Gallantry Awards

Param Vir Chakra :

The highest decoration for valour is the Param Vir Chakra which is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice in the. presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.

The decoration is made of bronze and is circular in shape. It has, on the obverse, four replicas of "Indra's Vajra" embossed round the State emblem in the centre. On the reverse, the words "Param Vir Chakra" are embossed both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers in the middle.

The decoration is worn on the left breast with a plain, purple coloured riband about 3.2 cm in width.

Mahavir Chakra :

Mahavir Chakra is the second highest decoration for valour and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.

It is made of standard silver and is circular in shape. Embossed on the obverse is a five pointed heraldic star with domed centre-piece bearing the gilded State emblem in the centre, The words "Mahavir Chakra" are embossed both in Hindi and English on the reverse with two lotus flowers in the middle. The decoration is worn on the left breast with a half-white and half-orange riband about 3.2 cm in width, the orange being near the left shoulder.

Vir Chakra :

Vir Chakra is third in the order of awards given for the act of gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.

The decoration is made of standard silver and is circular in shape. Embossed on the obverse is a five pointed heraldic star which has an Ashoka Chakra in the centre. Within this chakra, there is a domed centre-piece bearing gilded State emblem. On the reverse, the words "Vir Chakra" are embossed, both in Hindi and English, with two lotus flowers in the middle. The Chakra is worn on the left breast with a half-blue and half­orange riband, about 3.2 cm in width, the orange being nearer the left shoulder.

Ashok Chakra :

Ashok Chakra is the highest award for gallantry during peacetime. Three Army personnel were awarded the Ashok Chakra on August 14, 2007, on the eve of the country's 60th Independence Day. The awardees included Col. Vasanth Venugopal, Captain R. Harshan and Naib Subedar Chunni Lal. .All of them were awarded posthumously.

Kirti Chakra :

The decoration is the nation's second highest award for gallantry during peacetime. It is made of standard silver and is circular in shape. The obverse and the reverse are exactly the same as in Ashok Chakra.

The Chakra is worn on the left breast with a green silk riband, about 3.2 cm in width and divided into equal segments by two orange vertical lines.

Kirti Chakras for 2007 were awarded on August 14, 2007, to six people including three Army officers and as many civilians. The recipients were Captain Abhinav Handa of 9 Maratha Light Infantry, Lt. Pankaj Kumar of 7/11 Gorkha Rifles, Naik Radhakrishnan of 10 Madras regiment, Dayanand Pandey (posthumously), Mohammad Shan Ahmad (posthumously) and Tarun Kumar Dutta (posthumously).

Shaurya Chakra :

The decoration is awarded for an act of gallantry. It is exactly like Ashok Chakra, except that it is made of bronze.

The Chakra is worn on the left breast with a green silk riband, about 3.2 cm in width and divided into four equal segments by three orange vertical lines.

Of the 20 personnel who were awarded Shaurya Chakras in 2007, 19 belonged to the Army and one to the Air Force. Nine of them got the award posthumously.

Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal :

The Vishisht Seva (Distinguished Service) Medals are awarded to personnel of all the three services in recognition of distinguished service of the "most exceptional", "exceptional" and "high" order, respectively. Param Vishisht Seva Medal is made of gold, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal of standard silver and Vishisht Seva Medal of bronze, all circular in shape and 3.5 cm in diameter. Each medal has on its obverse five pointed stars and on its reverse the Lion Capitol. Its riband is golden with one dark-blue stripe down the centre for Param Vishisht Seva Medal, two dark-blue stripes dividing it into three equal parts for Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and three dark-blue stripes dividing it into four equal parts for Vishisht Seva Medal.

On January 26, 2007, 19 Senior Army Officers were decorated with Param Vishisht Seva Medals (PVSM). Besides these officers, other military personnel were also given gallantry awards on the nation's 57th Republic Day. The then President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam approved four Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), one Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 52 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, one Yudh Seva Medal, four Bar to Vishisht Seva Medals, 123 Vishisht Seva Medals, two Bar to Sena Medals, 41 Sena Medals;12 Nao Sena Medals and 15 Vayu Sena Medals.