Kumar Bahukhandi
Chhattisgarh security personnel during an anti-Maoist operation in the Bastar region. The Union Home Ministry has selected 141 Chhattisgarh Police personnel for Gallantry Medals ahead of India’s 80th Independence Day — the highest number for any state police force in the country-Photo Credit:channel24india.com ( File Photo)
State secures highest number of Gallantry Medals in the country; 152 Chhattisgarh Police personnel recognised across gallantry, distinguished and meritorious service categories
New Delhi / Raipur: Chhattisgarh Police have earned a remarkable national distinction ahead of India’s 80th Independence Day, /with 141 personnel selected for the Medal for Gallantry, the highest number awarded to any state police force in the country this year.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced the Gallantry and Service Medals on Friday, August 14, 2026, recognising personnel of the Police, Fire Services, Home Guard and Civil Defence and Correctional Services for courage and distinguished or meritorious service.
According to the official MHA list, 141 Chhattisgarh Police personnel will receive the Medal for Gallantry, while one officer has been selected for the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service and another 10 personnel for the Medal for Meritorious Service.
This takes the number of Chhattisgarh Police personnel recognised across the three categories to 152.
The scale of the gallantry recognition is particularly significant. Of the 301 Gallantry Medals announced nationally across Police and Fire Services, Chhattisgarh Police alone account for 141. The MHA figures also show that 197 of the Gallantry Medals nationally relate to operations in Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas.
Courage on the Anti-Maoist Front Earns National Recognition
The honours come against the backdrop of Chhattisgarh’s sustained campaign against Left-Wing Extremism, particularly in the Bastar region, where police and specialised units have been engaged in some of the country’s most difficult anti-Maoist operations.
Personnel operating in Bastar frequently work in dense forests and difficult terrain, where operations can continue for extended periods under demanding conditions.
The unprecedented number of Gallantry Medals therefore represents more than a statistical achievement for the state. It is national recognition of the risks undertaken by personnel on the ground during the continuing campaign against Maoist violence.
The MHA’s official state-wise table puts the scale into perspective: Chhattisgarh received 141 Police Gallantry Medals, comfortably the highest tally among states and Union Territories for Independence Day 2026.
The recognition covers personnel across ranks who participated in operations requiring exceptional courage. Reports indicate that a substantial number of the awardees were involved in anti-Maoist operations in the Bastar region.
CM Sai Hails Chhattisgarh Police
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed happiness over the announcement, describing the national recognition as a matter of pride for Chhattisgarh and its police force.
The achievement assumes added significance as Chhattisgarh continues its transition in areas that remained affected by Maoist violence for decades. Alongside security operations, the state has increasingly focused on taking development, government services and rehabilitation initiatives deeper into affected regions.
The medals also carry a message about the human cost behind the anti-Maoist campaign. Police personnel deployed in remote areas often operate far from their families and under conditions in which an ordinary patrol can turn into a life-threatening confrontation.
Gallantry medals recognise individual acts of bravery, but the exceptional number awarded to Chhattisgarh this year collectively reflects the intensity of the security challenge the force has faced.
A Proud Moment Ahead of Independence Day
The announcement comes on the eve of the country’s 80th Independence Day, giving the recognition an added significance for the state.
Across India, 1,057 personnel from the Police, Fire Services, Home Guard and Civil Defence and Correctional Services have been selected for Gallantry and Service Medals this Independence Day. Of these, 301 are Gallantry Medals.
For Chhattisgarh, however, the figure of 141 Gallantry Medals stands out.
Behind each medal is an individual story — of an officer or constable entering difficult terrain, of teams spending days in forests, of personnel confronting armed Maoist formations and of colleagues who continued operations despite the risks involved.
That is why the recognition belongs not only to those whose names appear on the medal list, but also carries significance for the wider Chhattisgarh Police force that has spent years confronting one of India’s longest-running internal-security challenges.
As India prepares to celebrate its 80th Independence Day on Saturday, August 15, the 141 Gallantry Medals place Chhattisgarh Police at the forefront of the country’s police gallantry honours — recognition earned in large measure on one of its toughest internal-security fronts.
