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Gallantry Awards

Why in News-

Recently, group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded Vir Chakra which is a wartime gallantry award, by the President of India. The gallantry awards are announced twice a year — first on the occasion of Republic Day and then on the occasion of Independence Day.

Gallantry Awards in India (History):

Post-Independence, the first three gallantry awards namely #Param Vir Chakra, #Maha Vir Chakra and #Vir Chakra were instituted by the government of India on January 26th 1950 which were deemed to have effect from August 15th,1947. Thereafter, other three gallantry awards — the #Ashoka Chakra Class-I, the Ashoka Chakra Class-II and the Ashoka Chakra Class-III — were instituted in 1952, which were deemed to have effect from August 15, 1947. These awards were renamed as Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra respectively in January 1967.

People Eligible for the Awards:

All officers of all ranks of the #Army, #Navy, and the Air Force or of any of the reserve forces, territorial army and any other lawfully constituted armed forces.

In addition to the above-mentioned personnel, matrons, sisters, nurses, alongside the staff of the nursing services and other services pertaining to hospitals and nursing and civilians, both male and females, serve regularly or temporarily under the orders, directions or supervision of any of the above-mentioned forces.

Wartime Highest Gallantry Awards:

Param Vir Chakra:

It is India’s highest military decoration awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valor during wartime whether on land, at sea, or in the air. #Param Vir Chakra

Maha Vir Chakra:

It is the second-highest gallantry award for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy whether on land, at sea, or in the air. #Maha Vir Chakra

Vir Chakra:

It is the country’s third-highest wartime gallantry award after Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra. #Vir Chakra

Peacetime Highest Gallantry Awards

Ashoka Chakra

It is the highest military award during peacetime for valor, courageous action, or sacrifice. #Ashoka Chakra

Kirti Chakra

It is the second-highest peacetime gallantry award and is awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. #Kirti Chakra

Shaurya Chakra

It is awarded to the personnel of the armed forces for instances of extraordinary gallantry. #Shaurya Chakra

It is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valor or self-sacrifice otherwise than in the face of the enemy.