Awards and Decorations of the Indian Armed Forces

The Armed Forces of India are eligible for a myriad of military decorations. Decorations are awarded for extraordinary bravery and courage, as well as distinguished service during times of war and peace. Service and campaign medals have been awarded throughout the history of India as an independent state.

Decorations

Decorations in the order of precedence:

Wartime gallantry awards

Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
Maha Vir Chakra (MVC)
Vir Chakra (VrC)

Peacetime gallantry awards

Ashok Chakra (AC)
Kirti Chakra (KC)
Shaurya Chakra (SrC)

Medals

Distinguished Service & Gallantry medals

Sena Medal (Army) (SM)
Nausena Medal (Navy) (NM)
Vayusena Medal (Air Force) (VM)

Wartime distinguished service medals

Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM)
Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM)
Yudh Seva Medal (YSM)

Peacetime distinguished service medals

Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM)
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM)
Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM)

Service and campaign medals

Wound Medal
General Service Medal 1947
Samanya Seva Medal
Special Service Medal
Samar Seva Star
Poorvi Star
Paschimi Star
Operation Vijay Star
Siachen Glacier Medal
Raksha Medal
Sangram Medal
Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal
Sainya Seva Medal
High Altitude Service Medal
Videsh Seva Medal

Long service awards

Meritorious Service Medal
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal
20 Years Long Service Medal
9 Years Long Service Medal
Territorial Army Decoration
Territorial Army Medal

Independence medals

Indian Independence Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal
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.[1]

Elegible 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.[1]

Personnel can be mentioned in dispatches posthumously and multiple awards are also possible. A recipient of a Mention in a Despatch is be 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.[1]

Commendation Card

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 which are not of a sufficiently high order to qualify for a higher gallantry award or for which the higher award is inappropriate. 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.[2][3][4]

Order of wear

The various decorations and medals are worn in the following order:[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mention in Dispatches". Indian Army. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  2. ↑ http://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/documents/new_pattern.pdf
  3. ↑ http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=wLfooJIOdvBCn377nuEo1g==&ParentID=dSwRF/26P+lLTvHo/Cyg4Q==
  4. ↑ http://www.livefistdefence.com/2009/08/armys-new-norms-for-commendation-badges.html
  5. ↑ "Precedence Of Medals". http://indianarmy.nic.in/. Indian Army. Retrieved 28 November 2012. External link in |work= (help)

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