The General Service Medal 1947 is a military service medal of
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, established by the
President of India
The president of India ( IAST: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Droupadi Mur ...
on 5 June 1950. It was awarded for service in
Jammu and Kashmir during the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, up through service in the
Mizo Hills
The Lushai (Pron: ˌlʊˈʃaɪ) Hills (or Mizo Hills) are a mountain range in Mizoram and Manipur, India. The range is part of the Patkai range system and its highest point is 2,157 m high Phawngpui, also known as 'Blue Mountain'.
Flora and fau ...
. Eligible operations are denoted by a
clasp for each operation.
Clasps
The General Service Medal 1947 is awarded with a clasp designating the qualifying service of the recipient. There are seven total clasps for the medal.
;Jammu and Kashmir 1947-48: For service in Jammu and Kashmir between 27 October 1947 and 1 January 1949 for those who took part in combat or served an aggregate of 180 days with units or formations operating in or located in specific operational or concessional areas.
;Overseas Korea 1950–53: For operational service rendered by personnel who served as part of the 60th (Parachute) Field Ambulance unit in Korea between 22 November 1950 and 8 July 1953.
;Nagaland: For 180 days service as part of a detachment, unit, or formation in one of the following operations or areas of operation from 27 April 1955:
*OPG OLI from 27 April 1955 to 1 April 1956.
*Operating during or located under operational command of
GOC Assam,
23rd Infantry Division, Operation ORCHID, GOC Nagaland,
8th Mountain Division, or GOC 101 Communication Zone Area.
*For an aggregate of 90 days of service on the active strength of a detachment, unit, or formation operating in the Naga hills and
Tuensang
Tuensang (Pron:/ˌtjuːənˈsæŋ/) is a town located in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the headquarters of the Tuensang District and has a population of 36,774. The town was founded in 1947 for the purpose of admi ...
area on temporary duty from 27 April 1955 or thereafter.
;Goa 1961: For personnel who were part of or attached to formations or units within the geographical limits of the territories of
Goa
Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...
,
Daman, and Diu and were involved in the operations, for no less than 48 hours between 18–22 December 1961.
;Ladakh 1962: For personnel who rendered 15 days service with units or formations within the geographical limits of
Ladakh
Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. (subscription required) Quote: "Jammu ...
between 20 October 1962 and 21 November 1962.
;NEFA 1962: For service in certain specified areas of
North-East Frontier Agency
The North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA), originally known as the North-East Frontier Tracts (NEFT), was one of the political divisions in British India, and later the Republic of India until 20 January 1972, when it became the Union Territory of ...
and
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
between 21 September 1962 and 21 November 1962.
;Mizo Hills: For personnel who served an aggregate of 180 days as part of a detachment, unit, or formation located within or operated in the Mizo Hills district from 28 February 1966. Those who were temporarily inducted for specific operations need only have served 90 days.
Appearance
The medal is circular, made of
cupro-nickel
Cupronickel or copper-nickel (CuNi) is an alloy of copper that contains nickel and strengthening elements, such as iron and manganese. The copper content typically varies from 60 to 90 percent. (Monel is a nickel-copper alloy that contains a minimu ...
. It hangs from a claw and bar suspension and with clasps attached above the bar. The
obverse
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, ...
of the medal depicts the Bhavani Talwar, the sword of
Shivaji the Great, surrounded by a halo. The reverse bears a lotus flower bud in the center with the inscription ''GENERAL SERVICE INDIA'' around the edge.
[
The ribbon of the medal in 31 mm wide, is red with five equidistant 1 mm dark green stripes.]
See also
* Indian military decorations
References
External links
General Service Medal 1947
{{India Honours and Decorations
Military awards and decorations of India