General Service Medal 1947 - Independence Medal (obverse) (obverse)

General Service Medal 1947 - India Independence Medal 1947 (reverse) (reverse) SAMAR SEVA STAR !96~: The Samar Seva Star was created by the President of the Indian Republic in 1970 to commemorate the Indo-Pakistani conflict of 1965o The Samar Seva Star "will be awarded to those personnel who participated in actual battles and those who were deployed in battle areas. The medal will also be awarded to those civilians who participated in actual battles or rendered direct assistance in battle operations." No photograph or full description is available of the Samar Seva Star 1965, and it is believed it has not yet been struck. The Star will be a five-pointed star of cupro-nickel. The ribbon will be divided equally: red, dark bluer light blue.

Created at the same time as the Samar Seva Star 1965, and commemorating the same conflict, the Raksha Medal 1965 ’~ill be awarded to all service personnel who were borne on the effective strength of the Armed Forces on August 5, 1965, and had rendered service for 180 days or more on that date. Civilians will not be eligible for this award." The Raksha Medal will be circular and of cupro-nickel. The ribbon will be saffron, divided equally by three thin stripes of red, dark blue, and light blue. SAINYA SEVA MEDAL: The Sainya Seva (Services) Medal is awarded "in recogni- tion of hon-operational duties under conditions of hardship and severe climate." As was the case before, this medal is awarded with clasps~ 32 mm long~ denoting the area of service. Exceptions are made to the specific conditions of award sta- ted below if the recipient was either killed, wounded, or dis- abled by wounds during his service in the area concerned. Likewise, any soldier who receives a decoration for bravery while serving in one of these areas, is to be awarded the prop- er clasp without regard for his period of service in the area. The Sainya Seva Medal is of cupro-nickel and 35mm in diameter. The obverse shows an outline of the Nanda Devi Peak~ together with a clump of bamboo. The reverse shows an Indian fort on a mountain, representing the two extremes of the ’ services. Above the ~ort_~qon_tbe ~e~a~Si~h~u~e~d~ ~ead~~nbai~ ~i~"32~mms~ffro~n" ribbon, bearing two thin stripes, equally dividing the ribbon; the stripe to the wearer’s left is white and that to the right dark green, again representing the extremes of climate and terrain. The clasps to the Sainya Seva Medal are:

I) "Jammu and Kashmir." Awarded to: a) "Persons who have completed an aggregate of one year after October 27, 1947, on the effective strength of a unit/formation located within the geographical limits of Jammu and Kashmir." For those who earned the corresponding clasp to the 38 General Service Medal 1947~ service prior to 1 January 1949 will not be counted. "Air Force air crew and personnel of air des- patch units who have carried out a minimum of ten sorties or 40 hours of flying on reconnals- sance or transport/tactical support role in Jammu and Kashmir state commencing from October 27~.1947 and thereafter." For those who received the corresponding clasp to the General Service Medal 1947, service prior to I January 1949 will not be counted. 2) "N.E.F.A." Awarded to: a) "Persons who have completed an aggregate of one year on the active strength of a unit/formatlon located within the geographical limits of NEFA between October 7, 1992, and November 15, 19~8, and were employed on road/airfield construction." "Persons who have been seconded to the Rifles and have completed an aggregate service of one year in NEFA commencing from August 1947~ or thereafter." "Air crew and personnel of ejection crew of air despatch units who have carried out a minimum of ten sorties or 40 hours of flying on recon- naissance or transport/tactlcal support role in NEFA commencing from October 7, 1952, or there- after."

3) "Himalaya." Awarded to : a~ "Persons who have been detailed for duties con- nected with the defence of the northern borders and have completed an aggregate of one year on the effective strength of a unit/formation in areas in the Himalayas to be specified from time to time by the Government." "Air Force personnel who have carried out a min- imum of ten sorties or 60 hours of flying on reconnaissance or transport/tactical support role in the areas to be specified from time to time by the Government." VIDESH SEVA MEDAL: The Videsh Seva (Overseas) Medal is awarded to personnel of the three services for service outside India. The problem of length of qualifying service has caused some difficulty~ the official regulation states: The qualifying period for the award of the Over- seas Medal will not exceed the period of assignment. If the assignment period is one year or more~ the qual- ifying period will be six months and if the assignment period is less than one year, the qualifying period will be three months.