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Category: Round and Oval

The Vishisht Seva Medal

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 26 January 1960
  • Country: India

The Vishisht Seva Medal is a decoration of the Indian armed forces awarded for “distinguished service of a high order” to all ranks of the Indian Armed forces. The award carries with it the right to use “VSM” as post-nominal letters.

The medal was originally established as the “Vishisht Seva Medal, Class III” on 26 January 1960. It may be granted posthumously.

The Vishisht Seva Design

The medal is circular, truck in silver, and measures 35 mm in diameter. It’s fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard fittings.

The obverse bears the State Emblem. On its reverse, it has a five pointed star.

The ribbon is golden color with three blue vertical stripes in the center.

The Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 26 January 1960
  • Country: India

The Ati Vishisht Seva Medal is a military award of India for distinguished service of an exceptional order to all ranks of the armed forces. It was established in 1960 and is a peacetime equivalent of Uttam Yuddh Seva Medal.

The Ati Vishisht Seva Medal was originally instituted as the “Vishisht Seva Medal, Class II” on 26 January 1960.

The Ati Vishisht Seva Design

The medal is struck in silver gilt, circular and measures 35 mm in diameter. 

The obverse bears the Lion Capital. On its reverse, it has a five pointed star.

The ribbon is golden color with two blue vertical stripes.

The Param Vishisht Seva Medal

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 26 January 1960
  • Country: India

The Param Vishisht Seva Medal is a military award of India constituted in 1960 and awarded in recognition to exceptional peace-time service of the most exceptional order. The medal was originally instituted as the “Vishisht Seva Medal, Class I” on 26 January 1960. 

 All ranks of the Indian Armed Forces including Territorial Army, Auxiliary and Reserve Forces, Nursing officers and other members of the Nursing services and other lawfully constituted Armed Forces are eligible for the award. The medal may be awarded posthumously.

The Param Vishisht Seva Design

The medal is struck in gold gilt, round, and measures 35 mm in diameter. It’s fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard fittings.

The obverse bears the State Emblem. On its reverse, it has a five pointed star.

The ribbon is golden color with one blue vertical stripe in the center, which divides it into two equal parts. If a recipient of the medal is subsequently awarded the medal again, every such further award shall be recognized by a bar to be attached to the riband by which the medal is suspended. 

The Yudh Seva Medal

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 26 June 1980
  • Country: India

The Yudh Seva Medal is one of India’s military decorations for distinguished service during wartime. It is awarded for a high degree of distinguished service in an operational context, such as times of war, conflict, or hostilities.

The medal may be awarded posthumously.

The Yudh Seva Design

The medal is circular and measures 35 mm in diameter. It’s fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard fittings.

The obverse bears the State Emblem and the inscription “YUDH SEVA MEDAL“. On its reverse, it has a five pointed star.

The ribbon is golden color with three red vertical stripes in the center.

The Uttam Yudh Seva Medal

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 26 June 1980
  • Country: India

The Uttam Yudh Seva Medal is one of India’s military decorations for Wartime Distinguished Service in an operational context (times of war, conflict, or hostilities).

The Uttam Yudh Seva Design

The medal is struck in gold gilt, circular and measures 35 mm in diameter. It’s fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard fittings.

The obverse bears the State Emblem and the inscription “UTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL“. On its reverse, it has a five pointed star.

The ribbon is golden color with two red vertical stripes.

The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 26 June 1980
  • Country: India

The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal is India’s highest wartime distinguished service decoration. It is awarded in an operational context such as during times of war, conflict, or hostilities. It is the military equivalent of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal may be awarded to all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force including those of Territorial Army Units, Auxiliary and Reserve Forces and other lawfully constituted Armed Forces. The medal can be awarded posthumously.

The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal has only been awarded three times in history: To Lieutenant General A.S. Kalkat, the overall commander of the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka. To Air Marshal Vinod Patney was the Western Air Commander and to Lieutenant General H.M. Khanna was the Northern Army Commander during the Kargil War.

The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Design

The medal is struck in gold gilt, circular and measures 35 mm in diameter. It’s fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard fittings.

The obverse bears the State Emblem and the inscription “SARVOTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL“. On its reverse, it has a five pointed star.

The ribbon is golden color with one red vertical stripe in the center, which divides it into two equal parts. If a recipient of the medal is subsequently awarded the medal again, every such further award shall be recognized by a bar to be attached to the riband by which the medal is suspended. 

The Nau Sena Medal

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 17 June 1960
  • Country: India

The Nau Sena Medal is a gallantry award for servicemen in the Indian Navy instituted on 17 June 1960 for individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage as have special significance for the Navy.

The Nao Sena Medal was instituted by the Government of India, with the approval of the President of India.

The Nau Sena Medal Design

The medal is pentangular in shape, struck in silver and has curved sides. 

The obverse bears an embossed Naval Crest. The reverse shows a trident within a circle and rope. There’s also an inscription reading “Nau Sena Medal” in Hindi embossed along the upper rim.

The ribbon is navy blue with a single central white line and measures 32 mms wide. 

The Sena Medal

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 17 June 1960
  • Country: India

The Sena Medal is a decoration from India awarded to members of the Indian army for acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage. It was established on 17 June 1960 by the Government of India, with the approval of the President of India, and may be made posthumously.

The Sena Medal can be awarded for gallantry or for distinguished service carried out by any soldier not in the face of the enemy – so it serves as a sort of general commendation medal for the Indian Army too.

From 1 February 1999, the central government set a monthly stipend of Rs. 250 (later revised, currently around Rs. 2000) for recipients of the award when given for bravery. 

The Sena Medal Design

The medal is circular in shape. The obverse bears a bayonet pointing upwards. The reverse shows a standing soldier with the legend in Hindi “Sena Medal” above.

The ribbon is red with a single central white line, measuring 32 mms long. 

The Shaurya Chakra Decoration

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 4 January 1952
  • Country: India

The Shaurya Chakra Decoration was established in 1952 and is India’s third-highest peacetime military decoration awarded for courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. 

The Ashoka Chakra is awarded to civilians and military personnel, sometimes posthumously. The decoration was first established as the “Ashoka Chakra, Class III”, the name it kept until 27 January 1967.

Since July 1999, the decoration can also be given to Civilians of either gender in all walks of life, other than members of Police Forces or recognized Fire Services. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Vir Chakra. It is generally awarded for Counter-Insurgency operations and actions against the enemy during peace-time.

The Shaurya Chakra Design

The medal is circular in shape, struck in bronze and measures 1-3/8 inches in diameter.

The obverse has the chakra (wheel) of Ashoka surrounded by a lotus wreath and an ornate edge. The reverse has the inscription “Shaurya Chakra” embossed in Hindi and English along the upper and lower edges of the medal. The center is blank.

The ribbon is green with three thin orange lines.

The Kirti Chakra Decoration

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 4 January 1952
  • Country: India

The Kitri Chakra Decoration was established in 1952 and is India’s second-highest peacetime military decoration. It’s awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle.

The Kitri Chakra may be awarded to civilians and military personnel, and can be given posthumously. The decoration is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra.

Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class II. The statutes were revised and the decoration renamed on 27 January 1967.

The Kitri Chakra Design

The medal is circular in shape, struck in standard silver and measures 1-3/8 inches in diameter.

The obverse has the chakra (wheel) of Ashoka surrounded by a lotus wreath and an ornate edge. The reverse has the inscription “Kitri Chakra” embossed in Hindi and English along the upper and lower edges of the medal. The center is blank.

The ribbon is green with two thin orange lines in the center.