A total of 982 personnel of police, fire, home guard and civil defence and correctional services have been awarded gallantry and service medals on the occasion of the Republic Day 2026. Image used for representation purpose only.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The total of 982 Personnel of Police, Fire, Home Guard and Civil Defence (HG&CD) and Correctional Services were awarded gallantry and service medals on the eve of Republic Day 2026.
According to a government statement on Sunday (January 25, 2026), a total of 125 persons will be awarded with the Medal for Gallantry (GM) out of which 121 are from police force and four others are from Fire services.
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.
Among the majority of the 125 Gallantry Awards, 35 personnel from Left Wing Extremism affected areas, 45 personnel from Jammu and Kashmir region, 5 personnel from North-East and 40 personnel form other regions are being awarded for their gallant action.
The maximum number of bravery medals at 45 have been given to personnel deployed in Jammu and Kashmir operations theatre, followed by 35 from Naxal violence-affected areas, and five who are posted in the northeast region.
A breakup provided in the official statement stated that Jammu and Kashmir Police has been decorated with the highest number of gallantry medals at 33 followed by Maharashtra Police at 31, 18 to the Uttar Pradesh Police and 14 for the Delhi Police.
Among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), the CRPF is the only force to get bravery citations at 12 medals.
Service medals
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 characterized by resource and devotion to duty.
Out of 101 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), 89 have been awarded to Police Service, 5 to Fire Service, 3 to Civil Defence and Home Guard Service and 4 to Correctional Service.
Out of 756 Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM), 664 have been awarded to Police Service, 34 to Fire Service, 33 to Civil Defence and Home Guard Service and 25 to Correctional Service.
The list also includes 101 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and 756 Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) to the officers and personnel.
As per definition, a bravery medal is awarded to a person on grounds of rare conspicuous act of gallantry, and conspicuous act of gallantry 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.
PSM is awarded for special distinguished record in service and Meritorious Service is awarded for valuable service characterised by resource and devotion to duty, as per the statement.
Details of awardees list are enclosed as below
President’s medals for distinguished service (PSM) – 101
Medal for meritorious service (MSM) – 756
State-wise/Force-wise list of medal awardees
(With inputs from PTI)
Published – January 25, 2026 09:47 am IST
