Source: News on Air
Subject: Miscellaneous
Context: President of India has approved the conferment of the Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards–2025 to 30 individuals for acts of exceptional courage in saving lives.
- The awards include 6 Sarvottam, 6 Uttam, and 18 Jeevan Raksha Padaks, with six honours awarded posthumously.
About Jeevan Raksha Padak Awards:
What it is?
- A civilian life-saving gallantry award series recognising meritorious acts of humane nature involving personal risk to save another person’s life.
Established in: 1961, as an offshoot of the Ashoka Chakra series of Gallantry Awards.
Categories:
- Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak: Conspicuous courage in saving life under very great danger to the rescuer.
- Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak: Courage and promptitude under great danger to the rescuer.
- Jeevan Raksha Padak: Courage and promptitude involving grave bodily injury risk to the rescuer.
Eligibility:
- Open to persons of all genders and walks of life.
- Can be conferred posthumously.
- Acts considered include rescues during drowning, fires, accidents, electrocution, mine rescues and natural calamities.
Key features:
- Nominations are invited annually from States/UTs and Union Ministries.
- Recommendations are examined by the Jeevan Raksha Padak Awards Committee within two years of the act.
- Final approval is given by the Prime Minister and the President of India.
- Award consists of a medallion and certificate, along with a one-time monetary allowance:
- Sarvottam: ₹2 lakh
- Uttam: ₹1.5 lakh
- Jeevan Raksha: ₹1 lakh
- No additional service concessions (rail/airfare, etc.) are attached.
Significance:
- Encourages civic courage, altruism and humanitarian values in society.
- Formally recognises ordinary citizens performing extraordinary acts, strengthening the culture of compassion and public responsibility.
