On June 27, 2025, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), conferred Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards on behalf of Droupadi Murmu, President of India at the Naval Investiture Ceremony 2025. This significant event marked the first ceremony held at the newly constructed Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
- The awards were conferred to honour and recognise the bravery, leadership, professional achievement, and distinguished service of Indian Naval personnel.
- A total of 51 Naval personnel were honoured during the ceremony, comprising 1 awardee of the Yudh Seva Medal (YSM), 13 recipients of the Nausena Medal (Gallantry) [NM(G)], 8 recipients of the Nausena Medal (Devotion to Duty) [NM(DD)], and 17 recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).
- Commodore Kartik Srimal received the Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) for distinguished leadership in Operation Sankalp, a maritime security operation in the Indian Ocean Region.
Special Awards and Recognitions:
During the ceremony, the CNS presented several special awards, which included:
i.Jeevan Raksha Padak: Conferred to Shri Dharambir Singh Negi, Ex-Petty Officer Electrical (Power), for saving a person from drowning in the Hindon Canal on 15 July 2024.
ii.Capt Ravi Dhir Memorial Medal: Awarded for promoting Flight Safety within naval aviation.
iii.Lt VK Jain Memorial Medal: For exceptional research in the fields of Electronics, Computers, and Applied Sciences.
CNS Trophy for Best Green Practices:
To acknowledge efforts in environmental stewardship, the following units received the CNS Trophy for Best Green Practices:
i.Industrial Category: Material Organisation (MO), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
ii.Non-Industrial Category: Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shivaji, Lonavala (Maharashtra)
Unit Citations:
Unit Citations were presented to recognise outstanding performance over the past year, with awards conferred to Operational Units
- INS Shivalik (Guided Missile Frigate)
- INS Trishul (Guided Missile Frigate)
- INS Karna (Special Forces Unit)
- INAS 316 (“Fighting Hawks” Flight Squadron – Anti-Submarine Warfare)
About the Yudh Seva Medal (YSM):
i.YSM is a wartime distinguished service decoration conferred by the President of India. It is awarded to recognize distinguished service of a high order during war, conflict, or hostilities.
About the Nausena Medal
i.The Nausena Medal (NM) is a distinguished military decoration awarded by the President of India to recognise acts of exceptional courage or devotion to duty by personnel of the Indian Navy.
About the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM):
i.It recognises distinguished service of a high order rendered by personnel across all ranks of the Indian Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Auxiliary and Reserve Forces, and Nursing Officers, during peacetime.
