1,057 Police, Security Personnel Receive Independence Day Medals
301 Gallantry Medals and 756 Service Medals awarded to personnel from Police, Fire, Home Guard, Civil Defence and Correctional Services
- A total of 1,057 personnel honoured with Gallantry and Service Medals on Independence Day 2026.
- 301 Gallantry Medals awarded for exceptional bravery in protecting lives and maintaining law and order.
- 92 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service and 664 Medals for Meritorious Service conferred.
- Most gallantry awards recognised operations in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas and Jammu & Kashmir.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 14th Aug: The Central Government has announced 1,057 Gallantry and Service Medals for personnel of the Police, Fire Service, Home Guard & Civil Defence (HG&CD), and Correctional Services on the occasion of Independence Day 2026, recognising acts of bravery, distinguished service and exceptional dedication to duty.
Among the awards, 301 personnel have been conferred the Medal for Gallantry (GM) for displaying conspicuous courage in saving lives, protecting property, preventing crime and apprehending criminals while facing significant risk.
Of the Gallantry Medals, 272 have been awarded to Police personnel and 29 to Fire Service personnel. The majority of the recipients were recognised for operations in challenging security environments, with 197 personnel honoured for actions in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, 51 from Jammu & Kashmir, 12 from the North-East, and **41 from other parts of the country.
In the Service Medal category, 92 personnel have received the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) in recognition of exceptional and distinguished service. The awardees include 83 Police personnel, four Fire Service officers, three Home Guard and Civil Defence personnel, and two Correctional Service officials.
Additionally, 664 personnel have been honoured with the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) for their valuable service marked by dedication and professionalism. The recipients comprise 606 Police personnel, 28 Fire Service personnel, 18 Home Guard and Civil Defence personnel, and 12 Correctional Service officials.
The Gallantry Medal is awarded for acts of exceptional bravery performed while discharging official duties, whereas the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service recognises an outstanding record of service over a sustained period. The Medal for Meritorious Service honours personnel whose commitment, devotion to duty and resourcefulness have significantly contributed to public service.
The Ministry of Home Affairs also released detailed lists of awardees, including category-wise, state-wise and force-wise recipients, as part of the Independence Day honours for 2026.
