298 Maharashtra Cops Await President's Service Medals Pending Since 2023
Nearly 300 police personnel across Maharashtra who were conferred the President’s medal in 2023 or later for distinguished and outstanding service have not yet received their honours. With medals traditionally handed out by the Governor at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai, two of the recipient officers have died in the interim while awaiting the formal investiture ceremony.
In total, 298 police personnel across the state remain in limbo. The backlog includes 43 recipients named in August 2023, 44 in January 2024, 42 in August 2024, 43 in January 2025, 42 in August 2025, 44 in January 2026, and 40 on the eve of the latest Independence Day. Service medals were last distributed in Maharashtra in July 2025 for recipients from the 2021 and 2022 batches.
Every year, on the eve of Republic Day and Independence Day, the President approves service medals for police, fire, home guard, and correctional services personnel. While gallantry medals are presented directly by the President, service medals are disbursed by the Governors of the respective states. Selection requires an unblemished service record and the Director General’s insignia before names are forwarded by the state government to the Ministry of Home Affairs and ultimately approved by the President.
A retired police constable whose medal for distinguished service was approved in 2024 stated that he even visited Lok Bhavan in Mumbai to seek answers after being felicitated by friends, but received no clarity. Another officer noted that receiving the medal in uniform alongside family members is a career milestone that many have been deprived of due to the delays.
A senior officer from the Director General of Police’s office, speaking on condition of anonymity, attributed the long gap to the absence of a permanent Governor in Maharashtra. The officer stated that since a permanent Governor is now in place, an investiture programme is scheduled to be organised on the lawns of Lok Bhavan following the rainy season.
