Jeevan Raksha Padak Awards

The President of India has approved the conferment of Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards – 2016 on 36 persons which includes Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak to 05, Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak to 08 and Jeevan Raksha Padak to 23 persons; 07 awards are posthumous.

Jeevan Raksha Padak series of awards are given to a person for meritorious act of humane nature in saving the life of a person. The award is given in three categories, namely, Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak and Jeevan Raksha Padak. Persons of either sex in all walks of life are eligible for these awards. The award can also be conferred posthumously.

The decoration of the award (medal, certificate signed by the Home Minister and demand draft for lumpsum monetary allowance) is presented to the awardee in due course by the respective State Government to which the awardee belongs.

The Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak is a civilian lifesaving award presented by the Government of India. Established on 30 September 1961, the award was originally called the Jeevan Raksha Padak The Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak is awarded to civilians to reward saving lives from drowning, fire, or mine accidents. It is awarded; "for conspicuous courage under circumstances of very great danger to the life of the rescue."

The Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak may be awarded to members of the armed forces, police, or fire services when recognizable acts take place outside beyond the course of their duty. Subsequent awards are recognized by the addition of a medal bar to the ribbon.

The medal may be awarded posthumously. The Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak is a circular gold medal 58 mm (2.3 in) in diameter. On the obverse in the centre is an open hand in the Abhayamudra pose with Ma Bhai above and Sarvottam Jeevan Rakash Padak below in Devanagri script. The reverse bears the Emblem of India and the motto Satyameva Jayate.