Over 16.82 lakh service medals awarded to defence personnel are yet to be issued, a minister told Parliament on Tuesday.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said the Directorate of Military Regulations and Forms (DMR&F) has issued 9,88,062 service medals to the Armed Forces since 2008.
By the end of December 2016, around 16,82,577 service medals were pending to be issued.
Asked if the officers and men are procuring the medals on their own for display on their person, the minister replied in the affirmative.
"The Directorate of Military Regulations and Forms was earlier issuing service medals to the respective Record Offices. This work has now been transferred to the respective Service Headquarters," Bhamre said.
--IANS
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