Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Infobox Indian Awards
awardname = Ati Vishisht Seva Medal


type = Non-Gallantry
category = Distinguished Service
instituted = January 26, 1960
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lastawarded =
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awardedby = President of India
cashaward =
description =
previousnames = Vishisht Seva Medal, Class II
obverse = A 35-mm circular silver medal,
with a five-pointed star in the center.
Suspended from a straight-bar suspender.
reverse = Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in Hindi.
ribbon =
firstawardees =
lastawardees =
precededby = none
followedby =

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (or AVSM) is a military award of India given to recognize "distinguished service of an exceptional order" to all ranks of the armed forces.

The award can also be granted posthumously. Subsequent awards are represented by a bar worn on the ribbon. The awardee can use "AVSM" as post-nominal letters.

History

The Ati Vishisht Seva Medal was originally established as the "Vishisht Seva Medal, Class II". It was renamed on January 27, 1967 and the badge redesigned. Since 1980 the awarding of the medal have been restricted to non-operational service as the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal was created to recognize distinguished services in an operational environment [cite web |url=http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/india/medals/AVSM.html |title=Ati Vishisht Seva Medal |author=Haynes, Ed] .

See also

* Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
* Param Vishisht Seva Medal

References