This Republic Day, Odisha has achieved a remarkable distinction with its personnel securing five prestigious President's Medals across various security and service organizations. According to official announcements from the Ministry of Home Affairs, a total of 26 individuals from the state's police, fire service, home guard, and prison departments have been recognized for their exceptional contributions.
Categories of Recognition
The honors have been distributed across three significant categories that highlight different aspects of service excellence. These include the President's Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), which acknowledges an outstanding record of service, the Gallantry Medal (GM) awarded for acts of exceptional bravery, and the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) given for valuable service marked by dedication and resourcefulness.
Distinguished Service Honorees
The prestigious President's Medal for Distinguished Service has been conferred upon five distinguished individuals who have demonstrated exemplary commitment throughout their careers. The recipients include ADG Prateek Mohanty and DCP-ranked officer Prafulla Kumar Singh from the police department, leading firefighter Arjuna Behera representing the fire service, Ramesh Chandra Mohanty from the home guard organization, and warder Sadashiva Pradhan from the prison and correctional services.
Gallantry Medal Recipients
For acts of exceptional bravery that involved saving lives, protecting property, preventing crimes, or apprehending criminals, the Gallantry Medal has been awarded to four courageous personnel. These honorees are DSP Atul Krishna Das, ASI Purna Chandra Pradhan, and constables Ghanashyam Sahoo and Thabir Majhi, whose heroic actions have set remarkable standards of courage.
Meritorious Service Recognitions
A substantial group of seventeen personnel has been honored with the Medal for Meritorious Service, reflecting their consistent dedication and valuable contributions. This group comprises eleven individuals from the police department, three from the fire service, two from the home guard organization, and one representative from the correctional services.
Additional State Recognition
In a related development, the Odisha state government has announced its own recognition program for police personnel. Fifteen officers and staff members have been selected for the Governor's Medal 2025, representing various ranks within the police hierarchy. The selected individuals range from Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Superintendent of Police (SP) levels to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), inspector, sub-inspector, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), havildar, and constable positions.
These state-level awardees will be formally felicitated during the Republic Day celebrations, adding to the day's significance and honoring their contributions to maintaining law and order in Odisha. The combined recognition at both national and state levels underscores the commitment and excellence demonstrated by Odisha's security and service personnel across multiple organizations.
