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Awards & Honours Module

Gallantry & Military Awards

India's military decorations honor acts of exceptional bravery, valor, and devotion to duty by armed forces personnel and citizens. Instituted on 26 January 1950 with retrospective effect from 15 August 1947, wartime gallantry awards comprise the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), and Vir Chakra (VrC). Major Somnath Sharma of the Kumaon Regiment was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra for his actions during the 1947 Battle of Badgam. Peacetime gallantry awards, instituted in 1952 and renamed in 1967, comprise the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra. Distinguished service medals include the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), and Sena/Nao Sena/Vayu Sena Medals. The Param Vir Chakra medal was designed by Savitri Khanolkar (born Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros).

Key Concepts & Examination Highlights

  • The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest wartime gallantry award, designed by Savitri Khanolkar.
  • Major Somnath Sharma received the first Param Vir Chakra posthumously for defending Srinagar airfield in November 1947.
  • Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon is the sole Indian Air Force recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (1971 Indo-Pak War).
  • The Ashoka Chakra is India's highest peacetime gallantry award, equivalent to the wartime Param Vir Chakra.
  • Naik Narbahadur Thapa and Havildar Bachittar Singh were the first recipients of the Ashoka Chakra in 1952.
  • The wartime gallantry awards in descending order of precedence are the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), and Vir Chakra (VrC).
  • Peacetime gallantry awards, instituted in 1952 as Ashoka Chakra Classes I, II, and III, were renamed Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra in 1967.
  • Neerja Bhanot became the youngest recipient and the first female recipient of the Ashoka Chakra posthumously in 1987 for saving passengers aboard Pan Am Flight 73.
  • Captain Vikram Batra and Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey were awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for conspicuous gallantry during the 1999 Kargil War (Operation Vijay).
  • The Param Vir Chakra medal features four replicas of Indra's Vajra surrounding the state emblem of India, cast in bronze and suspended from a plain purple ribbon.
  • The Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) is India's highest military decoration for distinguished service of the most exceptional order in peacetime.
  • Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav was the youngest person to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra at the age of 19 for his assault on Tiger Hill during the 1999 Kargil War.
  • Rifleman Sanjay Kumar was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for capturing Flat Top area of Point 4875 in the Mushkoh Valley during the Kargil War.
  • Brigadier Mohammad Usman, known as the 'Lion of Naushera', was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for defending Naushera and Jhangar in 1948.
  • The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is India's second-highest wartime gallantry decoration, struck in standard circular silver with a five-pointed star and the state emblem in the centre.
  • The Vir Chakra (VrC) is the third-highest wartime gallantry award, featuring a silver circular medal with a five-pointed star and chakra, suspended from a half blue and half orange ribbon.
  • The Kirti Chakra is the second-highest peacetime gallantry award, equivalent to the wartime Maha Vir Chakra, awarded to military personnel and civilians.
  • The Shaurya Chakra is the third-highest peacetime gallantry award, equivalent to the wartime Vir Chakra, awarded for acts of valor while not engaged in direct combat with the enemy.
  • Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra at age 21 for destroying several enemy tanks in the Battle of Basantar during the 1971 war.
  • Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for leading Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon against massive Chinese forces at Rezang La in November 1962.
  • Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid of 4 Grenadiers was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for destroying multiple Patton tanks at the Battle of Asal Uttar in 1965.
  • The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) is India's highest wartime distinguished service decoration, awarded for exceptional operational service during active hostilities.
  • The Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) recognize distinguished service of an exceptional order and high order respectively in the armed forces.
  • Gallantry awards are announced twice a year by the Government of India: first on Republic Day (26 January) and second on Independence Day (15 August).
  • The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces and personally confers the gallantry decorations at defence investiture ceremonies in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) was designed by Savitri Khanolkar (born Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros), wife of Major General Vikram Khanolkar.
  • The Param Vir Chakra medal features four replicas of Indra's Vajra in bronze surrounding the state emblem of India.
  • Major Somnath Sharma of the 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment, was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for bravery in the Battle of Badgam in November 1947.
  • Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon is the sole Indian Air Force officer awarded the Param Vir Chakra, posthumously for defending Srinagar airfield in the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
  • Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for recapturing Point 5140 and Point 4875 during the 1999 Kargil War.
  • Subedar Major Bana Singh received the Param Vir Chakra in 1988 for leading Operation Rajiv to clear Pakistani forces from the highest peak in the Siachen Glacier (Bana Top).
  • Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar and Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav are living recipients of the Param Vir Chakra for exceptional heroism during the 1999 Kargil War.
  • The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is India's second-highest wartime gallantry award, made of standard silver with a five-pointed heraldic star.
  • Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra in 2021 for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet during the 2019 aerial skirmish.
  • The Ashoka Chakra is India's highest peacetime gallantry award, instituted on January 4, 1952, originally named Ashoka Chakra Class I.
  • Havildar Hangpan Dada was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 2016 for neutralizing four armed terrorists in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Major Mohit Sharma was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 2010 for leading Para (Special Forces) operations in Kupwara.
  • The Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra are the second and third highest peacetime gallantry decorations, originally named Ashoka Chakra Class II and Class III.
  • The Sena Medal (Army), Nao Sena Medal (Navy), and Vayu Sena Medal (Air Force) are awarded for individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage.
  • The Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) is awarded for distinguished service of the most exceptional order during peacetime military operations.
  • The Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) recognize distinguished military service of an exceptional and high order respectively.
  • The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) is India's highest wartime distinguished service decoration, followed by UYSM and YSM.
  • Gallantry awards in India are conferred biannually on Republic Day and Independence Day by the President of India.
  • Naik Jadunath Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for defending Tain Dhar in Naushera during the 1947-48 Jammu and Kashmir operations.
  • Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for destroying multiple Patton tanks at the Battle of Asal Uttar in 1965.
  • Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for leading 13 Kumaon at the Battle of Rezang La in the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
  • Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for gallantry at the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 war at the age of 21.
  • The ribbon of the Param Vir Chakra is plain purple (silk), while the Ashoka Chakra ribbon is dark green with an orange vertical stripe in the center.
  • The Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak, and Jeevan Raksha Padak are civilian gallantry medals for saving human lives from drowning, fire, or mine accidents.
  • Neerja Bhanot was the first female and youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, awarded posthumously in 1987 for saving passengers aboard hijacked Pan Am Flight 73.
Curriculum & Reference Sources: Ministry of Defence (MoD), Indian Army Official Honours & Awards Portal

Sample Solved Questions & Concept Explanations

8 Verified Concept Questions
Q1.EASY

What is the highest military gallantry decoration awarded in India for supreme valor in wartime?

Q2.EASY

What is India's highest peacetime military gallantry decoration, equivalent to the Param Vir Chakra?

Q3.EASY

Who was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra for his heroism in the 1947 Indo-Pak war in Kashmir?

Q4.MEDIUM

Who was the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra for his actions on Tiger Hill during the 1999 Kargil War at age 19?

Q5.MEDIUM

Who designed the bronze cast medal of the Param Vir Chakra featuring four replicas of Indra's Vajra flanking the Ashoka Lion Capital?

Q6.EASY

What is India's highest wartime gallantry decoration for displaying the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy?

Q7.EASY

Who was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, awarded posthumously for supreme valour during the Battle of Badgam in Kashmir in November 1947?

Q8.EASY

What is India's highest peacetime gallantry award for conspicuous bravery or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield?