Gallantry Awards

Gallantry Awards are presented to the personnel in the forces for bravery and valour.

The Gallantry awards that are conferred in India are as follows (in the order of precedence):

1. Param Vir Chakra
2. Ashoka Chakra
3. Mahavir Chakra
4. Kirti Chakra
5. Vir Chakra
6. Shaurya Chakra

Major facts about the Gallantry Awards

• The first 3 awards in this category that came into existence after independence are- Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra.

• These awards are conferred twice a year- on Republic Day and Independence Day.
• The other 3 gallantry awards were introduced in 1952- Ashok Chakra Class I, Ashok Chakra Class II, Ashok Chakra Class III. Later, they were named as Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.
• The gallantry Awards have a certain selection process for the recipients.

Selection Process for Gallantry Awards

The basic selection process for these awards are:

In the case of Armed Forces, the award is initiated by the Unit.

The recommended personnel name are sent to the Service Headquarters under the supervision of Commanders in the chain.

The Awards Committee verifies the list and gets it approved by the Chiefs before sending the proposal to the Ministry Of Defence.

Param Vir Chakra

Param Vir Chakra is the highest order of recognition in the Military and is conferred to personnel who have performed a distinguished act of valour at the time of war.

The name of the award is also referred to as the “Wheel of the Ultimate Brave”. The medal is a circular bronze disc. On the front, the National Emblem of India appears in the centre on a raised circle surrounded by four sets of the vajra. On the reverse, there are 2 inscribed legends separated by lotus flowers. The words “Param Vir Chakra” are written in Hindi and English.

Mahavir Chakra

The Maha Vir Chakra is the second-highest military honorary award in India, after the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It replaced the British Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

The medal is made of silver and is circular in shape. Embossed on the front is a five-pointed star with circular centre-piece on which the state emblem of India is inscribed. The words “Mahavira Chakra” are embossed in Devanagari and English on the reverse with two lotus flowers in the middle.

Vir Chakra

Vir Chakra is the third-highest honorary gallantry award in India and is conferred to personnel for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy on the battlefield.

The medal is a circular silver medal. A five-pointed star, with the wheel or chakra in the centre, and, on this, the state emblem is inscribed. Around a plain centre, two legends separated by lotus flowers and “Vir Chakra” is embossed in Hindi and in English.

Ashoka Chakra

Ashok Chakra is conferred to civilians or military personnel for most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.

The award design is circular in shape and “Ashok Chakra” is inscribed both in Hindi and English and these 2 versions are separated by 2 lotus flowers.

This award is equivalent to the US Army’s peacetime Medal of Honour and the British George Cross.

Kirti Chakra

This award is presented to the Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle and is awarded to civilians as well as military personnel.

It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra and it comes in between Ashoka Chakra and Shaurya Chakra. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class II.

It is circular in shape and is made of silver. On the front, a replica of Ashoka Chakra in the centre is embossed and is surrounded by a lotus ring. On its reverse the words Kirti Chakra is embossed in both in Hindi and English; the versions being separated by two lotus flowers.

Shaurya Chakra

The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy.

The award is circular in shape and is toned bronze. In the centre, words “Ashoka Chakra” is surrounded by a lotus wreath and an ornate edge. On the reverse, the words “Ashoka Chakra” is inscribed in Hindi along the upper edge on the medal and the same name in English along the lower rim.

List of Gallantry Awards & Awardees 2021