Five military personnel were awarded prestigious MacGregor Memorial Medal by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan for their outstanding contributions in military reconnaissance, exploration, and adventure for the years 2023 and 2024.
The ceremony took place at United Service Institution of India (USI), New Delhi. (One awardee was absent due to participation in a mountaineering expedition to Mt. Kangchenjunga.)
Key Highlights
Awardees for 2023:
- Wing Commander D. Panda (Indian Air Force)
- Electrical Artificer (Radio) Rahul Kumar Pandey (Indian Navy)
Awardees for 2024:
- Chief Electrical Aircraft Artificer (Radio) Ram Ratan Jat (Indian Navy)
- Sergeant Jhumar Ram Poonia (Indian Air Force)
- Colonel Ranvir Singh Jamwal, Director of the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports, Arunachal Pradesh
About MacGregor Memorial Medal
Instituted: July 3, 1888. The award is named after Major General Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor, a noted British Indian Army officer and explorer.
Purpose: Initially to recognize acts of military reconnaissance and exploratory journeys; expanded in 1986 to include military expeditions and adventure activities.
Eligibility: Open to all ranks (serving and retired) of:
- Armed Forces
- Territorial Army
- Reserve Forces
- Rashtriya Rifles
- Assam Rifles
Total Medals Awarded: 127 (including 103 before Independence)
Notable Past Recipients:
- Captain F.E. Younghusband (1890)
- Major General Orde Charles Wingate (1943)
- Major Z.C. Bakshi (1949)
- Col. Narinder Kumar (for Siachen Glacier exploration, 1978–81)
- Cdr Dilip Donde and Lt Cdr Abhilash Tomy (for solo global circumnavigation)
About United Service Institution of India (USI)
Established: 1870 at Simla by Col. (later Maj Gen) Charles Metcalf MacGregor. India’s oldest defence think tank.
Location: New Delhi, India
Nature: Oldest autonomous national security and defence services think tank in India
Mission:
- Promote knowledge in the art, science, and literature of national security
- Advance professional military education and strategic studies
About Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
Role:
- Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
- Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister for tri-service matters
- Heads the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the Ministry of Defence
Functions:
- Promote operational synergy among Army, Navy, and Air Force
- Minimise inter-service conflicts
- Advisory role in the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA)
Powers:
- Limited to revenue budget matters
- Can issue instructions to service chiefs but does not command forces directly
Position:
- First among equals: has Secretary-rank powers within Department of Defence (limited mainly to revenue budget)