:IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 24 | Samar Seva Star | [[File:IND Samar Seva Star Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 25 | Poorvi Star | [[File:IND Poorvi Star Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 26 | Paschimi Star | [[File:IND Paschimi Star Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 27 | Operation Vijay Star | [[File:IND Operation Vijay star.svg | 75px]] |
| 28 | Siachen Glacier Medal | [[File:IND Siachen Glacier Medal Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 29 | Raksha Medal | [[File:IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 30 | Sangram Medal | [[File:IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 31 | Operation Vijay Medal | [[File:IND Operation Vijay medal.svg | 75px]] |
| 32 | Operation Parakram Medal | [[File:IND Operation Parakram medal.svg | 75px]] |
| 33 | Sainya Seva Medal | [[File:IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 34 | High Altitude Medal | [[File:IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 35 | Videsh Seva Medal | [[File:IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 36 | Meritorious Service Medal | [[File:IND Meritorious Service Medal Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 37 | Long Service and Good Conduct Medal | [[File:IND Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 38 | Jeevan Raksha Padak | [[File:IND Jeevan Raksha Padak ribbon.png | 75px]] |
| 39 | Territorial Army Decoration | [[File:IND Territorial Army decoration.svg | 75px]] |
| 40 | Territorial Army Medal | [[File:IND Territorial Army medal.svg | 75px]] |
| 41 | Indian Independence Medal | [[File:Indian Independence medal 1947.svg | 75px]] |
| 42 | 75th Independence Anniversary Medal | [[File:75yearmedal.svg | 75px]] |
| 43 | 50th Independence Anniversary Medal | [[File:IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg | 75px]] |
| 44 | 25th Independence Anniversary Medal | [[File:IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg | 75px]] |
| 45 | 30 Years Long Service Medal | [[File:IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 46 | 20 Years Long Service Medal | [[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 47 | 9 Years Long Service Medal | [[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 48 | Commonwealth awards | ||
| 49 | United Nations Medal | [[File:United Nations Medal ribbon.svg | 75px]] |
| 50 | Other awards |
Note that the Police Medals, Fire Services Medals, Correctional Services Medals, Home Guards and Civil Defence Medals, and Tatrakshak Medals are excluded from the above list. The above order of precedence of awards is as per the Indian Army. There are slight variations, especially in the campaign medals, in the order followed by the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.
Wearing medals by the next of kins
family award An order issued on 11 July 2019 by the Indian Army's "Ceremonial and Welfare Adjutant General's Branch" made it permissible for the close relatives of the deceased military personnel to wear their medals on the right side of chest while attending homage ceremonies at war memorials, cemeteries and funerals. These gallantry or service awards of deceased can be worn by their family members, such as spouses, children, parents, forefathers while wearing civil clothes.
Notes
References
References
- (27 January 1967). "Ashoka Chakra and Vishisht Seva Medals Renamed".
- (19 August 1967). "Press Note".
- "Mention in Dispatches". [[Indian Army]].
- [http://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/documents/new_pattern.pdf NEW PATTERN COAS COMMENDATION BADGES & ARMY COMMENDATION BADGES] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-03-03)
- "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army".
- (13 August 2009). "Army's New Norms for Commendation Badges - Livefist".
- (8 February 2020). "Part I-Section 1: Order of Precedence of wearing of various medals and decorations". [[The Gazette of India]].
- "Precedence Of Medals". Indian Army.
- "Order of Precedence {{!}} Indian Navy".
- [https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/army-medals-family-next-of-kin-late-exservicemen-homage-ceremonies-1572768-2019-07-23 Indian Army allows next of kin to wear medals of late ex-servicemen during homage ceremonies] {{Webarchive. link. (2019-10-02 , India Today, 23 July 2019.)
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