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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox military award
|name= Indian Independence Medal
|image=[[File:Indian Independence Medal 1947 (Obverse).jpg|149px]][[File:Indian Independence Medal 1947 (Reverse).jpg|148px]]
|caption= Obverse and reverse of the medal
|presenter= the [[Dominion of India]]
|type=Commemorative medal
|eligibility=All members of the Indian armed forces serving on 15 August 1947 British service personnel who remained in India after Independence serving on 1 January 1948
|awarded_for= Indian Independence
|campaign=
|status=
|description= Silver disk, 36mm diameter.
|clasps= None
|established= October 1949
|total_awarded=
|image2=[[File:Indian Independence medal 1947.svg|110px]] Ribbon bar of the Indian Independence Medal [[File:Indian Police Independence medal 1950.png|115px]]
|caption2= Ribbon bar of the Police Independence Medal
|higher=[[Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal]] (United Kingdom)<ref name="issue56878">{{London Gazette|issue=56878|page=3353|date=17 March 2003|supp=y}}</ref> [[Territorial Army Medal]] (India)<ref name=indian>{{cite web|title=Precedence Of Medals|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=zCQHR1MODtMw0EJ0MUc5CA==&ParentID=XRRy6fl/Yj1c0bK0sve+Pg==|work=indianarmy.nic.in/|publisher=Indian Army|access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref>
|lower=[[Pakistan Medal]] (United Kingdom)<ref name="issue56878"/> [[Independence Medal 1950]] (India)<ref name=indian/>
}}
The '''Indian Independence Medal''' was instituted by the [[Dominion of India]] and approved by King [[George VI]] by way of a Royal Warrant dated 21 July 1948.<ref>''[[The Gazette of India]]'', part 1 section 1. 18 September 1948. p. 1148–1189.</ref> It was a commemorative medal for service with the Indian armed forces at the time of independence in August 1947. Attached British personnel were eligible.

It was awarded to all those who, on 15 August 1947, were members of the armed forces of India, including the forces of [[princely state]]s that acceded to Indian rule before 1 January 1948. British military personnel who remained in India after independence and who served with Indian forces up to 1 January 1948 qualified,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://medals.org.uk/india/india022.htm |title=ODM of India: Indian Independence Medal|publisher=Medals.org.uk |access-date=2012-05-08}}</ref> although those with British units awaiting repatriation did not.<ref>Orders & Medals Research Society Journal, Vol 12 No 1, Spring 1973. p. 25.</ref>

The medal is circular, {{convert|1.4|in|abbr=on}} in diameter and made of [[cupronickel]]. The obverse has the [[Ashoka Chakra]] wheel surmounted by a crown, surrounded by the inscription ''GEORGIUS VI D:G: BRITT:OMN: REX: FID DEF''. The reverse shows the [[Lion Capital of Ashoka|Ashoka lions]], which is the [[State Emblem of India]], with the words ''INDIAN INDEPENDENCE'' above and the date ''15th AUGUST 1947'' below. The {{convert|1.25|in|abbr=on}} ribbon consists of three equal stripes of saffron, white and green, the colours on the flag of India. The medal is worn on the left chest, with the saffron furthest from the left shoulder.<ref name=Dorling>{{Cite book|author=Captain H. Taprell Dorling.|title=Ribbons and Medals.|page=143. A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. 1956}}</ref> In most cases, the name and details of the recipient were impressed on the edge of the medal.

A '''Police Independence Medal''' was instituted in 1950 for award to all serving members of India's police forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://medals.org.uk/india/india015.htm |title=ODM of India: Police Independence Medal|publisher=Medals.org.uk |access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref> The design is similar to the Indian Independence Medal. The obverse shows the Ashokan Lions above the Indian National motto ''Truth Alone Prevails'' in [[Sanskrit]] ( सत्यमेव जयते ) with the words ''INDIAN INDEPENDENCE'' above and ''26th JANUARY 1950'' below — the day India became a republic. The reverse shows the chakra wheel with a lotus border above and the word ''POLICE'' below. The ribbon is red with a blue-edged orange central stripe.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Captain H. Taprell Dorling.|title=Ribbons and Medals.|page=144. A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. 1956}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces]]
* [[Pakistan Medal]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Military awards and decorations of India]]
[[Category:Military awards and decorations of the United Kingdom]]

Indian Independence Medal - Revision history

Bot at 05:00, 1 December 2022