Honouring the protectors: 1,466 heroes recognised on Patel’s birth anniversary

Marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Government has conferred the ‘Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak’ on 1,466 personnel from various States, Union Territories, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs) for the year 2025. Instituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs on February 1, 2024, the awards will be presented every year on October 31, honouring excellence in policing and internal security.

The Dakshata Padak recognises outstanding service in four critical fields, Special Operations, Investigation, Intelligence, and Forensic Science. It aims to promote high professional standards and encourage officers who have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, or innovation in their work.

Launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guided by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, the initiative underscores the government’s vision to boost morale and strengthen India’s policing and intelligence institutions.

This year’s list features several officers who have shown remarkable courage and commitment. In Jammu and Kashmir, 20 police officers, including IG Kashmir Vidhi Kumar Birdi, DIG Central Kashmir Pande Rajiv Omprakash, and SSP Srinagar G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, were recognised for leading a high-risk counterterror operation that neutralised militants behind the Pahalgam terror attack in April. Their efforts were acknowledged for displaying tactical precision and leadership in a challenging security environment.

In Odisha, 17 police personnel were honoured for exceptional dedication in investigation and special operations. Among them were officers such as Anil Kumar Das, Himanshu Bhushan Swain, Dhabaleshwar Sahu, and Gundala Reddy Raghavendra, who played key roles in operations conducted in remote and insurgency-affected regions of the state. Their recognition highlights the government’s emphasis on rewarding professionalism even in some of the most difficult terrains.

The award is also extended to officers and scientists from Forensic Science units, both at the central and state levels, in recognition of their contributions to modern investigative and analytical work that supports law enforcement across the country.

Compared to its inaugural year in 2024, when 463 personnel were honoured, the number of recipients has more than tripled in 2025, reflecting the government’s growing commitment to recognising excellence across India’s internal security spectrum.

By linking the announcement to Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary, the Dakshata Padak symbolically connects modern policing excellence to the Iron Man’s legacy of unity, discipline, and strong governance. It serves not only as an award but as a reminder of the ideals Patel envisioned for a unified and efficient Indian administration.