What Are Gallantry Awards?
The Government of India established the Gallantry Awards to recognise the bravery and sacrifice of military officers, other legally organised forces, and citizens. The announcement of these gallantry medals occurs twice a year, first on Republic Day and later on Independence Day.
The Kinds of Gallantry Awards In the Military Forces are covered in detail in this post by Team YLCC. Continue reading!
Classification of Gallantry Awards
Gallantry Awards are classified into two Categories
- Gallantry in the Face of Enemy (War-Time Awards)
- Gallantry Other than in the Face of Enemy (Peace Time Awards)
First Category of Gallantry Awards Comprises of the following Awards-
- Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
- Mahavir Chakra (MVC)
- Vir Chakra
Second Category of Gallantry Awards Comprises of the following Awards
- Ashok Chakra
- Kirti Chakra
- Shaurya Chakra
It is important to note that:
- The government of India established the first three gallantry medals following independence on January 26, 1950, with the Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra being declared to be in effect as of August 15, 1947.
- Other three gallantry medals, the Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Class-II, and Class-III, were subsequently established by the Government of India on January 4, 1952, and were declared to be effective as of August 15, 1947. In January 1967, these prizes were given new names: Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra, respectively.
- The Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra, and the Param Vir Chakra are the awards that come before them.
Now let us understand these awards in more detail.
PARAMVIR CHAKRA
Medal: Circular, made of bronze, one and three-eighths inches in diameter, and embossed with four copies of “Indra’s Vajra” on the obverse and the state emblem in the middle. Both the Hindi and the English version of “PARAM VIR CHAKRA” will be imprinted on the reverse of the coin, separated by two lotus flowers.
Ribbon: Plain purple coloured ribbon.
Bar: If any Chakra recipient later commits an act of bravery that would have qualified them for the Chakra, that subsequent act of bravery will be noted by a Bar that will be attached to the riband that holds the Chakra. A Bar will be added for each subsequent act of bravery, and any such Bar or Bars may also be given posthumously. A small version of “Indra’s Vajra” will be placed to the riband when worn alone for each bar received.
MAHAVIR CHAKRA
Medal: One and three eighth inches in diameter, standard silver, circular in shape, with a five-pointed heraldic star etched on the obverse that touches the rim just slightly. A domed, gilded state emblem shall be in the centre of the star. On the back, “MAHA VIR CHAKRA” will be stamped in both Hindi and English, with two lotus flowers positioned in between the two scripts.
Ribbon: The ribbon is of a half-white and half-orange colour.
Bar: If any Chakra recipient later commits an act of bravery that would have qualified them for the Chakra, that subsequent act of bravery will be noted by a Bar that will be attached to the riband that holds the Chakra. A Bar will be added for each subsequent act of bravery, and any such Bar or Bars may also be given posthumously. A smaller version of the Chakra will be placed to the riband while worn alone for each Bar that is given out.
VIR CHAKRA
Medal: One and three eighth inches in diameter, standard silver, circular in shape, with a five-pointed heraldic star etched on the obverse that touches the rim just slightly. A chakra and a domed centre piece carrying the gilded state emblem will be located within the star’s chakra at its centre. The word “VIR CHAKRA” will be embossed on the back in both Hindi and English, with two lotus flowers positioned in between the two scripts.
Ribbon: The ribbon is of half blue and half orange in colour.
Bar: If any Chakra recipient later commits an act of bravery that would have qualified them for the Chakra, the subsequent act of bravery will be noted by a Bar that will be attached to the riband holding the Chakra. A Bar will be added for each subsequent act of bravery, and any such Bar or Bars may also be given posthumously. A smaller version of the Chakra will be placed to the riband while worn alone for each Bar that is given out.
ASHOKA CHAKRA
Medal: With rims on all sides, it is a circle with a diameter of one and three fourth inches. The medal must be made of gold leaf. The Ashoka’s Chakra replica will be etched on the medal’s obverse, and it will be encircled by a lotus wreath. Lotus leaves, flowers, and buds will be arranged in a design along the rim’s inner side. The words “Ashok Chakra” in both Hindi and English, separated by two lotus flowers, will be imprinted on the reverse of the medal.
Ribbon: Green colour ribbon divided into two equal segments by an orange vertical line.
Bar: If a recipient of the Chakra later performs an act of bravery that would have qualified them for the Chakra, the subsequent act of bravery will be recognised by a Bar that will be affixed to the riband that suspends the Chakra. For each additional act of bravery, an additional Bar will be added, and any such Bar or Bars may also be given posthumously. A smaller version of the Chakra will be placed to the riband while worn alone for each Bar that is given out.
KIRTI CHAKRA
Medal: One and three-eighth inches in diameter, round in shape, made of ordinary silver, and having rims on both sides. The Ashoka’s Chakra replica will be etched on the medal’s obverse, and it will be encircled by a lotus wreath. Lotus leaves, flowers, and buds will be arranged in a design along the rim’s inner side. The words “KIRTI CHAKRA” in both Hindi and English will be imprinted on the rear of the item, with two lotus blossoms separating the two languages.
Ribbon: Green colour ribbon divided into three equal parts by two orange vertical lines.
Bar: A Bar will be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended in the event that the recipient of the Chakra again exhibits the kind of bravery that would have qualified them for the Chakra. For each additional act of bravery, an additional Bar will be added, and the Bar or Bars may also be given posthumously. When the riband is worn alone, a little duplicate of the corresponding Chakra will be placed for each such Bar.
SHAURYA CHAKRA
Medal: One and three-eighth inches in diameter, round in shape, manufactured of bronze, with rims on both sides. The Ashoka’s Chakra replica will be etched on the medal’s obverse, and it will be encircled by a lotus wreath. Lotus leaves, flowers, and buds will be arranged in a design along the rim’s inner side. The words “SHAURYA CHAKRA” in both Hindi and English will be embossed on the rear of the item, with two lotus blossoms separating the two languages.
Ribbon: Green colour ribbon divided into four equal parts by three vertical lines.
Bar: A Bar will be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended in the event that the recipient of the Chakra again exhibits the kind of bravery that would have qualified them for the Chakra. For each additional act of bravery, an additional Bar will be added, and the Bar or Bars may also be given posthumously. When the riband is worn alone, a little duplicate of the corresponding Chakra will be placed for each such Bar.
Who Are Eligible For These Awards?
WAR-TIME AWARDS
The following categories of persons shall be eligible for the Param Vir Chakra, the Maha Vir Chakra and the Vir Chakra:
- officers, soldiers, and personnel of all grades in the Territorial Army, Militia, Navy, Military, and Air Forces, as well as any other Armed Forces duly organised under law.
- Civilians of either sex serving regularly or temporarily under the instructions, directions, or supervision of any of the aforementioned Forces, including Matrons, Sisters, Nurses, and the Staff of the Nursing Services and Other Services Relating to Hospitals and Nursing.
Conditions of Eligibility:
- The Param Vir Chakra is given for the most outstanding bravery, some outstanding bravery, or self-sacrifice performed in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.
- For actions of particularly bravery in the presence of the adversary, whether on land, at sea, or in the air, the Maha Vir Chakra is given.
- For bravery displayed in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air, the Vir Chakra is given.
PEACETIME AWARDS
The following categories of persons shall be eligible for the Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra:
- Officers, members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, members of any Reserve Force, members of the Territorial Army, members of the Militia, and members of any other legally established forces.
- Members of the military’s nursing services.
- members of police forces, including the Central Para-Military Forces and the Railway Protection Force, as well as ordinary civilians of either sex from all walks of life.
Conditions of Eligibility:
- The Ashoka Chakra is given for exceptionally courage, a daring act, a heroic deed, or selflessness that is not performed in the face of an enemy.
The Kirti Chakra is given for eminent bravery that is not displayed in the presence of an opponent.
The Shaurya Chakra is given for bravery that is not displayed in the presence of an opponent.
To know about the Gallantry Awards, you may visit the official website launched by Government Of India by clicking here.
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