NEW DELHI: The personnel of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs will now be eligible to be considered for the Union home minister’s special operation medal, for actions undertaken by them for prevention of narcotics smuggling. Until now, this category of medals was awarded annually to the state and UT police, Central police organisations, Central para-military forces and security organisations for special operations in areas like terrorism, insurgency, border action, arms control, prevention of narcotics smuggling and rescue operations.
The home ministry on Wednesday notified a change in the statute and rules relating to the Union home minister’s special operation medal. It stated that “in addition to police personnel, personnel of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) may also be considered for award under the area ‘prevention of narcotics smuggling’.”
The home minister’s special operation medal is awarded each year on successful conduct of special operations by members of state or UT police, Central police forces and intelligence agencies within India or abroad during their posting on deputation to the ministry of external affairs. These special operations are ones that involve a high degree of planning, have a high significance for the security of the country or state or Union territory or have a significant impact on security of large sections of the society.
The special operations may be in areas such as counter terrorism, border action, arms control, left wing extremism, prevention of narcotics smuggling and rescue operations.
The category of ‘Union home ministers special operations medal’ was instituted in 2018 for honouring members of the state and Central police forces and security organisations throughout the Indian Union in consideration for excellence in special operations. Initially, these were awarded for special operations for fighting insurgency, anti-national elements and for border and internal security. In 2020, this statute was amended to include prevention of narcotics smuggling, though only the police personnel were eligible until Wednesday’s amendment.
As many as 397 police personnel, including 260 from ITBP, were awarded the Union home minister’s special operations medal in 2021, as against 39 in 2020 and 46 in 2019.
