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Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces#Commendation Card

{{Short description|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.{{cite web|title=Ashoka Chakra and Vishisht Seva Medals Renamed|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/FEATURE/1967%20REP%20DAY%20IND%20DAY%20FEATURE%20ARTICALS/PDF/FEA-1967-01-27_039.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=27 January 1967|access-date=16 August 2024}} Post-nominals for peacetime gallantry, peacetime distinguished service and branch distinguished service awards were approved in August 1967.{{cite web|title=Press Note|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1967-JULY-DEC-DEFENCE-VOL-2/PDF/DEF-1967-08-19_055.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=19 August 1967|access-date=11 August 2024}}

Gallantry medals

;Wartime gallantry awards

class="wikitable"
105px

|width="10"|Param Vir Chakra (PVC)

105px

|width="300"|Maha Vir Chakra (MVC)

105px

|width="300"|Vir Chakra (VrC)

;Peacetime gallantry awards

class="wikitable"
105px

|width="300"|Ashok Chakra (AC)

105px

|width="300"|Kirti Chakra (KC)

105px

|width="300"|Shaurya Chakra (SC)

Distinguished service medals

;Wartime distinguished service medals

class="wikitable"
105px

|width="300"|Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM)

105px

|width="300"|Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM)

105px

|width="300"|Yudh Seva Medal (YSM)

;Peacetime distinguished service medals

class="wikitable"
105px

|width="300"|Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM)

105px

|width="300"|Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM)

105px

|width="300"|Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM)

;Branch distinguished service medals

class="wikitable"
105px

|width="299"|Sena Medal (Army) (SM)

105px

|width="300"|Nau Sena Medal (Navy) (NM)

105px

|width="300"|Vayu Sena Medal (Air Force) (VM)

Service and campaign medals

class="wikitable"
105px

|width="300"|Wound Medal

105px

|width="300"|General Service Medal

105px

|width="300"|Samanya Seva Medal

105px

|width="300"|Special Service Medal

105px

|width="300"|Samar Seva Star

105px

|width="300"|Poorvi Star

105px

|width="300"|Paschimi Star

105px

|width="300"|Operation Vijay Star

105px

|width="300"|Siachen Glacier Medal

105px

|width="300"|Raksha Medal

105px

|width="300"|Sangram Medal

105px

|width="300"|Operation Vijay Medal

105px

|width="300"|Operation Parakram Medal

105px

|width="300"|Sainya Seva Medal

105px

|width="300"|High Altitude Medal

105px

|width="300"|Videsh Seva Medal

Long service awards

class="wikitable"
105px

|width="300"|Meritorious Service Medal

105px

|width="300"|Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

105px

|width="300"|30 Years Long Service Medal

105px

|width="300"|20 Years Long Service Medal

105px

|width="300"|9 Years Long Service Medal

105px

|width="300"|Territorial Army Decoration

105px

|width="300"|Territorial Army Medal

Independence medals

class="wikitable"
105px

|width="300"|Indian Independence Medal

105px

|width="300"|75th Independence Anniversary Medal

105px

|width="300"|50th Independence Anniversary Medal

105px

|width="300"|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.{{cite web| title = Mention in Dispatches| publisher = Indian Army| url = http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=bKaNf3MCcXHk7Y+tjh7A4Q==&ParentID=dmws5VbQfmdTjOOneXni7g==| access-date = 5 October 2014| archive-date = 17 December 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141217032726/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=bKaNf3MCcXHk7Y+tjh7A4Q==&ParentID=dmws5VbQfmdTjOOneXni7g==| url-status = live}}

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|Commendation Card (Indian Army)}}

File:Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card - India.jpg

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.[http://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/documents/new_pattern.pdf NEW PATTERN COAS COMMENDATION BADGES & ARMY COMMENDATION BADGES] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214729/http://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/documents/new_pattern.pdf|date=2016-03-03}}{{Cite web|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=wLfooJIOdvBCn377nuEo1g==&ParentID=dSwRF/26P+lLTvHo/Cyg4Q==|title=The Official Home Page of the Indian Army|access-date=2014-10-05|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304022847/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=wLfooJIOdvBCn377nuEo1g==&ParentID=dSwRF/26P+lLTvHo/Cyg4Q==|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url = http://www.livefistdefence.com/2009/08/armys-new-norms-for-commendation-badges.html|title = Army's New Norms for Commendation Badges - Livefist|date = 13 August 2009|access-date = 5 October 2014|archive-date = 4 April 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170404220749/https://www.livefistdefence.com/2009/08/armys-new-norms-for-commendation-badges.html|url-status = live}}

Order of wearing

The various decorations and medals are worn in the following order:{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 1: Order of Precedence of wearing of various medals and decorations |page=219–220 |date=8 February 2020|url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2020/216027.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}{{cite web|title=Precedence Of Medals|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=Xfk5pOch2oQ8N9kHlAYr3w==&ParentID=NhXKgiHC4HkdoULMqEGj1g==&flag=P3tMeK52nkUIfCaYYNJnYA==|website=Official Website of the Indian Army|publisher=Indian Army|access-date=19 February 2017|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625100658/https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=Xfk5pOch2oQ8N9kHlAYr3w==&ParentID=NhXKgiHC4HkdoULMqEGj1g==&flag=P3tMeK52nkUIfCaYYNJnYA==|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/order-precedence|title=Order of Precedence {{!}} Indian Navy|website=Official Website of the Indian Navy|access-date=25 December 2016|archive-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226061002/https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/order-precedence|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! Precedence

! Award Name

! style="width: 100pt;"|Ribbon

1

|Bharat Ratna{{Efn|name="Civilian Award"|These are civilian awards that can be awarded to military personnel.}}

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

2

|Param Vir Chakra

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

3

|Ashoka Chakra

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

4

|Padma Vibhushan{{Efn|name="Civilian Award"}}

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

5

|Padma Bhushan{{Efn|name="Civilian Award"}}

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

6

|Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

7

|Param Vishisht Seva Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

8

|Maha Vir Chakra

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

9

|Kirti Chakra

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

10

|Padma Shri{{Efn|name="Civilian Award"}}

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

11

|Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak{{Efn|name="Civilian Bravery Award"|These are civilian bravery awards that can be awarded to military personnel.}}

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

12

|Uttam Yudh Seva Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

13

|Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

14

|Vir Chakra

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

15

|Shaurya Chakra

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

16

|Yudh Seva Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

rowspan="3"|17

|Sena Medal (for army personnel)

|style="width: 100pt; text-align: center;"|75px

Nau Sena Medal (for navy personnel)

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

Vayu Sena Medal (for air force personnel)

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

18

|Vishisht Seva Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

19

|Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak{{Efn|name="Civilian Bravery Award"}}

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

20

|Wound Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

21

|General Service Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

22

|Samanya Seva Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

23

|Special Service Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

24

|Samar Seva Star

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

25

|Poorvi Star

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

26

|Paschimi Star

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

27

|Operation Vijay Star

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

28

|Siachen Glacier Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

29

|Raksha Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

30

|Sangram Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

31

|Operation Vijay Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

32

|Operation Parakram Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

33

|Sainya Seva Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

34

|High Altitude Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

35

|Videsh Seva Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

36

|Meritorious Service Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

37

|Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

38

|Jeevan Raksha Padak{{Efn|name="Civilian Bravery Award"}}

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

39

|Territorial Army Decoration

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

40

|Territorial Army Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

41

|Indian Independence Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

42

|75th Independence Anniversary Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

43

|50th Independence Anniversary Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

44

|25th Independence Anniversary Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

44

|30 Years Long Service Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

46

|20 Years Long Service Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

47

|9 Years Long Service Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|75px

48

|Commonwealth Awards

|

49

|United Nations Medal

|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|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

{{anchor|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.[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|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002033820/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/army-medals-family-next-of-kin-late-exservicemen-homage-ceremonies-1572768-2019-07-23 |date=2019-10-02 }}, India Today, 23 July 2019.

See also

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [https://www.indiandefenceeducation.com/medals-and-decorations-of-indian-armed-forces/ Medals And Decorations of Indian Military]
  • [http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimpleWithTwoPara.aspx?MnId=mg4pSRVgoXOHLL601MTrqw==&ParentID=GPFr5/LWYN7laMqCXIOe2g==&flag=BmGDJE/miCleiZouN97Wyg== Official Website of the Indian Army, Awards Background]
  • [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Awards.html Indian Air Force :: Honours and Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404215533/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Awards.html |date=2017-04-04 }}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20121021082214/http://nausena-bharti.nic.in/uniform7.php Indian Navy Medals]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20130429145534/http://www.prideofindia.net/gal.html Pride of India Medals and Honours]

{{Indian Military honours and decorations}}

{{Indian Armed Forces}}

Category:Military awards and decorations of India