Siachen Glacier Medal

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Siachen Glacier Medal

Siachen-glacier-medal.png

Medal
Awarded by Flag of India.svg  India
Type Service medal
Awarded for Active service in designated operations
Clasps KUTCH KARGIL 1965
NAGALAND
NATHULA CHOLA
MIZORAM
TIRAP
MANIPUR
Statistics
Established 8 May 1975 (retroactive to 26 January 1965) [1]
Precedence
Next (higher) Operation Vijay Star [2]
Next (lower) Raksha Medal [2]
IND Siachen Glacier Medal Ribbon.svg
Ribbon bar

The Siachen Glacier Medal is awarded for service in the Siachen conflict along India's northern border with Pakistan. Awarded to the Indian Air Force for Operation Meghdoot, in support of activities in support of troops serving in the Siachen Glacier area since April 1984.

Siachen conflict 1984-2003 Indo-Pakistani territorial clashes

The Siachen conflict, sometimes referred to as the Siachen War, was a military conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed Siachen Glacier region in Kashmir. A cease-fire went into effect in 2003. The contended area is nearly 1,000 square miles (2,600 km2) of territory. The conflict began in 1984 with India's successful Operation Meghdoot during which it gained control over all of the Siachen Glacier. India has established control over all of the 70-kilometre-long (43 mi) Siachen Glacier and all of its tributary glaciers, as well as all the main passes and heights of the Saltoro Ridge immediately west of the glacier, including Sia La, Bilafond La, and Gyong La. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys immediately west of the Saltoro Ridge. According to TIME magazine, India gained more than 1,000 square miles (3,000 km2) of territory because of its military operations in Siachen.

Operation Meghdoot

Operation Meghdoot was the code-name for the Indian Armed Forces operation to capture the Siachen Glacier in the Kashmir region, precipitating the Siachen Conflict. Launched on 13 April 1984, this military operation was unique as the first assault launched in the world's highest battlefield. The military action resulted in Indian troops gaining control of the entire Siachen Glacier.

Contents

Appearance

The medal is a circular 36-mm cupro-nickel medal. In the center of the obverse is the Emblem of India, surrounded by the legend Siachen Glacier Medal in both Hindi and English. The reverse bears a stylized scene of mountains with a soldier and a helicopter. It is suspended by a non-swiveling straight bar and name of the recipient is impressed on the edge. The ribbon is medium blue, 31 mm (1.2 in) wide, with a white centre stripe 11 mm (0.43 in) in width. [3]

Obverse and reverse front and back side of coins, medals, orders of merit, and paper bills

Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse means the back face. The obverse of a coin is commonly called heads, because it often depicts the head of a prominent person, and the reverse tails.

Eligibility

The following personnel are eligible for the medal: [4]

Indian Army land based branch of the Indian Armed Forces

The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of Indian Armed Forces The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and it is commanded by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four-star general. Two officers have been conferred with the rank of field marshal, a five-star rank, which is a ceremonial position of great honour. The Indian Army originated from the armies of the East India Company, which eventually became the British Indian Army, and the armies of the princely states, which finally became the national army after independence. The units and regiments of the Indian Army have diverse histories and have participated in a number of battles and campaigns across the world, earning a large number of battle and theatre honours before and after Independence.

Indian Navy maritime warfare branch of Indias military

The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy.

Indian Air Force Air warfare branch of Indias military

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks fourth amongst the airforces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire which honoured India's aviation service during World War II with the prefix Royal. After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the name of Dominion of India. With the government's transition to a Republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed after only three years.

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References

  1. "General Service (Samanya Seva) Medal with 'मिज़ोरम' (Mizoram) clasp, attributed". Medal-Medaille. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Precedence Of Medals". indianarmy.nic.in/. Indian Army. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  3. "Siachen Glacier Medal, attributed, Artillery". Medal-Medaille. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  4. "Siachen Glacier Medal". Official website of the Indian Army. Retrieved 20 October 2014.