The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has conveyed that the President of India has approved conferment of the President’s Police Colour on the Chandigarh Police, one of the highest honours accorded to a police force, a communication to the Chandigarh chief secretary said on Oct 26.
Why the honour was recommended
The ministry’s letter referred to memoranda sent by the Union Territory administration in July and September 2026 and noted the force’s record across several areas including policing, law and order management, modernisation, emergency response and citizen-oriented services. The recognition follows internal assessments submitted by the UT administration that documented the force’s operational achievements over recent years.
Chandigarh Police, which was reorganised on 1 November 1966, was highlighted for a combination of traditional policing and technology-driven initiatives. The force’s motto,
“We Care for You”, was cited in the dossier accompanying the application.
Track record and awards
The record submitted to the ministry lists a series of decorations and recognitions accumulated by the force. These include one gallantry medal and national-level awards for service and merit. The list also noted the force’s participation in United Nations missions.
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Gallantry medals | 1 |
| President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service | 20 |
| Medals for Meritorious Service | 108 |
| United Nations medals | 52 |
Operational highlights cited
The submission to the ministry emphasised the force’s handling of mass events and public gatherings. Since 2009, Chandigarh Police reported managing 60,501 law-and-order events, including 2,582 events in 2025, with the record stating that no untoward incident was reported in their management.
- Major events handled: Rose Festival, National Craft Mela, political rallies.
- Speedy passport verifications: ranked first nationally in 2023-24.
- Recognition for community and safety initiatives: FICCI Smart Policing Award (2017).
Technology and modernisation
Technology-led policing formed a major pillar of the application. The force inaugurated a Police Command and Control Centre on 30 July 2022 and operates an integrated network of 2,085 CCTV cameras linked with traffic-management systems. Features highlighted include adaptive traffic signals and automatic number-plate recognition.
Other digital measures implemented across the UT’s police infrastructure include:
- Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) operational in all police stations;
- e-Beat application in all 16 law-and-order police stations;
- Centre for Cyber Operations and Police Support (CenCOPS) for cyber-investigation, digital forensics and malware analysis;
- Digital tools such as e-Sakshya and Chitra Khoji mentioned in the dossier.
What the award means locally
For a Union Territory with a compact urban footprint, the distinction is likely to reinforce both public confidence and institutional morale. The President’s Police Colour is customarily awarded to units whose sustained performance and professionalism stand out at national level. For Chandigarh, the credential underscores the UT police’s emphasis on combining civic services with a technology agenda.
Municipal officials and event organisers in the city will view the honour as affirmation of the force’s capacity to manage large-scale public events without major disruption. The force’s work on passport verification and cyber-response may also attract additional cooperation from central agencies and industry partners, should formal collaborations follow the award.
Next steps and ceremonial aspects
The ministry’s communication marked administrative approval; arrangements for an investiture or ceremonial presentation of the Colours are expected to be decided by the UT administration in coordination with central protocol authorities. The police submission that secured approval referenced multiple organisational upgrades and operational achievements as justifications.
Chandigarh Police’s dossier detailed both historical service and recent initiatives to meet contemporary policing challenges, an approach that the Home Ministry’s communication said informed the President’s decision to grant this rare distinction.
Correspondent: Aman Bedi, Chandigarh
