Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces

Decorations in the order of precedence:

Wartime gallantry awards

	Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
	Maha Vir Chakra (MVC)
	Vir Chakra (VrC)

Peacetime gallantry awards

	Ashok Chakra (AC)
	Kirti Chakra (KC)
	Shaurya Chakra (SC)

Wartime distinguished service medals

	Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM)
	Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM)
	Yudh Seva Medal (YSM)

Peacetime distinguished service medals

	Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM)
	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM)
	Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM)

Distinguished Service & Gallantry medals

	Sena Medal (Army) (SM)
	Nausena Medal (Navy) (NM)
	Vayusena Medal (Air Force) (VM)

Mention in Dispatches has been used since 1947, in order to recognize distinguished and meritorious service in operational areas and acts of gallantry which are not of a sufficiently high order to warrant the grant of gallantry awards.[1]

Eligible personnel include all Army, Navy and Air Force personnel including personnel of the Reserve Forces, Territorial Army, Militia and other lawfully constituted Armed Forces, members of the Nursing Service and Civilians working under or with the Armed Forces.[1]

Personnel can be mentioned in dispatches posthumously and multiple awards are also possible. A recipient of a Mention in a Despatch is entitled to wear an emblem, in the form of a lotus leaf on the ribbon of the relevant Campaign Medal. They are also issued with an official certificate from the Ministry of Defence.[1]

Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card

All three branches of the military issue Commendation Cards, which are badges awarded for "individual acts of gallantry or distinguished service or devotion to duty performed either in operation or non-operational areas. It is a type of gallantry award.The award will be for a specific act of bravery or distinguished service or special service. The award will not be made posthumously."

All three branches issue Commendations Cards at the level of the highest officer (Chief of the Army Staff, Chief of the Naval Staff and Chief of the Air Staff). The awards at lower levels seem to vary between services.[2][3][4]

The various decorations and medals are worn in the following order:[5][6]

Precedence	Award Name	Ribbon
1	Bharat Ratna
2	Param Vir Chakra
3	Ashoka Chakra
4	Padma Vibhushan
5	Padma Bhushan
6	Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal
7	Param Vishisht Seva Medal
8	Maha Vir Chakra
9	Kirti Chakra
10	Padma Shri
11	Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak
12	Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
13	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
14	Vir Chakra
15	Shaurya Chakra
16	Yudh Seva Medal
17	Sena Medal (for army personnel)
	Nau Sena Medal (For naval personnel)
	Vayu Sena Medal (For air force personnel)
18	Vishisht Seva Medal
19	Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak
20	Parakram Padak (Wound Medal)
21	General Service Medal 1947
22	Samanya Seva Medal - 1965
23	Special Service Medal
24	Samar Seva Star - 1965
25	Poorvi Star
26	Paschimi Star
27	Operation Vijay Star Medal
28	Siachen Glacier Medal
29	Raksha Medal – 1965
30	Sangram Medal
31	Operation Vijay Medal
32	Operation Parakram Medal
33	Sainya Seva Medal
34	High Altitude Medal
35	Videsh Seva Medal
36	Territorial Army Decoration
35	Territorial Army Medal
36	Indian Independence Medal - 1947
37	Independence Medal - 1950
38	50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
39	25th Independence Anniversary Medal
40	30 Years Long Service Medal
41	20 Years Long Service Medal
42	9 Years Long Service Medal
43	Commonwealth Awards
44	United Nations Awards

An order issued on 11 July 2019 by the Indian Army's "Ceremonial and Welfare Adjutant General's Branch" made it permissible for the close relatives of the deceased military personnel to wear their medals on the right side of chest while attending homage ceremonies at war memorials, cemeteries and funerals. These gallantry or service awards of deceased can be worn by their family members, such as spouses, children, parents, forefathers while wearing civil clothes.[7]

• Orders, decorations, and medals of India
• Medals And Decorations of Indian Military

• Official Website of the Indian Army, Awards Background
• Indian Air Force :: Honours and Awards
• Indian Navy Medals
• Pride of India Medals and Honours

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