War-Time Gallantry Awards of India

What are Gallantry Awards?

• Gallantry Awards have been established by the Government of India to respect the acts of valour and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully founded Forces and civilians.
• These gallantry awards are announced twice in a year – first on the occasion of the Republic Day and further on the occasion of the Independence Day.

About Gallantry Awards of India

• After Independence, first three gallantry awards namely the Param Vir Chakra, the Maha Vir Chakra and the Vir Chakra were instituted by the Government of India on 26th January, 1950 which were deemed to have effect from the 15th August, 1947.
• Afterwards, other three gallantry awards i.e. the Ashoka Chakra Class-I, the Ashoka Chakra Class-II and the Ashoka Chakra Class-III were instituted by the Government of India on 4th January, 1952, which were deemed to have effect from the 15th August, 1947. In January 1967, these awards were renamed the Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, and the Shaurya Chakra, respectively.
• Order of precedence of these awards is the Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.
• The President awards the gallantry awards to the awardees or their relatives at the Defence Investiture Ceremony held every year at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• However, the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashoka Chakra are conferred by the President to the awardees on the occasion of the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath.

 

Selection Process for Gallantry Awards

• The basic selection process for these awards are –

1. 1. In the case of Armed Forces, the award is initiated by the Unit.
   2. The recommended personnel name are sent to the Service Headquarters under the supervision of Commanders in the chain.
   3. The Awards Committee verifies the list and gets it approved by the Chiefs before sending the proposal to the Ministry Of Defence.

Types of Gallantry Awards

• Gallantry Awards are classified into two Categories –
  • • War-time Awards – Gallantry in the Face of Enemy
    • Peace time Awards – Gallantry Other than in the Face of Enemy
• First Category of Gallantry Awards Comprises of the following Awards –
  • • • Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
      • Maha Vir Chakra (MVC)
      • Vir Chakra
• Second Category of Gallantry Awards Comprises of the following Awards
  • • • Ashok Chakra
      • Kirti Chakra
      • Shaurya Chakra

War-Time Gallantry Awards of India

• These awards are instituted for the Indian soldiers who show exceptional valor, courage in the war while fighting the enemy. These awards can be of the following types –

i) Param Vir Chakra

• • It is the most renowned war-time gallantry award presented to a solider for showing outstanding fighting skills, and courage on the battlefield.
  • This award was introduced on 26th January 1950. The word “Param Vir Chakra” means “Wheel of the Ultimate Brave“ and the award is granted for “most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy”.

Design of Param Vir Chakra

• • • Savitri Bai Khanolankar has designed the Param Vir Chakra.
    • It is made of bronze and is in the form of a circle with a diameter of 35 mm.
    • The award suspends from a bar.
    • The obverse has an embossed design with four replicas of Indra’s Vajra with the state emblem in the center.
    • The reverse has the inscription “Param Vir Chakra“, both in Hindi and English, as well as two lotus flowers between the sentences.
    • The medal is suspended by a plain purple-colored ribbon 33 mm in width.
    • Major Somnath Sharma was the first army personal to receive the Param Vir Chakra in 1947. He received this award posthumously (after death) for his act of bravery in the Kashmir battle in November 1947.

ii) Maha Vir Chakra

• • It is the second most prestigious war time gallantry award.
  • It is awarded to Indian soldiers and officers for their enthusiasm and act of courage while facing or fighting the enemy in the war, whether on land, sea or in the air.

Design of Maha Vir Chakra:

• • • The award is made from standard silver and is circular in shape with a diameter of 1.4 inches.
    • On the front side, a five-pointed heraldic star is imprinted, and the state emblem with the motto is embossed on the domed central-piece.
    • On its opposite side, has the inscription “Mahavira Chakra” embossed in Hindi and English, with two lotus flowers in the middle.
    • The medal is provided with a ribbon, which is half-white and half-orange.

iii) Vir Chakra

• • It is the third highest war time gallantry award.
  • It is presented to soldiers and army officers for the act of bravery while facing or fighting the enemy in the land, sea, or in the air.

Design of Vir Chakra

• • • Like other gallantry awards, it also has a circular shape with a diameter of 1.4 inches.
    • It is made of standard silver.
    • On the front side, you can see a five-pointed heraldic star and the state emblem along with motto at the centre.
    • On the reverse side, there are two words “VIR CHAKRA” written in Hindi and English and separated by two lotus flowers in the middle.
    • The medal comes with a ribbon, which is blue and half-orange in colour.

 

So, this is all about the post on the War-Time Gallantry Awards of India – Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra. If you want to read more notes on Awards and Honors – Click Here.

In the Next Post (Click Here), we will learn about the Peace Time Gallantry Awards of India.

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