New Delhi, August 2026 : On the eve of Independence Day, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has announced gallantry and service medals for a total of 1,057 officers and personnel from police, fire services, civil defence and home guards, and correctional services across the country for their outstanding performance. This includes 82 officers and personnel from Maharashtra, who have been honoured for their distinguished service in various fields.
Gallantry medals are awarded for outstanding acts of bravery performed while protecting life and property, preventing crimes or apprehending criminals while discharging official duties. This year, a total of 301 Gallantry Medals have been announced across the country. These include 272 personnel from police services and 29 personnel from fire services. Among them, 20 police personnel and 13 fire service personnel from Maharashtra have been awarded gallantry medals.
The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) is awarded for exceptionally distinguished service, while the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) is awarded for skilled performance, devotion to duty, dedication and distinguished service.
A total of 92 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service have been announced across the country. These include 83 from police services, four from fire services, three from civil defence and home guards and two from correctional services. From Maharashtra, three police officers/personnel and two correctional service personnel have been awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service.
In addition, 664 Medals for Meritorious Service have been announced nationwide. These comprise 606 from police services, 28 from fire services, 18 from civil defence and home guards and 12 from correctional services.
From Maharashtra, 37 police personnel, two fire service personnel, three civil defence and home guards personnel and two correctional service personnel have been awarded medals for meritorious service.
Every year, on the eve of Independence Day, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs announces various medals for officers and personnel from police, fire services, civil defence and home guards and correctional services in recognition of their bravery, devotion to duty and meritorious service.
Gallantry Medal – Police Services (GM)
- Raju Pandurang Gawali – Police Sub-Inspector
- Vasudev Rajam Madavi – Police Sub-Inspector
- Dilip Vitthal Atram – Naik Police Constable
- Ajay Gopalrao Madavi – Police Constable
- Ganesh Chandram Dubbula – Police Constable
- Vijay Zharu Madavi – Police Constable
- Bhupesh Marotrao Junamake – Police Constable
- Dalsu Katia Bogami – Police Constable
- Rajesh Shamrao Kirange – Police Constable
- Masa Bora Atram – Naik Police Constable
- Yatish Vijyrao Deshmukh, IPS – Additional Superintendent of Police
- Vijay Kishtayya Kodpe – Police Head Constable
- Dashrath Ramshaha Madavi – Naik Police Constable
- Rakesh Rajam Bedki – Police Constable
- Sudhakar Jagan Porte – Police Constable
- Srinivas Samayya Nishturi – Police Constable
- Ganesh Hanmantu Gajiwar – Police Constable
- Nitesh Prabhudas Tembekar – Police Constable
- Shivaji Messo Hichami – Police Constable
- Sanjay Mallesh Kankabandwar – Police Constable
Fire Services
- Manoj Vishwanath Sawant – Divisional Fire Officer
- Ravindra Narayanrao Ambulekar – Chief Fire Officer
- Anil Vasant Parab – Deputy Chief Fire Officer
- Ishwar Khandu Kamble – Senior Station Officer
- Yogesh Hiralal Pawar – Station Officer
- Dattatraya Ashok Bhosale – Station Officer
- Mahesh Anand Gudalkar – Driver-Operator
- Chintamani Shivaji Khandekar – Fireman
- Vicky Nagesh Sarvade – Fireman
- Darshan Ghanshyam Pawade – Fireman
- Ramesh Jeevan Koli – Fireman
- Rajesh Vishnu Rane – Driver-Operator
- Harshal Shankar Katke – Fireman
President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM)
Police Services
- Shirish Ravindra Jain – Additional Director General of Police
- Subhash Nanasaheb Bhujang – Deputy Superintendent of Police
- Sanjay Rajaram Waychale – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
Correctional Services
- Sanjeev Sakharam Ghanekar – Subedar
- Sanjay Rajaramji Talware – Head Constable
Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM)
Police Services
- Sanjay Bajirao Jadhav – Deputy Inspector General
- Vijaykumar Gopinath Magar – Deputy Inspector General
- Digambar Pandurang Pradhan – Superintendent of Police
- Prashant Radhakrishna Kulkarni – Additional Superintendent of Police/Sub-Divisional Police Officer
- Bhagirath Shivaji Deshmukh – Additional Superintendent of Police/Sub-Divisional Police Officer
- Pravin Vinayak Tejale – Additional Superintendent of Police/Sub-Divisional Police Officer
- Manojkumar Madhavrao Yadav – Additional Superintendent of Police/Sub-Divisional Police Officer
- Vaibhavkumar Jagdevrao Jadhav – Police Inspector
- Santosh Dhansingh Barge – Police Inspector
- Vishwajit Vasant Kaigade – Police Inspector
- Jitendra Anand Kadam – Police Inspector
- Janardan Yashwant Desai – Police Sub-Inspector
- Ankush Babalal Nyaynirgune – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Vilas Hanumanrao Ingle – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Muzaffar Ali Jafar Ali Sayyed – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Vinod Prabhakar Patil – Police Inspector
- Dilip Bhima Dhumane – Police Sub-Inspector
- Mohan Annasaheb Saudane – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Dipak Anant Thakur – Police Sub-Inspector
- Sampat Murlidhar Khaire – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Gulab Prabhakar Sonar – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Shekhar Dashrath Fartale – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Sherkhan Dilawarkhan Pathan – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Sunil Nivrutti Kadam – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Shailesh Chandrakant Upasani – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Prakash Baliram Kadam – Police Sub-Inspector
- Chandrashekhar Bhaskarrao Baviskar – Police Sub-Inspector
- Dinesh Vishwanath Badgujar – Police Sub-Inspector
- Arun Patruji Atram – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Shivanand Mahadev Swami – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Pandurang Bappaji Patil – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Anwar Ali Sayyed Ali Sayyed – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Ganesh Shankar Shinde – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Manoj Gopalrao Mangrulkar – Assistant Police Sub-Inspector
- Pradeep Vasantrao Chaungaonkar – Police Inspector
- Bharat Khimji Gohil – Head Constable
- Rajkumar Yadavrao Janbandhu – Head Constable
Fire Services
- Shankar Uttam Misal – Chief Fire Officer
- Shailesh Mahadev Jagtap – Fireman
Civil Defence and Home Guards Services
- Popat Ramji Sangde – Senior Staff Officer
- Ashok Namdev Ingle – Home Guard
- Manoj Sadashiv Barsagade – Home Guard
Correctional Services
- Vikas Hanmantu Rajnalwar – Superintendent, Group-B
- Mahesh Laxman Gadnaik – Head Constable
