Gallantry Awards 2024: 78th Independence Day [Current Affairs]

The Central government announced 1,037 medals for police, fire, prison, home guard, and civil defence personnel of Central and state police forces on the eve of Independence Day. Out of 208 gallantry awards, 52 have been awarded to the personnel deployed in Left-wing extremism areas, 31 in the Jammu and Kashmir region, and 17 to those from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Gallantry Awards for Armed Forces & Central Armed Police Forces

The President approved 103 gallantry awards, including nine posthumous, to the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel.

Gallantry Awards for Police Personnel

• A total of 1,037 police medals were awarded, including 213 Police Medals for Gallantry, 94 President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service, and 729 Police Medals for Meritorious Service.
• Out of the 213 Medals for Gallantry, 208 were awarded to police personnel, with 31 going to Jammu and Kashmir Police, 17 each to Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra Police, 15 to Chhattisgarh Police, 12 to Madhya Pradesh Police, and 7 each to Jharkhand, Punjab, and Telangana Police.
• The President’s Medal for Gallantry was awarded to Telangana Police Head Constable Chaduvu Yadaiah for catching two chain snatchers despite being stabbed in 2022.

Gallantry Awards for Naval Personnel

• Several Indian naval personnel were awarded gallantry awards, including Capt Brijesh Nambiar, Capt Rajababu Sharma, and Cdr Anoop Kumar.
• The gallantry awards recognize the recipients’ exceptional courage, dedication, and sacrifice in the line of duty. These honors serve as a testament to the bravery and commitment of India’s armed forces, police, and other security personnel in safeguarding the nation and its citizens.

Recipients of the Kirti Chakra

On Independence Day 2024, the Government of India announced several gallantry awards, including the prestigious Kirti Chakra. The recipients of the Kirti Chakra this year are:

1. Colonel Manpreet Singh (Posthumous) – Awarded for leading an anti-terror operation in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, where he lost his life.
2. Rifleman Ravi Kumar (Posthumous) – Recognized for his bravery in the same operation as Colonel Singh.
3. Major Malla Rama Gopal Naidu – Honored for his exceptional courage in military operations.
4. Deputy Superintendent Himayun Muzzammil Bhat (Posthumous) was also recognized for his bravery during the counter-terrorism operation in Anantnag, where he was killed.

Announced on India’s 78th Independence Day

The gallantry awards announced on India’s 78th Independence Day serve as a powerful tribute to the bravery and dedication of the nation’s armed forces, police, and naval personnel. These honors not only recognize individual acts of extraordinary courage but also highlight the commitment of these heroes in safeguarding India’s security.  includes:

Awards 2024

• Four Kirti Chakras (three posthumous)
• Eighteen Shaurya Chakras (four posthumous)
• One Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry)
• Sixty-three Sena Medals (Gallantry) (two posthumous)
• Eleven Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry)
• Six Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry)

About Gallantry Awards

Gallantry Awards have been instituted by the Government of India to honour the acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted Forces and civilians.

Top Six Gallantry Awards

• Param Vir Chakra
• Ashoka Chakra
• Mahavir Chakra
• Kirti Chakra
• Vir Chakra and
• Shaurya Chakra