The medals were presented at a ceremony held at the United Service Institution of India. | Photo credit: @pib
Five military personnel were conferred on Wednesday the MacGregor Memorial Medal by the head of the defense personnel, General Anil Chauhan, for outstanding contributions in military recognition, exploration and adventure for the year 2023 and 2024.
The winners for 2023 included the Ala Commander D. Panda of the Air Force and the electric artifier (radio) Rahul Kumar Pandey of the Navy. By 2024, the main artifier of electric planes (Radio) Ram Ratan of the Navy and Sergeant Jhumar Ram Ponia of the Air Force were honored with the medal. Colonel Ranvir Singh Jamwal, director of the National Institute of Mountainism and Adventure Sports in Arunachal Pradesh was also awarded. However, the officer was not physically present to receive the prize, since he is in an expedition of mountaineering to Mount Kangchenjunga.
The medals were presented to the personnel of Cuatro in a ceremony held at the United Service Institution of India (USI).
Instituted on July 3, 1888, the MacGregor Memorial Medal commemorates Major General Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor, founder of USSI (established in 1870). Originally aimed at recognizing acts of military recognition and exploratory trips, the scope of the medal expanded in 1986, after indusence, to include military expeditions and adventure activities, said the Ministry of Defense in a statement.
“While recognition and military exploration remain the main criteria, the medal is open to all ranges (in service and retired) of the armed forces, the territorial army, the reserve forces, the rashtriya rifles and the rifles of Assam.”
To date, 127 medals have been granted, including 103 before independence. Among the notable recipients are Captain Fe Younghus Band (1890), the General Order Major Charles Wingate (1943), Major ZC Bakshi (1949), Colonel Narinder Kumar for Siachen Glacier Exploration (1978–81) and CDR Dilip where and Lt. Cdr. Abhilash Tomy for his global circumnavigation alone.
The event also presented the launch of the book Brave of the braveA chronicle of life and the heroic trip of Naib Subedar Chunni Lal, written by Lieutenant Gene. SATIS DUA (RETD.), Former Chief of Integrated Defense Personnel.
Published – April 16, 2025 10:20 pm ist
