Gallantry Awards in India
23.05.2025
Gallantry Awards in India
Context
India’s gallantry awards recognize acts of exceptional courage and heroism by military personnel and, in some cases, civilians. These awards not only honour individual bravery but also inspire a culture of patriotism and dedication to duty. They are classified based on the context of action—wartime or peacetime—and follow a hierarchical order of precedence.
Table 1: Gallantry Awards – Wartime (In Descending Order of Precedence)
|
Award Name |
Precedence |
Purpose |
Eligibility/Notes |
|
Param Vir Chakra (PVC) |
1st |
Highest military award for conspicuous bravery or self-sacrifice in war. |
Very few recipients, often posthumous. Enemy must be present. |
|
Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) |
2nd |
Acts of exceptional gallantry during combat with the enemy. |
Lower than PVC but still highly distinguished. |
|
Vir Chakra |
3rd |
Courageous acts in the battlefield. |
Generally of lower degree than MVC but still significant. |
Table 2: Gallantry Awards – Peacetime (In Descending Order of Precedence)
|
Award Name |
Precedence |
Purpose |
Eligibility/Notes |
|
Ashoka Chakra |
1st |
Highest peacetime award for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice. |
Acts not in the face of the enemy, often life-threatening. |
|
Kirti Chakra |
2nd |
Recognizes conspicuous gallantry in non-combat situations. |
Often for internal security, counter-insurgency, or rescue operations. |
|
Shaurya Chakra |
3rd |
Bravery under peacetime conditions. |
Anti-terror operations, civilian bravery acts. |
Table 3: Historical Timeline of Gallantry Awards
|
Year |
Event/Change |
|
1950 (Jan 26) |
PVC, MVC, and Vir Chakra instituted with retrospective effect from 15 Aug 1947. |
|
1952 |
Peacetime awards started: Ashoka Chakra Class I, II, and III introduced. |
|
1967 (Jan) |
Renaming for clarity: Ashoka Chakra Class I → Ashoka Chakra, II → Kirti Chakra, III → Shaurya Chakra. |
Table 4: Eligibility Criteria for Gallantry Awards
|
Eligible Entities |
Scope of Recognition |
|
Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) |
Bravery in combat (wartime) and non-combat (peacetime) situations. |
|
Territorial Army, Paramilitary Forces |
Especially in internal security and border operations. |
|
Civilians and Police (in special cases) |
Especially for Ashoka, Kirti, or Shaurya Chakra in exceptional acts. |
Table 5: Other Service-Specific Gallantry Medals
|
Medal |
Branch |
Purpose |
|
Sena Medal |
Indian Army |
Exceptional devotion to duty or courage in both peace and war. |
|
Nau Sena Medal |
Indian Navy |
Bravery or service at sea; includes peacetime and wartime acts. |
|
Vayu Sena Medal |
Indian Air Force |
Courage or devotion in air operations or service in non-combat roles. |
- Note: These medals are conferred during national ceremonies like Republic Day and Independence Day.
Conclusion
India’s gallantry awards represent the highest ideals of bravery, selflessness, and duty. They serve not only to honour the recipients but also to set benchmarks of valor for future generations. Understanding their history, structure, and significance is essential for appreciating the ethos of India's military and civil courage.