Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal | |
---|---|
Awarded for | Wartime distinguished service |
Country | India |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Padma Bhushan [1] |
Equivalent | Param Vishisht Seva Medal [1] |
Next (lower) | 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 only three times in history. They have been awarded to officers commanding a large force in a conflict. Lieutenant General A.S. Kalkat was the overall commander of the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka. Air Marshal Vinod Patney was the Western Air Commander and Lieutenant General H.M. Khanna was the Northern Army Commander during the Kargil War.
The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal may be awarded posthumously. It is awarded for distinguished service of the most exceptional order during war/conflict/hostilities. 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. [2]
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. 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. [3]
The SYSM has been awarded only thrice. [4]
No. | Rank | Name | Branch | Conflict | Date of Award | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lieutenant General | Amarjit Singh Kalkat AVSM VSM | Indian Army | Operation Pawan | 26 January 1989 | [5] [6] |
2 | Air Marshal | Vinod Patney PVSM AVSM VrC | Indian Air Force | Kargil War | 15 August 1999 | [7] [8] |
3 | Lieutenant General | Hari Mohan Khanna PVSM AVSM | Indian Army | Kargil War | 26 January 2000 | [9] [10] [6] |
The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously. It is third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards and comes after the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra. It precedes the Yudh Seva Medal.
The Sena Medal is awarded to members of the Indian army, of all ranks, "for such individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage as have special significance for the Army." Awards may be made posthumously and a bar is authorized for subsequent awards of the Sena Medal.
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, which includes times of war, conflict, or hostilities and may be awarded posthumously.
The Vayu Sena Medal is a military decoration, usually awarded in peacetime for a job well done in the Indian Air Force. However, it has been granted during times of conflict for acts of gallantry in the face of enemy, though not in the same numbers as the Vir Chakra.
Nau Sena Medal is a gallantry award for servicemen in the Indian Navy.
The Indian honours system is the system of awards given to individuals for a variety of services to the Republic of India. The categories of awards are as follows:
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal is a military award of India given to recognize "distinguished service of an exceptional order" to all ranks of the armed forces. The award is a peacetime equivalent of Uttam Yuddh Seva Medal, which is a Wartime Distinguished Service decoration.
The Vishisht Seva Medal is a decoration of the Indian Armed Forces. It is awarded to recognize "distinguished service of a high order" to all ranks of the Indian Armed Forces.
Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) is a military award of India. It was constituted in 1960 and since then it is awarded in recognition to peace-time service of the most exceptional order and may be awarded posthumously. 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.
Uttam Yudh Seva Medal is one of India's military decorations for Wartime Distinguished Service. It is awarded for a high degree of distinguished services in an operational context. "Operational context" includes times of war, conflict, or hostilities. The award is a wartime equivalent of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, which is a Peacetime Distinguished Service decoration. Uttam Yudh Seva Medal may be awarded posthumously.
Lieutenant General Om Prakash, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM is a retired General of the Indian Army. He was the commander of the XV Corps in 2012.
Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VM, ADC is an Indian air force officer who was the 22nd Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force and served from 31 December 2016 to 30 September 2019. Dhanoa also served as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Operations Parakram Medal is a military award of India. It was awarded in recognition of the services of Armed Forces personnel and civilians in Operation Parakram. 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 who were involved in the operation were awarded the medal.
Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, ADC is a retired general officer of the Indian Army who served as 39th Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS). He assumed office on 1 June 2018 following the retirement of Lieutenant General Sarath Chand, and retired on 31 August 2019. He also served as General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command from 1 December 2016 to 31 May 2018, prior to that commanding Northern Command, he had commanded IV Corps in the North East.
Lieutenant General Ravendra Pal Singh PVSM, AVSM, VSM is a former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Western Command of the Indian Army. He assumed office on 1 August 2019, succeeding Gen Surinder Singh.
The Videsh Seva Medal is a service medal of the Indian Armed Forces. It is presented to all ranks of the three services for services rendered outside India. It was instituted on 26 January 1960. It can also be awarded posthumously.
Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM is a retired general officer of the Indian Army. He was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Command of the Indian Army, he assumed the post upon superannuation of Lieutenant General Jai Singh Nain. He previously served as General Officer Commanding XXXIII Corps.
Lieutenant General M. V. Suchindra Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, YSM**, VSM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He currently serves as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command. He previously served as the 45th Vice Chief of the Army Staff, prior to that he was Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Strategy). He also served as the Director General Military Intelligence and as the General Officer Commanding XVI Corps. He is also the Colonel of the Assam Regiment & the Arunachal Scouts.
Lieutenant General Ananthanarayan Arun, PVSM, YSM, SM, VSM is a retired general officer of the Indian Army. He was the Chief of Staff of the South Western Command, Jaipur. He previously served as the General Officer Commanding Dakshin Bharat Area. He earlier served as the officiating Commandant of the Officers Training Academy, Chennai.
Lieutenant General Virendra Vats, YSM, SM, VSM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He currently serves as the Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.