On 26th January 1950, Government of India instituted first three gallantry awards namely the Param Vir Chakra, the Maha Vir Chakra and the Vir Chakra. These awards were deemed to have effect from the 15th August 1947. After that, on 4th January 1952, the other three gallantry awards i.e. the Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Ashoka Chakra Class-II and Ashoka Chakra Class-III were recognized by the Government of India. These three medals were incorporated from 15th August 1947. But later on, these awards got their name changed as the Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra respectively in January 1967.
These prestigious awards are announced twice in a year – first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day. On the order of merit, Param Vir Chakra stands out to be India's highest gallantry award, followed by the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra. These medals are also known as 'Military Medas'.
Gallantry Award Meaning
Gallantry is an old-fashioned word for courageous behaviour in a man, especially on the war front. Another aspect of gallantry is an extreme form of courtesy and respect towards people, often referred to as chivalry, and the two words are used interchangeably.Therefore, gallantry award is an honour bestowed on people for the various acts of valour and heroism. In India, there are various gallantry awards that are given away which could be earned in a battlefield.
Former Presiden, honourable K. R. Narayanan presenting the Param Vir Chakra posthumous to the father of Captain Vikram Batra 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. Wikimedia Commons
On the basis of occasion and timing of the recipient, the awards are distinguished into different sections, which are wartime gallantry awards, peacetime gallantry awards and wartime/peacetime service awards.
Wartime gallantry awards
Peacetime gallantry awards
Wartime/Peacetime service awards
Sena Medal / Nao Sena Medal / Vayusena Medal
Wartime Distinguished Service
Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal
Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
Yudh Seva Medal
Peacetime Distinguished Service
Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal
Incarnations Of The Medals
PARAM VIR CHAKRA
The Medal bears a circular shape and made of bronze. The size of the medal goes as one and three eighth inches in diameter and has four replicas of "Indra's Vajra". "PARAM VIR CHAKRA" is embossed on the back side of the medal. The inscription is both in Hindi and in English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.
Ribbon: Plain purple coloured ribbon.
Bar: If the recipient again acts with the similar valour and make him or her eligible again to receive the Chakra, such further act of bravery is recorded by a Bar attached to the riband. For additional such act of bravery, an additional Bar shall be added and has to be awarded posthumously.
Captain Vikram Batra was conferred with Param Vir Chakra in 1999 for an extraordinary act of courage. Wikimedia Commons
Some important Gallantry Award Winners
Somnath Sharma- 1947
Jadu Nath Singh- 1948
Yogendra Singh Yadav- 1999
Sanjay Kumar- 1999
Vikram Batra-1999
MAHAVIR CHAKRA
Medal: The medal is circular in shape and made up of standard silver. When it comes to the dimension goes as one and three eighth inches in diameter and has a five-pointed heraldic star with the points of the star just touching the rim. The star shall have domed gilded State Emblem in the centre. Behind of the medal, "MAHA VIR CHAKRA" is embossed both in Hindi and in English with two lotus flowers between the inscriptions.
Ribbon: The ribbon is of a half-white and half-orange colour.
Bar: If the recipient again performs such an act of bravery which makes him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, such act shall be recorded by a Bar. For every similar act of bravery, an additional bar is added, and any such Bar or Bars may also be awarded posthumously.
The Maha Vir Chakra is circular in shape and made up of standard silver. Wikimedia Commons
Some important Gallantry Award Winners
Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai – 1947
Brigadier Narinder Singh Sandhu – 1971
Captain Anuj Nayyar – 1999
Captain Gurjinder Singh Suri – 2001
VIR CHAKRA
Medal: The medal is circular in shape and made up of standard silver. The size of this medal stands at one and three eighth inches in diameter and has a five-pointed heraldic star with the points of the star just touching the rim. The star is in the centre a Chakra and within that is a domed centrepiece bearing the gilded State Emblem. On the back side, "VIR CHAKRA" is embossed both in Hindi and in English with two lotus flowers between the inscriptions.
Ribbon: The ribbon is of half blue and half orange in colour.
Bar: If the recipient again performs such an act of bravery which makes him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, such an act shall be recorded by a Bar to be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended. For every such additional act of bravery, an additional Bar shall be added, and be awarded posthumously.
The Vir Chakra's ribbon is of half blue and half orange in colour. Wikimedia Commons
Some important Gallantry Award Winners
Subedar Nadikerianda Bheemaiah – 1947 for Kashmir War
Vice Adm Arun Prakash – 1971 for Operation Cactus Lily
Air Commodore Kuldeep Singh Sahota – 1972 for Pakistan war of 1971
Colonel Lalit Rai – 1999 for Operation Vijay (1999), Kargil War
Capt. Baleyada Muthanna Cariappa – 2000 for Operation Vijay, Kargil War
ASHOKA CHAKRA
Medal: The medal is circular in shape and made up of gold gild. The size of the medal goes as one and three eighth inches in diameter, with rims on both sides. The imprinted replica of Ashoka Chakra in the centre of the one side, surrounded by a lotus wreath. On the back side is "Ashok Chakra" embossed in both in Hindi and English and are being separated by two lotus flowers.
Ribbon: Green colour ribbon divided into two equal segments by an orange vertical line.
Bar: If the recipient again performs such that would have made him or her eligible to receive the Chakra then the act of gallantry shall be recognised by a Bar. For every subsequent act of gallantry, an additional Bar shall be added and any such Bar or Bars may also be awarded posthumously.
Ashok Chakra is a green colour ribbon divided into two equal segments by an orange vertical line. Wikimedia Commons
Some important Gallantry Award Winners
Suhas Biswas – 1952
Cyrus Addie Pithawalla – 1981
Nirbhay Singh – 1985
Shanti Swarup Rana – 1997
Hangpan Dada – 2016
KIRTI CHAKRA
Medal: The medal is circular in shape and made up of standard silver. The size of the medal goes as one and three-eighth inches in diameter, with rims on both sides. On the side of the medal is embossed a replica of Kirti Chakra, surrounded by a lotus wreath. On the back side, the words "KIRTI CHAKRA" are embossed both in Hindi and English, the two versions being separated by two lotus flowers.
Ribbon: Green colour ribbon on the medal is divided into three equal parts by two orange vertical lines.
Bar: If a recipient again displays a similar act of gallantry which makes him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, then the act of gallantry is recognised by a Bar. An additional Bar shall be added and such Bar or Bars may also be awarded posthumously.
Some important Gallantry Award Winners
ORD S/M Bachan Singh – 1962
PO TAS I Gur Iqbal Singh (P) – 1974
IPS Ajit Doval – 1988
SP Vinod Kumar Choubey – 2009
Major Mahesh Kumar – 2013
The Kirti Chakra is circular in shape and made up of standard silver. Wikimedia Commons
SHAURYA CHAKRA
Medal: The medal is circular in shape and made up of bronze. The size goes as one and three-eighth inches in diameter, with rims on both sides. On the sides is embossed a replica of Ashoka's Chakra in the centre, surrounded by a lotus wreath. On the back side, the words "SHAURYA CHAKRA" are embossed both in Hindi and English, the two versions being separated by two lotus flowers.
Ribbon: Green colour ribbon divided into four equal parts by three vertical lines.
Bar: If the recipient again performs such an act of gallantry which makes him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, then the act of gallantry is recognised by a Bar. For a similar act of gallantry, an additional Bar is added and such Bar or Bars may also be awarded posthumously.
Some important Gallantry Award Winners
Colonel Neeraj Sood – 2011
Major Shalender – 2012
Captain Dinesh Kumar – 2013
Major Gaurav Thakur – 2014
Lt Col Sankalp Kumar – 2015
Selection Process for Gallantry Awards
Lt Col Sankalp Kumar was honoured with Shaurya Chakra for showing exemplary valour in 2015. Wikimedia Commons
The main process is as follows: