Maharashtra Honours Its Bravest on Republic Day
On Republic Day 2026, a total of 75 personnel from the Maharashtra Police were awarded gallantry and service medals by the Government of India, acknowledging their courage, dedication and distinguished service to the nation. Among the recipients were 31 officers from the Maoist-affected Gadchiroli district — many of whom were honoured for their valour in combating Left Wing Extremism. Two of the Gadchiroli awardees received recognition posthumously after making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The awards form part of a nationwide list of 982 police, fire service, home guard, civil defence and correctional service personnel selected for gallantry and service medals ahead of Republic Day celebrations.
Gallantry Medals for Exceptional Courage
Gallantry medals are conferred on personnel who exhibit rare and conspicuous bravery, including saving life and property, preventing crime, or arresting criminals while facing significant personal risk. Among the Maharashtra recipients were frontline officers and constables who operated in highly challenging environments, particularly in Naxal-affected regions of Gadchiroli district.
Of the 31 awardees from Gadchiroli, two personnel were honoured posthumously: Naik Constable Bitaji Veladi and Constable Kare Irpa Atram, both of whom laid down their lives while combating Maoist insurgents. Their sacrifice underscores the dangers faced by security forces working in difficult and high-risk terrains to ensure the safety of civilians and uphold state authority.
Several other Maharashtra police personnel were also recognised for gallantry, including Constable Mohan Lachhu Usendi, who received a gallantry medal with one bar, indicating repeated acts of exceptional courage. Assistant Inspector Amol Phadtare and Assistant Sub-Inspector Wasudeo Madavi were among those honoured, highlighting the broad representation of ranks recognised for valour in services.
President’s Medals for Distinguished Service
In addition to gallantry recognitions, Maharashtra Police officers received prestigious service medals for long and distinguished careers. The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service is awarded to those with an exceptional and sustained record of performance and commitment.
Among the awardees in this category were Additional Commissioner of Police Mahesh Udaji Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police Balkrishna Motiram Yadav, Assistant Commissioner of Police Cyrus Boman Irani and Assistant Commissioner Vitthal Khanduji Kubade. Their careers reflect leadership, professionalism and dedication to public safety and policing excellence in varied assignments across the state.
These medals honour sustained excellence and professional achievement, recognising officers whose work has had a significant impact on policing effectiveness and service delivery over many years.
Medals for Meritorious Service and Broader Recognition
Beyond gallantry and distinguished service, many officers and personnel were also recognised with medals for meritorious service. These awards are given for valuable contributions marked by resource, dedication and consistent devotion to duty. The nationwide list announced by the Union Home Ministry includes 756 recipients of the Medal for Meritorious Service across police, fire service, home guard and civil defence units.
While official documentation for Maharashtra’s meritorious service awardees was part of the broader economic and administrative rollout, the prominence of state police personnel across all categories highlights the capacity of the Maharashtra Police to excel in diverse operational and administrative settings.
Maharashtra’s Role in National Gallantry Awards
The Republic Day 2026 honours underscored Maharashtra’s significant contribution to national security and internal peacekeeping. Out of the 125 gallantry medals awarded nationwide, Maharashtra Police personnel accounted for 31 — the second-highest tally among state forces, behind Jammu and Kashmir Police, which received 33 gallantry awards. Other states and union territories also featured among gallantry medal recipients, with personnel from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi also recognised for courage in the line of duty.
This year’s gallantry awards highlighted operational theatres across the country, with the Jammu and Kashmir region receiving the most gallantry medals, followed by those deployed in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, including Gadchiroli, and select recipients in the North East. These recognitions demonstrate the varied security challenges faced by law enforcement agencies and the bravery required to address them effectively.
Union Home Ministry’s Nationwide Recognition Scheme
The Republic Day honours list published by the Union Home Ministry comprises 982 personnel from police, fire services, home guard and civil defence units, alongside correctional service personnel. The awards include 125 gallantry medals, 101 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service and 756 Medals for Meritorious Service. These recognitions form part of an annual tradition to acknowledge the commitment and sacrifice of officers and personnel who serve the nation in various capacities.
Gallantry medals, in particular, are conferred on those whose actions involved significant personal risk, including confronting armed adversaries, rescuing persons in perilous situations, and preventing large-scale harm to life and property. The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service honours long careers marked by exceptional performance and leadership, while the Medal for Meritorious Service recognises consistent excellence and insight over time.
Voices of Honour and Recognition
Though official statements accompanying the award lists often do not detail individual actions beyond rank and medal type, the inclusion of personnel from Gadchiroli attests to the intensity and complexity of security challenges in states affected by insurgency and extremism. The courage displayed by officers in these regions has been acknowledged at the highest levels, with their names included in the Republic Day honours alongside those from urban and rural policing formations.
Additional senior leaders from Maharashtra Police recognised for distinguished service play critical roles in modernising policing infrastructure, implementing technological initiatives and improving coordination between units. Their contributions help shape strategic developments in citizen safety, emergency response and crime prevention.
Significance of Republic Day Honours for Maharashtra Police
These Republic Day medals serve both as individual recognitions and as collective testament to the professionalism and bravery of Maharashtra Police personnel. In acknowledging those who have laid down their lives and those who have served with distinction over many years, the awards reinforce the values of courage, duty and service that are central to law enforcement in democratic societies.
For the people of Maharashtra, the Republic Day honours also serve as a reminder of the complex and often hazardous responsibilities undertaken by those who protect public safety and uphold the rule of law. The inclusion of both gallantry and service awards reflects the breadth of challenges tackled by the state’s police — from frontline security operations to sustained administrative and leadership excellence.
Celebrating Bravery and Dedicated Service
As Republic Day 2026 dawned, the award ceremonies recognised the best among India’s police and emergency response personnel, with Maharashtra Police standing out for its significant number of gallantry and service medals. The bravery of those facing insurgency threats, especially in districts like Gadchiroli, alongside the professional excellence of long-serving officers, highlights the multifaceted contributions of law enforcement to national security and peace.
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