View source for Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces

{{Short description|Military awards and decorations of India}}
The [[Indian Armed Forces|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 medal]]s have been awarded throughout India's history as an independent state.

==Military medals==

Decorations for precedence:

;Wartime gallantry awards
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[Image:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="10"|'''[[Param Vir Chakra]]''' (PVC)
|-
|[[File:Maha Vir Chakra ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Maha Vir Chakra]]''' (MVC)
|-
|[[Image:Vir Chakra ribbon bar.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Vir Chakra]]''' (VrC)
|}

;Peacetime gallantry awards
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashok Chakra]]'''(AC)
|-
|[[File:Kirti Chakra ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Kirti Chakra]]''' (KC)
|-
|[[File:Shaurya Chakra ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Shaurya Chakra]]''' (SC)
|}

;Wartime distinguished service medals
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal]]''' (SYSM)
|-
|[[File:Uttam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal]]''' (UYSM)
|-
|[[File:Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Yudh Seva Medal]]''' (YSM)
|}

;Peacetime distinguished service medals
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]''' (PVSM)
|-
|[[File:Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]''' (AVSM)
|-
|[[File:Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Vishisht Seva Medal]]''' (VSM)
|}

;Distinguished service & gallantry medals
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:Sena Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="299"|'''[[Sena Medal]]''' (Army) (SM)
|-
|[[File:Nao Sena Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Nausena Medal]]''' (Navy) (NM)
|-
|[[File:Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Vayusena Medal]]''' (Air Force) (VM)
|}

==Service and campaign medals==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:Wound Medal-India.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Wound Medal (India)|Wound Medal (Parakram Padak)]]'''
|-
|[[File:India General Service Medal 1947.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[General Service Medal 1947]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Samanya Seva Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Special Service Medal (India)|Special Service Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Samar Seva Star Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Samar Seva Star]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Poorvi Star Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Poorvi Star]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Paschimi Star Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Paschimi Star]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Operation Vijay star.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Operation Vijay Star]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Siachen Glacier Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Siachen Glacier Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Raksha Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Sangram Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Operation Vijay Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Operation Parakram medal.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Operation Parakram Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Sainya Seva Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[High Altitude Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:Antrik Suraksha Padak.png|105px]]
|width="300"|'''Antrik Suraksha Padak'''
|-
|[[File:IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Videsh Seva Medal]]'''
|-
|}

==Long service awards==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:IND Meritorious Service Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''Meritorious Service Medal'''
|-
|[[File:IND Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''Long Service and Good Conduct Medal'''
|-
|[[File:IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''30 Years Long Service Medal'''
|-
|[[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''20 Years Long Service Medal'''
|-
|[[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''9 Years Long Service Medal'''
|-
|[[File:IND Territorial Army decoration.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''Territorial Army Decoration'''
|-
|[[File:IND Territorial Army medal.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''Territorial Army Medal'''
|}

==Independence medals==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:Indian Independence medal 1947.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[Indian Independence Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:75yearmedal.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[75th Independence Anniversary Medal (India)|75th Independence Anniversary Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[50th Independence Anniversary Medal]]'''
|-
|[[File:IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|105px]]
|width="300"|'''[[25th Independence Anniversary Medal]]'''
|}

== Military reconnaissance and exploration medal ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:MacGregor Medal Ribbon.jpg|105x105px]]
| width="300" |'''[[MacGregor Medal]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=SSBCrack|date=2017-02-18|title=Ever Observed Colorful Ribbons On Soldier's Uniform? Here's What They Mean|url=https://www.ssbcrack.com/2017/02/ribbons-on-soldiers-uniform.html|access-date=2021-02-18|website=SSBCrack|language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

== 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.<ref name=India>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name=India/>

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.<ref name=India/>

==Commendation Card==
[[File:Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card - India.jpg|thumb|Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card]]
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 (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]], [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]] and [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]]). The awards at lower levels seem to vary between services.<ref>http://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/documents/new_pattern.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 2022}}</ref>

==Order of wearing==
The various decorations and medals are worn in the following order:<ref>{{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 2022}}</ref><ref>{{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 2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Precedence
! Award Name
! style="width: 100pt;"|Ribbon
|-
|1
|[[Bharat Ratna]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Bharat_Ratna_Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|2
|[[Param Vir Chakra]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|3
|[[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashoka Chakra]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|4
|[[Padma Vibhushan]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Padma Vibhushan Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|5
|[[Padma Bhushan]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Padma Bhushan Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|6
|[[Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|7
|[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|8
|[[Maha Vir Chakra]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Maha Vir Chakra ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|9
|[[Kirti Chakra]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Kirti Chakra ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|10
|[[Padma Shri]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Padma Shri Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|11
|[[Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak ribbon.png|75px]]
|-
|12
|[[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Uttam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|13
|[[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|14
|[[Vir Chakra]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Vir Chakra ribbon bar.svg|75px]]
|-
|15
|[[Shaurya Chakra]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Shaurya Chakra ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|16
|[[Yudh Seva Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|17
|[[Sena Medal]] (for army personnel)
|style="width: 100pt; text-align: center;"|[[File:Sena Medal ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|[[Nau Sena Medal]] (for navy personnel)
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Nao Sena Medal ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|[[Vayu Sena Medal]] (for air force personnel)
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|18
|[[Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|19
|[[Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak ribbon.png|75px]]
|-
|20
|[[Wound Medal (India)|Parakram Padak (Wound Medal)]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Wound Medal-India.svg|75px]]
|-
|21
|[[General Service Medal 1947]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:India General Service Medal 1947.svg|75px]]
|-
|22
|[[Samanya Seva Medal]] - 1965
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|75px]]
|-
|23
|[[Special Service Medal (India)|Special Service Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|24
|[[Samar Seva Star]] - 1965
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Samar Seva Star Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|25
|[[Poorvi Star]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Poorvi Star Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|26
|[[Paschimi Star]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Paschimi Star Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|27
|[[Operation Vijay Star|Operation Vijay Star Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Operation Vijay star.svg|75px]]
|-
|28
|[[Siachen Glacier Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Siachen Glacier Medal Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|29
|[[Raksha Medal]] – 1965
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|30
|[[Sangram Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|31
|[[Operation Vijay Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|75px]]
|-
|32
|[[Operation Parakram Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Operation Parakram medal.svg|75px]]
|-
|33
|[[Sainya Seva Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|34
|[[High Altitude Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|35
|[[Videsh Seva Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|36
|Meritorious Service Medal
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Meritorious Service Medal Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|37
|Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|38
|[[Jeevan Raksha Padak]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Jeevan Raksha Padak ribbon.png|75px]]
|-
|39
|Territorial Army Decoration
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Territorial Army decoration.svg|75px]]
|-
|40
|Territorial Army Medal
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND Territorial Army medal.svg|75px]]
|-
|41
|[[Indian Independence Medal]] - 1947
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Indian Independence medal 1947.svg|75px]]
|-
|42
|[[Indian Independence Medal|Independence Medal]] - 1950
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Indian Police Independence medal 1950.png|75px]]
|-
|43
|[[75th Independence Anniversary Medal (India)|75th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:75yearmedal.svg|75px]]
|-
|44
|[[50th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|75px]]
|-
|45
|[[25th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|75px]]
|-
|46
|30 Years Long Service Medal
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|47
|20 Years Long Service Medal
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|48
|9 Years Long Service Medal
|width="100" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|75px]]
|-
|49
|Commonwealth Awards
|
|-
|50
|[[United Nations Medal|United Nations Awards]]
|
|-
|51
|Other Awards
|
|}

Note that the Police Medals, Fire Services Medals, Correctional Services Medals and Home Guards and Civil Defence 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.<ref name=wearpride1>[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], India Today, 23 July 2019.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Orders, decorations, and medals of India]]

==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]
*[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}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

[[Category:Military awards and decorations of India]]