The Ministry of Home Affairs has awarded the Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak to 490 personnel for their contributions to policing, security and forensic science during the year 2026.
According to the Ministry's official announcement, the recipients belong to various State and Union Territory police forces, Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organisations.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak announced for 490 personnel for 2026.
Location: India
Authority/Organisation: Ministry of Home Affairs, State and UT police forces, CAPFs and CPOs.
Action Taken: The government recognised outstanding work in operations, investigation, intelligence, exceptional performance and forensic science.
Impact: The award aims to encourage professional excellence and strengthen morale across India's police and security institutions.
The medal has been instituted to recognise professional excellence, encourage high standards of performance and strengthen the morale of officials working in India's police and security institutions.
The award covers five broad areas of achievement:
- Excellence in operations.
- Outstanding service in investigation.
- Exceptional performance.
- Indomitable and daring intelligence service.
- Meritorious work by serving government scientists in forensic science.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Recognition of professional excellence: The medal acknowledges personnel whose work contributes to policing, public safety and national security. Strengthening investigations: Recognition for investigative excellence highlights the importance of professional evidence collection, case development and criminal investigation. Intelligence and operational contribution: The award also recognises personnel involved in demanding intelligence and operational assignments. Importance of forensic science: Including forensic professionals underlines the role of scientific evidence in modern criminal investigations. Institutional morale: National-level recognition can encourage professional standards and motivate personnel across different security organisations.
The award is open to eligible personnel serving in police forces, security organisations, intelligence wings, special branches, CAPFs, CPOs, the National Security Guard and Assam Rifles. It also recognises eligible government forensic science professionals at the Central, State and Union Territory levels.
The Ministry said the complete list of awardees is available on its official website.
The annual announcement on October 31 connects the recognition with the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and first Home Minister.
