Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal

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Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal
Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal.png
Medal
TypeMilitary decorations
Awarded forWartime distinguished service
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
Presented by Government of India
Established26 January 1980
Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg
Ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher) Padma Bhushan Ribbon.svg Padma Bhushan [1]
Equivalent Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Param Vishisht Seva Medal [a] [1]
Next (lower) Maha Vir Chakra ribbon.svg Maha Vir Chakra [1]

The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (Ultimate War Service Medal) is India's highest wartime distinguished service decoration. It is awarded for the highest degree of distinguished service in an operational context, which includes times of war, conflict, or hostilities. The award is a war-time equivalent of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, which is India's highest peacetime distinguished service decoration. The medal has been awarded to only 10 officers of the Indian Armed Forces.

Contents

Eligibility

The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal may be awarded posthumously. It is awarded for "distinguished service of the most exceptional order during war/conflict/hostilities." [2] It 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 when embodied, as well as Nursing Officers and other members of the Nursing Services in the Armed Forces. [3]

Design

The medal is circular in shape, 35 mm in diameter and fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard fittings. It is made of gold gilt. On its obverse is the State Emblem and the inscriptions "SARVOTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL" (in English). On its reverse, it has a five pointed star. [2] Ribbon: Golden colour with one red vertical stripe in the centre dividing it into two equal parts. The riband is of gold colour with one red stripe down the centre dividing 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. For every such bar, a miniature insignia of a pattern approved by the Government shall be added to the riband when worn alone. [2] [4]

List of recipients

No.NameBranchConflictAppointment at the time of awardDate of AwardReferences
1 Lieutenant General Amarjit Singh Kalkat AVSM VSM Flag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army Operation Pawan GOC-in-C Southern Command 26 January 1989 [5] [6]
2 Air Marshal Vinod Patney PVSM AVSM VrC Air Force Ensign of India.svg  Indian Air Force Kargil War AOC-in-C Western Air Command 15 August 1999 [7]
3 Lieutenant General Hari Mohan Khanna PVSM AVSM Flag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army Kargil War GOC-in-C Northern Command 26 January 2000 [8] [6]
4 Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma PVSM AVSM SM Flag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army Operation Sindoor GOC-in-C Northern Command 15 August 2025 [9]
5 Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai UYSM AVSM SM *** Flag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army Operation Sindoor Director General Military Operations15 August 2025 [9]
6 Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh PVSM AVSM NM Naval Ensign of India.svg  Indian Navy Operation Sindoor FOC-in-C Western Naval Command 15 August 2025 [9]
7 Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari PVSM AVSM VM Air Force Ensign of India.svg  Indian Air Force Operation Sindoor Vice Chief of the Air Staff 15 August 2025 [9]
8 Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor PVSM AVSM VM Air Force Ensign of India.svg  Indian Air Force Operation Sindoor AOC-in-C South Western Air Command 15 August 2025 [9]
9 Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra AVSM VSM Air Force Ensign of India.svg  Indian Air Force Operation Sindoor AOC-in-C Western Air Command 15 August 2025 [9]
10 Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti AVSM VM Air Force Ensign of India.svg  Indian Air Force Operation Sindoor Director General Air Operations15 August 2025 [9]

Notes

  1. ↑ Though the Param Vishisht Seva Medal is placed below the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal in the precedence, it is considered as a peacetime equivalent of Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Precedence Of Medals". indianarmy.nic.in/. Indian Army. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Part I-Section 1" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 5 July 1980. p. 433–434.
  3. ↑ "Saravottam Yudh Seva Medal". Indian Air Force: Touch The Sky With Glory. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  4. ↑ "Honour & Awards - About". indianairforce.nic.in. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  5. ↑ "The Gazette of India: Part I-Section 1" (PDF). Department of Publications, Government of India. 8 April 1989. p. 336.
  6. 1 2 Singh, Brigadier M. P. History of the Indian Military Academy. p. 246.
  7. ↑ "Independence Day Gallantry Awards for Operation Vijay" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 14 August 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  8. ↑ "The Gazette of India: Part I-Section 1" (PDF). Department of Publications, Government of India. 1 July 2000. p. 670.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "President approves 127 Gallantry awards, 40 Distinguished Service awards & 290 Mention-in-Despatches on the eve of 79th Independence Day". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
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