Gallantry awards of Indian Armed forces

Hello aspirants, In this post I will tell you all about the awards and decorations of the Indian Armed forces. This post will give a detailed overview of the topic. The article will help you in your preparation and understanding the award system better.

The gallantry award has two subcategories i.e.

• Wartime gallantry award

• Peacetime gallantry award

Let's understand the wartime gallantry awards first

1. PARAM VIR CHAKRA (PVC)
   

• The Param Vir Chakra(PVC) is India's highest military decoration awarded for displaying extraordinary acts of bravery during wartime. Inducted on 26^th Jan 1950 in armed forces
• The PVC is equivalent to the Medal of Honor in the United States and the Victoria Cross in the United Kingdom. 
• The medal of the PVC designed by Savitri Khanolkar, whose daughter's brother-in-law, Major Somnath Sharma, coincidentally awarded the first PVC.
• As of now the medal has been awarded 21 times, twenty recipients are from the Indian Army, and one is from the Indian Air Force. 

2. MAHA VIR CHAKRA (MVC)

• The Maha Vir Chakra(MVC) is the second highest military decoration in India established on 26^th Jan 1950.
• Awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. 
• More than 218 acts of bravery and selfless witnessed since the inception of the medal.
• The most MVCs awarded in a single conflict was in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 while eleven received by the Indian Air Force.

3. VIR CHAKRA (VC)

• Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery on the battlefield inducted on 26^th Jan 1950.
• It replaced the British Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Military Cross (MC) and Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
• The recipient uses “ Vr.C.” as a post-nominal abbreviation.
• There are around 1325 recipient of Vir Chakra.

Now let's dicuss the Peacetime gallantry award

1. ASHOK CHAKRA (AC)

• The Ashok Chakra is India's highest peacetime military decoration awarded for bravery, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. The medal, established on 4 January 1952 
• It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra and awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valor or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy.
• The decoration may be awarded either to military or civilian personnel. Ashok Chakra is equivalent to US Army's peacetime Medal of Honor and the British George Cross.
• Flt Lt. Suhas Biswas was the first Indian Air Force officer to be awarded the Ashoka Chakra.

2. KIRTI CHAKRA (KC)

• The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for bravery, courageous action or self-sacrifice displayed away from the field of battle.
• Before 1967, was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class II.
• Awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards.
• The peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. It is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.

3. SHAURYA CHAKRA (SC)

• The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct engagement with the enemy.
• Known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class III, before 1967.
• It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously.
• It is awarded for Counter-Insurgency operations and actions against the enemy during peace-time.

This post will surely clear all your doubts regarding the gallantry awards of Indian armed forces.