The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak 2026 for 490 personnel on 31 October 2026, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, observed as National Unity Day. The award recognises excellent work and aims to promote professional standards and boost the morale of police and security personnel.
Award categories and recipients
The awardees serve in States, Union Territories, Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organisations. Of the 490 recipients, 358 were recognised for contributions to special operations conducted during 2024 and 2026, 123 for investigation, and nine for forensic science.
IPS officer Sandeep Chaudhary, who led the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, received the medal for investigation. The Central Reserve Police Force had the largest contingent of recipients, with 114, followed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs with 56 and Punjab Police with 37.
The MHA instituted the medal through a notification dated 1 February 2024. Its award categories cover operations, investigation, exceptional performance, daring intelligence service and meritorious forensic science work by serving government scientists.
Important Facts for Exams
- Evidence disciplines: Forensic science uses methods including DNA and fingerprint analysis, ballistics, toxicology, microscopy and examination of fire debris.
- Field and laboratory roles: Forensic scientists may collect evidence at crime scenes, while others analyse material brought to them in laboratory settings.
- IPS cadre arrangement: IPS is one of India’s three All India Services; officers are assigned state cadres but can serve the Union government on central deputation.
- CRPF specialist units: The CRPF’s Rapid Action Force specialises in riot and public-order response, while its CoBRA battalions are trained for counter-insurgency in forested terrain.
