Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak 2026 announced for 490 police and security personnel

1 November 2026 · English Awards, Appointments & Persons

Topics: State Days, Railways, Awards, Culture & Trade · 1 November 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

On 31 Oct 2026 (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary – National Unity Day) the Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced the 2026 list of the 'Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak' (Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence). 490 personnel of States, Union Territories, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs) were chosen: special operations – 358, investigation – 123, forensic science – 9. In special operations, the CRPF (114), the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC – 56), Punjab Police (37) and Delhi Police (36) led.

Key facts

Background

• Purpose: to recognise excellent work in special operations, investigation, intelligence and forensic science, promote high professional standards and boost morale. Police, security and intelligence organisations, the NSG, Assam Rifles and forensic scientists are eligible.
• Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) – seven under the MHA: Assam Rifles, BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, NSG and SSB. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is under the Ministry of Railways (RPF Act 1957) and is not a CAPF.
• CRPF history: raised on 27 July 1939 at Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh) as the 'Crown Representative's Police'; renamed the Central Reserve Police Force by the CRPF Act of 28 Dec 1949. It is India's largest CAPF.
• CBIC – under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance; handles customs, Central GST and anti-smuggling (renamed from CBEC in 2018). Forensics: the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) is at Gandhinagar (Gujarat), under the NFSU Act 2020.

Tamil Nadu link: Tamil Nadu is not in the published State-wise list for special operations. As per the published list, 3 personnel from Tamil Nadu figure – ASPs Madhu Kumari and V. Satish Kumar (investigation) and Deputy Director Rajshree Raghunath (forensic science). The Tamil Nadu Police was formally set up under the Madras District Police Act, 1859; Tamil Nadu's first All Women Police Station opened at Thousand Lights, Chennai, in 1992 (India's first was at Kozhikode in 1973).

Source: ANI / The News Mill, Asianet Newsable, 31 Oct 2026; The Tribune (2025 – 1,466), Deccan Herald (2024 – 463)

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