New Delhi: The Central government on Sunday announced the names of 982 personnel from police, fire services, Home Guard and Civil Defence (HG&CD), and correctional services who will be honoured with gallantry and service medals on the occasion of Republic Day 2026.
Of the total awards, 125 are Medals for Gallantry, 101 are President’s Medals for Distinguished Service (PSM), and 756 are Medals for Meritorious Service (MSM), recognising acts of bravery, exceptional service records, and sustained dedication to duty.
Among the 125 gallantry awardees, a significant number are from conflict-prone regions. As many as 35 personnel were honoured for operations in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, 45 for gallant actions in Jammu and Kashmir, five from the north-eastern states, and 40 from other parts of the country.
Of the gallantry medals, 121 were awarded to police personnel and four to members of the fire services. These medals are conferred for rare and conspicuous acts of bravery involving risk to life while saving lives and property, preventing crimes, or apprehending criminals.
The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service was awarded to 101 personnel, including 89 from the police service, five from the fire service, three from the Civil Defence and Home Guard service, and four from correctional services. The medal recognises a special and distinguished record of service.
A total of 756 Medals for Meritorious Service were awarded, with 664 going to police personnel, 34 to fire service members, 33 to the Civil Defence and Home Guard service, and 25 to correctional service officials. The MSM honours valuable service marked by devotion to duty and professional excellence.
Among the Central Armed Police Forces and allied organisations, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) received the highest number of awards, including 12 Gallantry Medals, five PSM and 57 MSM. The Border Security Force followed with five PSM and 46 MSM, while the Central Industrial Security Force received three PSM and 24 MSM. Assam Rifles, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Sashastra Seema Bal also featured prominently among the recipients.
The Intelligence Bureau was awarded nine PSM and 26 MSM, while the Central Bureau of Investigation received six PSM and 25 MSM. Other organisations recognised included the National Security Guard, Railway Protection Force, National Crime Records Bureau, Bureau of Police Research and Development and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Medals for Meritorious Service were also conferred on personnel from agencies such as the National Disaster Response Force, National Investigation Agency, Narcotics Control Bureau, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Special Protection Group and premier police training academies.
At the state level, Maharashtra received the highest number of Gallantry Medals at 31, along with four PSM and 40 MSM. Uttar Pradesh followed with 18 Gallantry Medals, four PSM and 68 MSM. Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Odisha and Manipur also featured prominently among the awardees. Several other states, including Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Assam, Telangana and West Bengal, received multiple service medals, reflecting sustained excellence in policing and internal security.
