AracelyIqbal at 18:01, 4 May 2026

2026-05-04T18:01:56Z

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{{about|the medal awarded from 1932 to 1951|the medal awarded from 1951|Police Medal (India)}}
{{Infobox military award
| name = Indian Police Medal
| image = [[File:Indian Police Medal 1940 2.jpg|100px]] [[File:Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service.png|100px]] Original ribbon, used for meritorious awards after 1945 [[File:Indian Police Medal for Gallantry Ribbon.gif|100px]] Ribbon for gallantry awards 1945–1950
| caption =
| presenter = the [[British Raj]] [[Dominion of India]]
| country =
| type = Police decoration
| eligibility = Members of the police forces of India
| awarded_for = Distinguished Conduct (1932–1944) Meritorious Service or Gallantry (1945–1950)
| campaign =
| status = No longer awarded after 1951, replaced by [[Police Medal (India)|Police Medal]]
| description =
| motto =
| clasps =
| post-nominals =
| established = 23 February 1932
| firstawarded =
| lastawarded =
| total_awarded =
| total_awarded_posthumously =
| total_recipients =
| precedence_label =Order of Wear
| individual =
| higher = [[Indian Order of Merit|Indian Order of Merit (Civil)]] (gallantry)<ref name="oow">{{London Gazette|issue=56878|page=3352|date=17 March 2003|supp=y}}</ref> [[Imperial Service Medal]] (meritorious)
| same =
| lower = [[Ceylon Police Medal|Ceylon Police Medal for Gallantry]] (gallantry)<ref name="oow"/> [[Ceylon Police Medal|Ceylon Police Medal for Merit]] (meritorious)
| related = [[Overseas Territories Police Medal]]
| image2 =
| caption2 =
}}

The '''Indian Police Medal''' ('''IPM''') was an award of the [[British Raj]] presented to both European and Asian police personnel. Established in 1932, the award was presented for meritorious service and gallantry that was of a lesser degree than what was required for the [[King's Police Medal]].

==History==
It was decided that further recognition was required for the members of the police forces within India. Already eligible for the King's Police Medal, there were many acts of service and bravery notable enough for recognition, but not meeting the requirements of the King's Police Medal. On 23 February 1932, a royal warrant was promulgated establishing the Indian Police Medal. The medal was meant to recognize both acts of meritorious and noteworthy service, as well as gallantry. The medal was limited to 200 annual awards.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29958673 |title=INDIAN POLICE MEDAL. |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |location=Hobart, Tasmania |date=9 June 1932 |access-date=14 September 2014 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> A royal warrant in 1942 allowed the [[Viceroy of India]], in exceptional circumstances, to raise the number of awards to 250 in a year.<ref>{{London Gazette|date=1 December 1942 |issue=35806 |page=5229 }}</ref> The Indian Police Medal ceased to be awarded after India became a republic. The Indian Police medal was replaced by the [[Police Medal (India)|Police Medal]] which was established by the Government of India notification dated 15 March 1951.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Police in India|last=Chande|first=B.|isbn=9788171566280|page=518|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WIrLjQrgJGoC|year=1997|publisher=Atlantic Publishers and Distributors}}</ref><ref name=myb2004>{{cite book|last1=Mackay|first1=edited by James|last2=Mussell|first2=John W.|last3=News|first3=the Editorial Team of Medal|title=The medal yearbook 2004|date=2004|publisher=Token Publishing Ltd.|location=Devon, UK|isbn=9781870192620|page=98}}</ref>

==Appearance==
The Indian Police Medal is round and made of bronze. The [[obverse and reverse|obverse]] bears the effigy of the reigning monarch. The reverse of the medal depicts a wreath around the edge, surmounted by a crown. In the middle are the words ''FOR GALLANTRY'' or ''FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE'' depending on the conditions under which the medal was awarded.<ref name=dec1944>{{London Gazette|date=29 December 1944 |issue=36865 |page=5963 }}</ref> The first version of the medal bore the inscription ''FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT''.<ref>{{cite book|title=To guard my people: the history of the Indian Police |last=Griffiths |first=Sir Percival Joseph |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=URUFAQAAIAAJ |date=1971 |publisher=Benn |page=418|isbn=9780510269425 }}</ref><ref name=myb2004/>

The suspension and [[service ribbon]]s of the medal are {{convert|1+3/8|in|mm}} wide. It is dark blue, with silver edges and a crimson centre stripe. For gallantry awards, the blue sections are split by a thin silver stripe.<ref name=dec1944/><ref name=myb2004/>

==See also==
*[[Medals of Indian Police and Civil Forces]]
*[[Orders, decorations, and medals of India]]
*[[Orders, decorations, and medals of British India]]
*[[State Armed Police Forces]]
*[[Paramilitary forces of India]]
*[[Law enforcement in India]]
*[[Indian Armed Forces]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Decorations of the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:Courage awards]]
[[Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of British India]]
[[Category:Civil awards and decorations of India]]
[[Category:Law enforcement awards and honors]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1932]]
[[Category:1932 establishments in India]]
[[Category:History of law enforcement in India]]
[[Category:Awards disestablished in 1951]]
[[Category:1951 disestablishments in India]]

Indian Police Medal - Revision history

AracelyIqbal at 18:01, 4 May 2026