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.
Military medals
Decorations for precedence:
- Wartime gallantry awards
| File:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg | Param Vir Chakra (PVC) |
| File:Maha Vir Chakra ribbon.svg | Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) |
| File:Vir Chakra ribbon bar.svg | Vir Chakra (VrC) |
- Peacetime gallantry awards
| File:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg | Ashok Chakra(AC) |
| File:Kirti Chakra ribbon.svg | Kirti Chakra (KC) |
| File:Shaurya Chakra ribbon.svg | Shaurya Chakra (SC) |
- Wartime distinguished service medals
| File:Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg | Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) |
| File:Uttam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg | Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) |
| File:Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg | Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) |
- Peacetime distinguished service medals
- Distinguished service & gallantry medals
| File:Sena Medal ribbon.svg | Sena Medal (Army) (SM) |
| File:Nao Sena Medal ribbon.svg | Nausena Medal (Navy) (NM) |
| File:Vayusena Medal ribbon.svg | Vayusena Medal (Air Force) (VM) |
Service and campaign medals
Long service awards
| File:IND Meritorious Service Medal Ribbon.svg | Meritorious Service Medal |
| File:IND Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Ribbon.svg | Long Service and Good Conduct Medal |
| File:IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg | 30 Years Long Service Medal |
| File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg | 20 Years Long Service Medal |
| File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg | 9 Years Long Service Medal |
| File:IND Territorial Army decoration.svg | Territorial Army Decoration |
| File:IND Territorial Army medal.svg | Territorial Army Medal |
Independence medals
Military reconnaissance and exploration medal
| File:MacGregor Medal Ribbon.jpg | MacGregor Medal[1] |
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.[2]
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.[2]
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.[2]
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, Chief of the Naval Staff and Chief of the Air Staff). The awards at lower levels seem to vary between services.[3][4][5]
Order of wearing
The various decorations and medals are worn in the following order:[6][7]
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
Template:Anchor 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.[8]
See also
References
- ↑ Ever Observed Colorful Ribbons On Soldier's Uniform? Here's What They Mean, SSBCrack. SSBCrack(2017-02-18). Retrieved 2021-02-18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mention in Dispatches. Indian Army. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ↑ http://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/documents/new_pattern.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF
- ↑ The Official Home Page of the Indian Army.
- ↑ Army's New Norms for Commendation Badges - Livefist(13 August 2022).
- ↑ Precedence Of Medals. Official Website of the Indian Army. Indian Army. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ↑ Order of Precedence | Indian Navy. Official Website of the Indian Navy. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
- ↑ Indian Army allows next of kin to wear medals of late ex-servicemen during homage ceremonies, India Today, 23 July 2019.
External links
- Medals And Decorations of Indian Military
- Official Website of the Indian Army, Awards Background
- Indian Air Force :: Honours and Awards
- Indian Navy Medals
- Pride of India Medals and Honours
Template:Indian Military honours and decorations Template:Indian Armed Forces