| Videsh Seva Medal | |
|---|---|
| Type | Service award |
| Country |  India |
| Presented by | the President of India |
| Status | Active |
| Established | 26 January 1960 |
 Ribbon Bar | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | High Altitude Medal [n 1] |
| Next (lower) | Meritorious Service Medal [n 2] |
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.
The Videsh Seva Medal was instituted on 26 January 1960 by the Government of India, with the approval of the President of India. Five other medals were instituted on the same day - the Vishisht Seva Medal series (Class I, Class II, Class III), [2] the Sainya Seva Medal, Sena Medal, Nao Sena Medal and the Vayu Sena Medal. [3]
At the time of institution, it was to be awarded for duties outside India on:
All ranks of the three services – Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, along with the Territorial Army, embodied Auxiliary and Reserve Forces or any other lawfully constituted Armed Forces are eligible for the grant of the award. Nursing Officers and other members of Nursing Services are also eligible. Persons with regular staff of diplomatic mission do not fall within purview of the medal. Posthumous awards also may be made. [4]
The medal is circular in shape and is made of cupronickel. It is 35 mm in diameter, fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard fitting. It shall have embossed on the obverse the State Emblem and the inscription below it along the rim. On its reverse, it shall have a warship of ancient times. The ribbon is 32 mm in width and is in cobalt blue colour with 5 vertical stripes of white dividing it into six equal parts. [4] The clasps to the medal are bars 32 mm long with the name of the country of service inscribed on it. [3]
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.[total recipients 2094]. [total awarded posthumously is 677].
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 (AVSM) 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 (VSM) 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.
The Sarvottam Yudh Seva 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.
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.
The Armed Forces of India are eligible for many military decorations awarded for extraordinary bravery and distinguished service during times of war and peace. Service and campaign medals have been awarded throughout India's history as an independent state.
The Samanya Seva Medal 1965 is a military service medal of the Indian Armed Forces. Established 8 May 1975, with retroactive effect to 26 January 1965, the Samanya Seva Medal is awarded for active service where no other campaign medal is awarded. Clasps are awarded with the medal designating recognized operations.
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.
Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC is a retired Indian Navy Admiral. He served as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) Western Naval Command. He assumed the position on 31 January 2019 after Vice Admiral Girish Luthra's retirement and superannuated on 28 February 2021. Prior to this appointment, he served as Vice Chief of Naval Staff.
The Sainya Seva Medal is a medal of the Indian Armed Forces. The medal is awarded in recognition of non-operational service under conditions of hardship and severe climate in specified areas.
Vice Admiral Satishkumar Namdeo Ghormade PVSM, AVSM, NM, ADC is a retired officer of the Indian Navy. He served as the 36th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. Previously, he served as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Controller of Personnel Services at Naval HQ and as the Chief of Staff of the Eastern Naval Command.
Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, AVSM, NM, VSM is a serving Flag officer in the Indian Navy. He previously served as the Chief of Personnel and as Chief of Staff of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. He has also commanded the Eastern Fleet and was the Commissioning Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, AVSM, NM is a serving flag officer in the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the 37th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. He previously served as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations), as the Commandant of the Naval War College, Goa and as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.
Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh, PVSM, AVSM, NM is a former flag officer in the Indian Navy. He last served as the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. He assumed office from Vice Admiral Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar on 1 June 2021 following his retirement. Previously, he served as the Chief of Personnel (COP) and as the Director General Project Seabird. He has also served as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet from October 2015 to October 2016.
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