The Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) is a decoration of the
Indian Armed Forces
The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India. It consists of three professional uniformed services: the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.—— Additionally, the Indian Armed Forces are supported by ...
. It is awarded to recognize "distinguished service of a high order" to all ranks of the Indian Armed Forces.
From 1980, the
Yudh Seva 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 b ...
was introduced to recognize exceptional services in an operational environment.
Since then the VSM has been restricted to non-operational service.
History
The Vishisht Seva Medal was originally instituted as the "Vishisht Seva Medal, Class III" on 26 January 1960. Five other medals were instituted on the same day - the
Sainya Seva Medal
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.
History
The Sainya Seva Medal was instituted on 26 Jan ...
,
Sena 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 s ...
,
Nao Sena Medal
Nau Sena Medal (also spelt ''Nao Sena Medal'', lit. ''Navy Medal'') is a gallantry award for servicemen in the Indian Navy.
History
The Nao Sena Medal was instituted on 26 January 1960 by the Government of India, with the approval of the Presid ...
and the
Vayu Sena Medal
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 nu ...
.
It was renamed on January 27, 1961, and the badge signed.
Eligibility
The award may be granted
posthumously
Posthumous may refer to:
* Posthumous award - an award, prize or medal granted after the recipient's death
* Posthumous publication – material published after the author's death
* ''Posthumous'' (album), by Warne Marsh, 1987
* ''Posthumous'' (E ...
and subsequent awards are represented by a bar worn on the ribbon. The award carries with it the right to use "VSM" as
post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles, designatory letters or simply post-nominals, are letters placed after a person's name to indicate that the individual holds a position, academic degree, accreditation, ...
. The medal was originally established as the "Vishisht Seva Medal, Class III".
It was renamed to its present name on 27 January 1967. The design of the medal remained unchanged and the change be reflected only in the records.
Medal
The medal is a 35-mm circular medal, with a five-pointed star in the centre. It is suspended from a straight-bar suspender with the name on the edge. The state emblem with the name of the decoration in Hindi above - "Vishisht Seva Medal" in Hindi. The ribbon is 32 mm long in yellow, with three 2 mm dark blue stripes dividing it into four equal parts
See also
*
Yudh Seva 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 b ...
- the war-time equivalent
References
Further reading
*Indian Air Force: Vishist Seva Medal & Yudh Seva Medal
Bharat-rakshak.com awards database
br>Pages: 1 to 24, Page 8: Vishist Seva Medal, Cpl V V Audipudi 244047 or ''Unit:'' N.A., ''Award date:'' 26 January 1978, ''Announced:'' 26 January 1978, ''Details:'' Citation not available, ''Reference:'' N.A.
Military awards and decorations of India
Indian Air Force
Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal
Awards established in 1960
1960 establishments in India
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