Independence Day Gallantry Medals: As India prepares to celebrate its 80th Independence Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs has announced a total of 1,057 medals for personnel from the Police, Fire Service, Home Guard and Civil Defence and Correctional Services. The announcement was made on August 14, 2026.
The awards honour people who have shown great courage while doing their duty as well as those who have given many years of dedicated service. The honours include medals for gallantry, distinguished service and meritorious service.
Among the gallantry awardees, three police personnel from Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh have received the honour after their deaths. The three are Chhattisgarh Police constables Nitesh Ekka and Ramesh Koreti and Uttar Pradesh Police Inspector Sunil Kumar.
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301 Gallantry Medals Announced
Out of the total 1,057 awards, 301 are Gallantry Medals. These include 272 medals for police personnel and 29 for members of the Fire Service.
The gallantry awards are given for brave actions carried out during duty. The personnel may have risked their lives while saving people, protecting property, stopping crimes or catching criminals. The level of danger involved is also considered based on the job and responsibilities of the person.
A large number of the gallantry medals this year are linked to difficult security duties in areas facing serious security problems. Of the 301 gallantry awardees, 197 are personnel who served in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism. Another 51 are from the Jammu and Kashmir region. Twelve are from the North-East and 41 are from other parts of the country.
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Distinguished and Meritorious Service Medals
The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service has been given to 92 personnel. This includes 83 police personnel, four Fire Service personnel, three from Civil Defence and Home Guard services and two from Correctional Services.
This medal is meant for people who have built a strong record during their careers. It recognises long-term good work, high standards and continued dedication to duty.
Another 664 personnel have received the Medal for Meritorious Service. Among them are 606 police personnel, 28 Fire Service personnel, 18 members of Civil Defence and Home Guard services and 12 Correctional Services personnel.
The medal recognises valuable work and people who have shown good judgement, dedication and commitment while carrying out their responsibilities.
The 2026 Independence Day medals cover several important areas of public service. They recognise the work of police officers, firefighters, home guards, civil defence personnel and correctional staff who help maintain public safety and security across the country.
The honours also remember those who have taken serious risks while working in conflict-hit and high-risk areas. At the same time, they recognise people whose steady work over many years has helped strengthen India’s public safety system.
