The Commendation Cards of the Indian Army are awarded by the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) or General Officer Commanding-in Chiefs (GOC-in-C) of the

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...

for acts of gallantry, distinguished service, or devotion to duty.

Criteria

The criteria for the award are as per ''Army Order 54/77''–

Types of Badges

There are two types of Commendation Badges – *(a) COAS Commendation Badges, which is awarded by the Chief of the Army Staff. *(b) Army Commendation, which can be awarded by officers of Commander-in-Chief Grade. This includes the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, General officer commanding-in-chiefs of the six operational commands and the Army Training Command. If a Commendation Badge is awarded more than once, it will be denoted by a star on the badge. For example, a badge awarded for the second time will have a single star. There can be a maximum of three stars will be permitted in each of the Commendation Badges. Similar badges exist for the

Indian Navy The Indian Navy is the maritime 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. As a blue-water navy, it operates sig ...

and

Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks third amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial w ...

. The Chief of Defence Staff also issues commendation cards since 2020, replacing those issued by the

Chief of Integrated Defence Staff The Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) is the head of the Integrated Defence Staff which acts as the point organisation for jointmanship in the Ministry of Defence. In November 2019, government sou ...

Style of wearing

*The badge is worn immediately above and on either side of the button of the flap of the left breast pocket. If a person has been awarded both the COAS and Army Commendation badges, the former is to the right of the button and the latter to the left. *If an individual has been awarded the Chief of the Naval Staff or Chief of the Air Staff Commendation cards, they can continue to wear it as long as they are posted to Navy, Air Force or tri-service organisations. Once they revert to an Army organisation, they will wear the COAS commendation badge. *Individuals posted to Navy/Air Force/tri service organizations can wear the Commendation Badge of that service/establishment only for the duration of their tenure. On reversion to Army, they will wear the Army Commendation Badge.

Design

*The COAS Commendation Badge medal is oval in shape and made of brass. It has the ensign of the Indian Army - the

Lion Capital of Ashoka The Lion Capital of Ashoka is the Capital (architecture), capital, or head, of a column erected by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in Sarnath, India, . Its crowning features are four life-sized lions set back to back on a drum-shaped abacus (arch ...

with two cross swords under it. It has the words ''COAS COMMENDATION'' and ''सेनाध्यक्ष प्रशंसा''. *The Army Commendation Badge is octagonal in shape with a red base and golden border. It has the ensign of the Indian Army with the words ''COMMENDATION'' and ''प्रशस्ति''.

Recipients

Most recipients are serving personnel of the Indian Army. The Commendation cards are occasionally awarded to non-Army personnel and civilians, who usually have worked under the supervision, direction and control of the army. They have also been awarded to dogs from the Army Dog Unit and mules from the Animal Transport Unit.

References

External links

{{Indian Military honours and decorations Military awards and decorations of India Military specialty insignia Indian awards