Gallantry Awards 

Syllabus :GS3/Defence 

In News

• President Droupadi Murmu conferred Kirti Chakras and Shaurya Chakras to the personnel of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces and State/Union Territory Police during Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Gallantry awards

• The Ministry of Defence invites recommendations twice in a year from the Armed Forces and Union Ministry of Home Affairs for gallantry awards.
• They  were given to the personnel for displaying raw courage, unparalleled bravery and total disregard to personal safety in the line of duty.
• The awardees showed exceptional courage during various operations, including counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in J&K and the North-East, anti-piracy operations, and fire-fighting operations.

Param Vir Chakra

• It was  instituted on January 26, 1950 and  is India’s highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.
  • Eligible recipients include all ranks of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Reserve Forces, Nursing Services, and civilians serving under the armed forces. 
  • The award can be given posthumously. 
• Recipients receive a monetary allowance of Rs. 3,000, with the same amount for each additional bar awarded for further acts of bravery.

Mahavir Chakra

• It was instituted on January 26, 1950 and  is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.
  •  Literally Maha Veer means extraordinarily brave
• Eligible recipients include all ranks of the armed forces, nursing staff, and civilians serving under military orders.
• The award can be given posthumously. 
• Recipients receive a monthly monetary allowance of Rs. 2,400, with the same amount for each additional bar awarded for further acts of bravery.

Vir Chakra

• It was established on January 26, 1950 (effective from August 15, 1947), is the third-highest wartime gallantry award comes after the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra. 
• It is given for acts of bravery in the presence of the enemy on land, sea, or air. It can be awarded posthumously. 
• Eligible recipients include all ranks of the armed forces and reserve units.
  • The award carries a monthly allowance of Rs. 1,700, with the same amount for each additional bar.

Ashoka Chakra

• It was  instituted in 1952 and renamed in 1967 and It is awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.
  • It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the “most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice” other than in the face of the enemy.
• Eligible recipients include armed forces personnel, nursing staff, civilians, police, and paramilitary forces. 
• The award can be given posthumously.
  • Recipients receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 2,800, with the same amount for each additional bar awarded for further acts of bravery.

Kirti Chakra

• It was instituted in 1952 as Ashoka Chakra Class-II and renamed in 1967.
• It is awarded for valour, courageous action or selfsacrifice away from the field of battle.
  • It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. 
  • It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. It is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards. 
  • Recipients receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 2,100, with the same amount for each additional bar awarded.

Shaurya Chakra

• It is a gallantry award presented for acts of valor not involving direct combat with the enemy, making it the peacetime equivalent of the Vir Chakra.
• It was initially established as the Ashoka Chakra, Class III on 4 January 1952, effective from 15 August 1947, and renamed on 27 January 1967. 
• The award can be given posthumously and is open to personnel from all branches of the Armed Forces, including the Reserves, Territorial Army, and other legally constituted forces.
  • Recipients receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 1500, with an additional Rs. 1500 per bar awarded.

Source :TH