Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) (

IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Brahmic family, Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that ...

: , ) is a

military award Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion. Civil decorations awarded ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. It is the highest peacetime medal of the

Indian Armed Forces The Indian Armed Forces are the armed forces, military forces of the India, Republic of India. It consists of three professional uniformed services: the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force.—— Additionally, the Indian Ar ...

, and is awarded for "distinguished service of the most exceptional order." The medal is awarded for "distinguished service rendered by personnel of the Armed Forces." All ranks of the Armed Forces, including Territorial Army,

Auxiliary Auxiliary may refer to: In language * Auxiliary language (disambiguation) * Auxiliary verb In military and law enforcement * Auxiliary police * Auxiliaries, civilians or quasi-military personnel who provide support of some kind to a military se ...

and Reserve forces, Nursing officers and other members of the Nursing services and other lawfully constituted Armed Forces are eligible for the medal, which may be awarded multiple times as well as posthumously.

History

The Param Vishisht Seva Medal was originally instituted as the "Vishisht Seva Medal, Class I" 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 ...

Nau 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 Nau 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 n ...

. It was renamed on 27 January 1967, and the badge signed. Until 26 January 1980, when the

Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (''Ultimate War Service 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, confl ...

(SYSM) was instituted, it was also awarded for distinguished war service.

Design

The medal is round in shape, made of gold gilt, is 35 mm in diameter, and fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard fitting. On its obverse is embossed a five-pointed star and on its reverse is the Indian state emblem and the inscription embossed along the upper rim. The golden riband is 32 mm in diameter with one dark blue stripe down the centre dividing it into two equal parts. On 27 January 1967, a miniature of the medal was authorised for certain occasions.

Medal bar

If a recipient of the medal is subsequently awarded the medal again, every such further award shall be recognized by a bar to be attached to the riband by which the medal is suspended. For every such bar, a miniature insignia of a pattern approved by the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...

shall be added to the riband when worn alone. The following individuals have received multiple awards of the PVSM:

Lists of recipients

* List of Param Vishisht Seva Medal recipients (1960–1969) * List of Param Vishisht Seva Medal recipients (1970–1979) * List of Param Vishisht Seva Medal recipients (1980–1989) * List of Param Vishisht Seva Medal recipients (1990–1999) * List of Param Vishisht Seva Medal recipients (2000–2009) * List of Param Vishisht Seva Medal recipients (2010–2019) * List of Param Vishisht Seva Medal recipients (2020–2029)

Notes

References

External links

Vishist Seva Medal & Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal
at bharat-rakshak.com (archived) Military awards and decorations of India * {{india-mil-stub