Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Gaurav Grover has been honoured with the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Disc, a prestigious recognition awarded for distinguished service, dedication and outstanding contribution in the line of duty.
The honour was presented to Dr. Grover by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on June 5, 2026. Ayodhya Police announced the development, stating that the SSP was conferred the COAS Commendation Disc in recognition of his service and contribution. The official social media post by Ayodhya Police also shared photographs from the ceremony, showing a senior Army officer adorning the commendation disc on Dr. Grover’s khaki police uniform, followed by a handshake and a joint pose marking the occasion.
Dr. Gaurav Grover, an IPS officer of the 2013 batch, is currently serving as SSP Ayodhya. His official UP Police profile lists him as an IPS-RR 2013 officer with an MBBS educational background, while the Ayodhya district administration also lists him as the district’s Senior Superintendent of Police.
The recognition carries special significance as Ayodhya has emerged as one of India’s most sensitive and important religious, cultural and tourism centres. The city, located on the banks of the Saryu River, is revered as the birthplace of Lord Ram and is one of the most prominent pilgrimage destinations in the country.
In recent years, Ayodhya has witnessed a major rise in pilgrim and tourist movement, requiring high-level security preparedness, crowd management, intelligence coordination and inter-agency cooperation. The police force in the district has had to work in close coordination with multiple security and administrative agencies to ensure smooth arrangements during religious festivals, VIP visits and large public gatherings.
The COAS Commendation Disc awarded to Dr. Grover reflects the importance of civil-military coordination in maintaining security in a high-footfall and high-sensitivity region like Ayodhya. The honour also highlights the role of Uttar Pradesh Police in working alongside the Indian Army and other agencies to ensure public safety, law and order, and secure conduct of major events.
For Ayodhya Police, the recognition is a matter of pride, as it acknowledges the professionalism and commitment of the district police leadership. Dr. Grover’s honour also underlines the increasing importance of coordinated security mechanisms in cities of national religious and strategic relevance.
The ceremony served as a symbol of mutual respect between the Indian Army and the civil police administration. It also recognised the contribution of police officers who work behind the scenes to ensure that major public and religious centres remain safe, organised and accessible for citizens.
With Ayodhya continuing to grow as a major spiritual and tourism hub, the role of the police and security agencies remains crucial. The honour bestowed upon SSP Dr. Gaurav Grover stands as recognition of dedicated service, effective leadership and the spirit of cooperation between India’s uniformed services.
