The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal ( Ultimate War Service Medal ) is India 's highest wartime distinguished service decoration. It is awarded for the highest degree of distinguished service in an operational context, which includes times of war, conflict, or hostilities. The award is a war-time equivalent of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal , which is India's highest peacetime distinguished service decoration.
9-804: The medal has been awarded only three times in history. They have been awarded to officers commanding a large force in a conflict. Lieutenant General A.S. Kalkat was the overall commander of the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka. Air Marshal Vinod Patney was the Western Air Commander and Lieutenant General H.M. Khanna was the Northern Army Commander during the Kargil War . The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal may be awarded posthumously. It
18-502: A crossed sword and baton and Ashoka emblem above. A lieutenant general wears gorget patches which are crimson patches with three golden stars. Army commanders in the C-in-C grade have additional oak leaves under the three golden stars. Officers in the rank of Lieutenant general hold important appointments like general officer commanding a corps . The Indian Army has 14 corps. The general officer commanding areas are also officers of
27-759: Is a three-star general officer rank in the Indian Army . It is the second-highest active rank in the Indian Army. Lieutenant generals rank above the two-star rank of Major General and below the four-star rank of General , which is held by the Chief of the Army Staff . The equivalent rank in the Indian Navy is Vice Admiral and in the Indian Air Force is Air Marshal . Officers in
36-693: Is awarded for "distinguished service of the most exceptional order during war/conflict/hostilities." It may be awarded to all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force including those of Territorial Army Units, Auxiliary and Reserve Forces and other lawfully constituted Armed Forces when embodied, as well as Nursing Officers and other members of the Nursing Services in the Armed Forces. The medal
45-536: Is circular in shape, 35 mm in diameter and fitted to a plain horizontal bar with standard fittings. It is made of gold gilt. On its obverse is the State Emblem and the inscriptions "SARVOTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL" (in English). On its reverse, it has a five pointed star. Ribbon: Golden colour with one red vertical stripe in the centre dividing it into two equal parts. The riband is of gold colour with one red stripe down
54-462: The C-in-C grade ranks at No. 23 on the Indian order of precedence , along with vice admirals of the Indian Navy and air marshals of the Indian Air Force in the C-in-C grade. The other lieutenant generals rank at No. 24 in the order of precedence. Lieutenant generals in the C-in-C grade are at the apex pay scale (pay level 17), with a monthly pay of ₹225,000 (US$ 3,100). Other lieutenant generals, in
63-515: The centre dividing it into two equal parts. If a recipient of the medal is subsequently awarded the medal again, every such further award shall be recognized by a bar to be attached to the riband by which the medal is suspended. For every such bar, a miniature insignia of a pattern approved by the Government shall be added to the riband when worn alone. The SYSM has been awarded only thrice. Lieutenant general (India) Lieutenant general
72-447: The rank of Lieutenant general. Areas are static formations which consist of sub-areas. At army headquarters, the principal staff officers (PSO) are senior lieutenant generals. The Heads of Combat and Combat Support Arms, Heads of services and directorates (Director General) are officers of the rank of lieutenant general. The chiefs of staff of the seven commands of the Army are also of the rank of lieutenant general. A lieutenant general in
81-545: The rank of lieutenant general hold important appointments at the army commands and at the army headquarters. Senior lieutenant generals who are in the C-in-C grade (army commanders), are considered to be in a grade higher than other lieutenant generals. They hold the most senior appointments like the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and the heads of the seven army commands (styled general officer commanding-in-chief ). The seven GOC-in-C appointments are: The badges of rank have
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