High Altitude Medal
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| High Altitude Medal | |
|---|---|
| Type | Military medal Service medal |
| Awarded for | Tenure at high altitude. |
| Presented by |  India |
| Eligibility | Members of the Indian Armed Forces |
| Established | 1986 |
 Ribbon bar | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) |  Sainya Seva Medal[1] |
| Next (lower) |  Videsh Seva Medal |
The High Altitude Medal (translated from Hindi: Uchch Tungata Padak) is issued to Indian service personnel who complete a specified tenure at high altitude.[2] The medal was instituted following the President’s Secretariat Notification No - 72/Pres86 dated 12 September 1986. The medal was instituted in lieu of the clasp Himalaya to Sainya Seva Medal.[3]
The award is given to those members of the Indian armed forces, who are eligible under the following criteria[2][3] –
- Those who have completed a total service duration of 180 days in those areas, where high altitude allowance is admissible commencing from 1 April, 1984.
- This time limit is waived for those personnel who died or sustained wounds leading to premature evacuation.
- Personnel who are part of air crew or ejection crew of air maintenance units, who have carried out a minimum of 10 sorties or 40 hours of flying on transport support roles in these areas from 1 April, 1984.
High altitude allowance is admissible to personnel serving in field areas, which are situated at a height of 9000 feet and above.[4] The medal may also be awarded to police and central armed police force personnel (CAPF) who serve in high altitude areas
