Indian Distinguished Service Medal

The medal was awarded for gallantry, both in peace and on active military service. When instituted it was only available to Viceroy's commissioned officers, NCOs and men of the British Indian Army, Indian State Forces, militias and levies. However, after 1917 it was extended to 'non-combatant' followers, such as carriers and grooms. In 1929, eligibility was extended to the Royal Indian Marine and to the Indian Air Force in 1940. In 1944 members of the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery became eligible.

It is a circular silver medal, 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in width. The obverse depicts the current monarch, while the reverse had the words FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE surrounded by a laurel wreath. The medals were issued with the details of the recipient engraved or impressed on the rim, including service number, name and regiment. The ribbon was dark blue with a central wide crimson stripe.

Fewer than 6,000 were awarded, including bars. About 3,200 were awarded during the First World War, and 1,200 from the start of the Second World War to 1947. The rest were mainly awarded between the wars during frontier fighting and other inter-war campaigns such as the Iraq campaign of 1919–20.