Republic Day 2026: Govt announces gallantry, service medals to 982 personnel

New Delhi: Government on Sunday announced gallantry and service medals to 982 police, fire, home guard, civil defence and prison personnel on the eve of Republic Day, which included CBI officials who supervised the investigations into the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and the killing of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.

The 982 medals included 125 gallantry medals -- including those to 45 police officers who were deployed in Jammu and Kashmir operations, 35 personnel from Left Wing Extremism affected areas and five from the north-east -- 101 President's Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and 756 Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).

Thirty-one Maharashtra Police personnel, including Naik Constable Bitaji Veladi and Constable Kare Irpa Atram who were killed on duty, were also among those awarded gallantry medals for their fight against Maoism in Gadchiroli. The 45 personnel who were chosen for gallantry award for Kashmir operations included 33 Jammu and Kashmir and 12 CRPF personnel.

Among the paramilitary forces, only CRPF personnel were chosen for the gallantry award.

A bravery medal is awarded to a person on grounds of rare conspicuous act of gallantry, and 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.

The PSM is awarded for special distinguished record in service and Meritorious Service is awarded for valuable service characterised by resource and devotion to duty.

From Karnataka, 22 police personnel were awarded police medals, including two PSM and rest Meritorious Service.

Among the 31 CBI officers who were chosen for various police medals was Joint Director V Chandrasekhar, a 2000-batch IPS officer from the Gujarat cadre who supervised the investigations in the rape and murder of the trainee doctor at RG Kar hospital in Kerala. Chandrasekhar was awarded the President's Medal for Distinguished Service.

Sadanand Shakarrao Date, who was earlier DIG in CBI but now posted in Uttarakhand, was awarded Police Medal for Meritorious. Among others, he handled the investigations in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case.