Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shrl (Reverse - Left to Right)
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Padma Vibh~ushan~ Padma Bhushan~ P~adma Shrl (obverse - left to right) Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shrl (reverse - left to right) 28 PARAM VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL: In 1960, this decoration, then termed the "Vishisht Seva Medal, Class I", was created for award for "distinguished service of the most exceptional order." On 27 January 1967, this medal was renamed the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. All ranks of the Armed Forces are eligible for this award, inclu- ding the Territorial Army, Auxiliary and Reserve, and "other lawfully approved Armed Forces," including nurses. It should be noted that the illustration seen is of the Vishisht Seva Medal, Class I. The design is the same, except for the differing reverse inscription, which will be noted. The Param Vishisht Seva Medal is 35 mm in diameter and is made of solid gold gilt and has a five-polnted star on the ob- verse, the reverse bears the State Emblem and above that the name of the decoration in Hindi: ,~~x~ ~ ~ ,, The medal is suspended from a straight bar shspension from a 32 mm wide ribbon. The ribbon is gold, with a single narrow dark blue stripe down the middle. Subsequent awards are in- dicated by the addition of a bar to the suspension ribbon. Such a repeat award is shown on the ribbon bar by the addition of a metal miniature of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. Vishisht Seva Medal, Class I As an example of the sort of service for whlch the medal is awarded, the citation for the award of 26 ~anuary 1961 to Rear Admiral Daya Shankar, IN, Controller-General for Defence Production, reads: Rear-Admiral Shankar~ as Director-General, Ordnance Factories, within a short time of two years revolutionized the work of the Ordnance factories with the result that a production of Rs. 14 crores ($29,400,000 US) in 1956-57 and Rs. 18 crores ($37,800,000 US) in 1957-58, the production in 1959-60 was expected to reach Rs. 26 crores ($~6,600,000 US), which is a remark- able achievementby any standards. The hard work which Rear-Admiral Shankar put in, with single-mlnded devotion was an example to his officers and workmen, and inspired them to greater efforts. Rear-Admiral Shankarhas the distinction of being the first officer of the Navy’s Engineering Branch to reach Flag rank. He is regarded as one of the foremost indus- trial planning engineers in the countryo ATI VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL: Like the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal was originally established as a classed variety of the series, being Class II. On 27 January 1967, it was renamed under its present designation. It is awarded to the same group as is the Param Vishisht Seva Medal; the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal is given for: "distinguished service of an exceptional order." The medal is circular, 35 mm in diameter, and made of standard silver. It bears on the obverse the same star as does the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, and has the State Em- blem on the rever~e~ surmounted by its name in Hindi: " ~ ~ ~- ~ ". It is worn suspended from a 32 ~ gol~ ~ib~on1~Ith t~o central stripes of dark blue which equally divide the ribbon. The suspension, like that of most of the Indian medals,.is by a straight bar. Repeat awards are indicated by a bar on the suspension ribbon and a minia- ture of the decoration on the ribbon bar. Exemplary of the service rewarded by the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal is the 26 January 1961 award to Brigadier N. C. Rawley; his citation read: "He planned, organized and set up the Halle Selassie I Military Academy at Hatar (Ethiopia) and was its first Commandant." VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL: Again, this name dates only from 27 January 1967, for before this time the decoration was kno?~ as the "Vishisht Seva Medal~ Class III." The Vishisht Seva Medal is awarded for "distinguished service of a high order." The medal is of bronze, and was the only one of the ser- ies not to need an alteration with a change in designation. The obverse shows a five-pointed ~t2r; the wever~e has the State Emblem, and above that: "~ ~~ ", the name of the decoration in Hindi. It is suspended from a 32mm ribbon of gold, with three equally-spaced dark blue stripes. Repeat awards are treated as for the Param Vishisht Seva Medal° The medal is rather freely awarded, with two hundred and twenty-five being awarded in the five years from 1962-68. A typical citation would be that for the award to Commader- at- Arms M. B. Samuel, IN, of 26 January ~961: "He has effectively 3O .