Independence Day 2025: 1,090 Personnel Honoured with Gallantry and Service Medals

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced that 1,090 personnel from police, fire services, home guard and civil defence (HG & CD) and correctional services have been conferred Gallantry and Service Medals on the occasion of Independence Day 2025.

According to the MHA, 233 personnel have been awarded the Medal for Gallantry (GM), given for “rare conspicuous act of gallantry and conspicuous act of gallantry” in saving lives, protecting property, preventing crime, or apprehending criminals, with the level of risk considered in relation to duty.

Of these, 226 awardees are from the police service, six from the fire service and one from HG & CD.

Region-wise, 152 recipients are from Jammu and Kashmir, 54 from Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, three from the Northeast and 24 from other regions.

A total of 99 personnel have received the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) for maintaining a “special distinguished record in service.” This includes 89 from police, five from fire services, three from civil defence and home guard, and two from correctional services.

The Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) has been awarded to 758 personnel for “valuable service characterised by resource and devotion to duty.” Among them are 635 from police, 51 from fire service, 41 from HG & CD and 31 from correctional service.

The MHA said the honours reflect the “unwavering dedication, resourcefulness and courage” of personnel who safeguard lives, uphold the law and ensure order across the country.

Separately, the Border Security Force (BSF) announced that 16 of its personnel will be awarded Gallantry Medals for “conspicuous bravery” and “unmatched valour” during Operation Sindoor. The awardees include a deputy commandant, two assistant commandants, and an inspector. The BSF described them as “resolute and steadfast” defenders of India’s borders, calling the medals a testament to the nation’s trust in its “First Line of Defence.”

Nine fighter pilots from the Indian Air Force have been conferred the Vir Chakra, the country’s third-highest wartime gallantry award, for their distinguished role in Operation Sindoor.

The mission, carried out in May, targeted the headquarters of a terrorist organisation in Muridke and Bahawalpur, along with strategic assets of the Pakistan military. According to reports, the decorated officers are Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Group Captain Manish Arora, Group Captain Animesh Patni, Group Captain Kunal Kalra, Wing Commander Joy Chandra, Squadron Leader Sarthak Kumar, Squadron Leader Sidhnat Singh, Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik and Flight Lieutenant Aarshveer Singh Thakur.

The Vir Chakra is awarded for acts of exceptional bravery in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.

Furthermore, it should be noted that 26 officers and airmen from the Indian Air Force have been honoured with the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry). The awardees include fighter pilots who carried out missions striking targets within Pakistan, as well as personnel manning the S-400 and other air defence systems that successfully thwarted all attempted attacks by Pakistan on Indian territory.

The Independence Day celebrations will culminate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisting the national flag at the Red Fort in New Delhi and delivering his traditional address to the nation, marking India’s 79th Independence Day.

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