Of the 982 medals declared by the Home Ministry, 125 are gallantry medals awarded for exceptional courage in the line of duty. The remaining honours include 101 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service and 756 Medals for Meritorious Service, reflecting a broad spectrum of operational and administrative excellence across services.
Personnel deployed in the Jammu and Kashmir operational theatre received the highest number of gallantry awards, with 45 medals. This included 35 awards for personnel serving in Naxal-affected regions, five for those deployed in the North-East, and four for fire brigade rescue workers who carried out life-saving operations under hazardous conditions.
A state-wise breakdown shows that the Jammu and Kashmir Police received the highest number of gallantry medals at 33, followed closely by Maharashtra Police with 31 awards. Uttar Pradesh Police were awarded 18 gallantry medals, while Delhi Police personnel received 14. Among the Central Armed Police Forces, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was the only force to receive gallantry medals this year, with 12 awards.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also featured prominently in the honours list. Thirty-one CBI officers and staff were recognised with either the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service or the Police Medal for Meritorious Service, acknowledging their contributions to complex investigations and institutional integrity.
In overall terms, the 982 awards include 125 gallantry medals—121 for police personnel and four for fire service members. The 101 President’s Medals were distributed among 89 police personnel, five fire service members, three civil defence or home guard personnel, and four correctional service officials. The remaining 756 Meritorious Service Medals went to 664 police personnel, 34 fire service members, 33 civil defence or home guard personnel, and 25 correctional service staff.
According to official guidelines, gallantry medals are conferred for acts of conspicuous courage, including saving lives, preventing serious crimes, or apprehending criminals under grave risk. The President’s Medal recognises distinguished and exemplary service records, while the Meritorious Service Medal honours long-standing dedication, integrity, and professional excellence.
The awards will be formally conferred at designated ceremonies, underscoring the role of security and emergency personnel in maintaining internal security, public safety, and national resilience.
