A total of 1,057 personnel from the Police, Fire Service, Home Guard and Civil Defence and Correctional Services have been awarded Gallantry and Service Medals on the occasion of Independence Day 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced on August 14.
The honours recognise acts of exceptional courage, distinguished service and dedication to duty by personnel serving across various security and public safety organisations. Among those recognised, three police personnel from Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh have been awarded Gallantry Medals posthumously.
The three personnel honoured posthumously are Chhattisgarh Police constables Nitesh Ekka and Ramesh Koreti, and Uttar Pradesh Police Inspector Sunil Kumar.
Of the 1,057 awards announced, 301 are Medals for Gallantry, 92 are President’s Medals for Distinguished Service and 664 are Medals for Meritorious Service.
The 301 Gallantry Medals include 272 awarded to police personnel and 29 to members of the Fire Service. The awards recognise conspicuous acts of gallantry in saving lives and property, preventing crime or apprehending criminals, with the risks undertaken assessed in relation to the duties and responsibilities of the personnel concerned.
A significant proportion of the gallantry awards relate to operations and security duties in challenging areas. Of the 301 Gallantry Medal recipients, 197 personnel are from Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, 51 are from the Jammu and Kashmir region, 12 are from the North-East and 41 are from other regions.
The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service has been awarded to 92 personnel. Of these, 83 are from the police service, four from the Fire Service, three from Civil Defence and Home Guard services and two from Correctional Services.
The medal recognises a special and distinguished record of service and honours personnel who have demonstrated sustained excellence and commitment during their careers.
A further 664 personnel have been awarded the Medal for Meritorious Service. The recipients include 606 police personnel, 28 Fire Service personnel, 18 members of Civil Defence and Home Guard services and 12 personnel from Correctional Services.
The Medal for Meritorious Service recognises valuable service characterised by resourcefulness and devotion to duty.
The Independence Day honours highlight the contribution of personnel working across India’s internal security, emergency response, civil protection and correctional services. The recognition also acknowledges the courage of those who undertake challenging duties in conflict-affected and high-risk regions.
The announcement ahead of the 80th Independence Day celebrations serves as a tribute to personnel who have demonstrated exceptional bravery as well as those whose sustained professionalism and dedication have strengthened public safety and national security.
