The prestigious medal honours officers for their distinguished performance in Special Operations, Investigation, Intelligence, and Forensic Science. The initiative seeks to encourage dedication, innovation, and efficiency within the nation’s security forces.
While the list of recipients has been released, the ministry has not yet specified the date or venue for the formal medal presentation ceremony.
20 Jammu & Kashmir Police personnel among the awardees
Among this year’s recipients are 20 personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, who played a crucial role in ‘Operation Mahadev’, conducted between May and July 2025.
The operation successfully neutralised several high-profile terrorists, including Suleiman alias Asif, the mastermind behind the Pahalgam attack, as well as Pakistani militants Jibran and Hamza Afghani, who were involved in multiple terror incidents such as the Sonamarg tunnel attack in October 2024.
Medal instituted in 2024 to honour exemplary service
The Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence was instituted on February 1, 2024, to recognise outstanding contributions by personnel from state police forces, central armed police organisations, intelligence agencies, and forensic departments.
The awards are announced annually on October 31, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister, as a tribute to his legacy of unity, integrity, and national service.
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