J&K police gets highest number of Gallantry Medals; 1,090 security personnel recognised nationwide

The Jammu and Kashmir Police bagged the highest number of Gallantry Medals as the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday announced the list of brave hearts honoured for their exceptional bravery and distinguished service to the nation.

Out of the 233 Gallantry Medals announced this year, 152 security personnel from the Union Territory have been recognised for their gallant actions.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that this year, a total of 1,090 personnel from police, fire, Home Guard & Civil Defence, and Correctional Services across the country have been awarded Gallantry and Service Medals on the occasion of Independence Day 2025.

These include 233 Medal for Gallantry (GM), 99 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), and 758 Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).

The MHA said among the 152 personnel, the J&K Police tops the list with 127 awards, followed by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), and other security forces.

According to the list, as many as 54 personnel from Left Wing Extremism-affected areas are among 233 awardees of Medals for Gallantry.

While 233 personnel have been awarded the Medal for Gallantry (GM), 99 personnel have been awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), and 758 personnel have been awarded the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM), it said.

At the national level, out of the 233 Medals for Gallantry, as many as 226 were awarded to Police personnel, 6 Fire Service personnel, and one HG&CD personnel.

Medal for Gallantry (GM) is awarded on the ground of a rare, conspicuous act of gallantry in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals, the risk incurred being estimated with due regard to the obligations and duties of the officer concerned.

Those awarded the 233 Gallantry Awards include 54 personnel from Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, 152 personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir region, 3 personnel from the North-East, and 24 personnel from other regions.

Eighteen officers and personnel of Delhi Police have also been honoured, including 3 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service and 15 medals for Meritorious Service. The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service was awarded to Garima Bhatnagar, IPS, Special CP; Dr Sagar Preet Hooda, IPS, DGP/Chandigarh, and SI (Exe.) Satender Yadav, the statement said.

Out of 99 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service (PSM), 89 have been awarded to the Police Service, 5 to the Fire Service, 3 to the Civil Defence & Home Guard Service, and 2 to the Correctional Service.

Out of 758 Medals for Meritorious Service (MSM), 635 have been awarded to the Police Service, 51 to the Fire Service, 41 to the Civil Defence & Home Guard Servic,e and 31 to the Correctional Service, the official statement said.

Additionally, 21 CBI officials have been awarded distinguished service and meritorious service medals.

The President’s Police Medal for distinguished service was awarded to Vivek Priyadarshi, DIG, CBI, BSFB, New Delhi; Dr. Machhindra Ramchandra Kadole, DIG, CBI, BSFB, Kolkata; Venkata Narendra Deve, Additional SP, CBI, ACB, Hyderabad; Bandi Peddi Raju, Additional SP, CBI, EO-III, New Delhi; Vishal, DSP, CBI, Policy Division, North Block, New Delhi, and Abhijit Sen, Head Constable, CBI, EOB, Kolkata, said an official statement.

Notably, of the Gallantry Medal awardees, 54 personnel are from Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, 152 from J&K, three from the Northeast, and 24 from other regions.

Of the gallantry award medals, Sujit Kumar, IGP (Security & Crime) J&K, has been awarded the President’s police medal for gallantry for showing exceptional courage, bravery, and presence of mind.

The J&K Police have been in the forefront of fighting armed violence, aided and abetted by Pakistan since 1990.

This police force had made huge sacrifices fighting terrorism. Despite grave danger to their lives and family, the J&K Police remained steadfast in bringing order and restoring respect for the law in the Union Territory, where terrorists dictated the course of daily life by calling for protests and hartals each time life seemed to pick up pace before the abrogation of Article 370.

J&K Police have fought alongside and with the support of the Army and the CAPFs to restore normalcy.

Also, five Tatrakshak Medals have been given to Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel on the eve of Independence Day 2025.

The medals are in recognition of their acts of conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to duty, and meritorious service.