Gallantry Awards, 2021

About Gallantry Awards-

• Gallantry Awards have been instituted by the Government of India to honour the acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted Forces and civilians.
• Post-independence, first three gallantry awards namely Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra were instituted by the Government of India on 26th January, 1950 which were deemed to have effect from the 15th August, 1947. 
• Thereafter, other three gallantry awards i.e. Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Ashoka Chakra Class-II and 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. 
• These awards were renamed as Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra respectively in January, 1967.
• These gallantry awards are announced twice in a year – first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day. 
• 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.

Types of Gallantry Awards-

Gallantry Awards are classified into two Categories:

1. Gallantry in the Face of Enemy.
2. Gallantry Other than in the Face of Enemy.

First Category of Gallantry Awards Comprises of the following Awards-

• Param Vir Chakra(Bronze): 
• • • It shall have embossed on the obverse four replicas of “Indra’s Vajra” with the State Emblem embossed in the centre. 
    • On its reverse, it shall have embossed “PARAM VIR CHAKRA” both in Hindi and in English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.

• Mahavir Chakra(standard silver): 

• It shall have embossed on the obverse a five-pointed heraldic star with the points of the star just touching the rim. 

• The star shall have in the centre a domed gilded State Emblem. 

• On the reverse, it shall have embossed “MAHA VIR CHAKRA” both in Hindi and in English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.

• Vir Chakra( standard silver): 

• • It  shall have embossed on the obverse a five-pointed heraldic star with the points of the star just touching the rim. 
  • The star shall have in the centre a Chakra and within the Chakra shall be a domed centre piece bearing the gilded State Emblem. 
  • On the reverse, it shall have embossed “VIR CHAKRA” both in Hindi and in English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.

Second Category of Gallantry Awards Comprises of the following Awards-

• Ashok Chakra(gold gild): 
  • • On the obverse of the medal shall be embossed a replica of Ashoka’s Chakra in the centre, surrounded by a lotus wreath. 
    • Along the rim, on the inner side, shall be a pattern of lotus leaves, flowers and buds. 
    • On its reverse shall be embossed the words “Ashok Chakra” both in Hindi and English the two versions being separated by two lotus flowers.
• Kirti Chakra( standard silver):
• • • • On the obverse of the medal shall be embossed a replica of Ashoka’s Chakra in the centre, surrounded by a lotus wreath.
      • Along the rim, on the inner side, shall be a pattern of lotus leaves, flowers and buds. 
      • On its reverse shall be embossed the words “KIRTI CHAKRA” both in Hindi and English, the two versions being separated by two lotus flowers.

• Shaurya Chakra(bronze): 

• • On the obverse of the medal shall be embossed a replica of Ashoka’s Chakra in the centre, surrounded by a lotus wreath. 
  • Along the rim, on the inner side, shall be a pattern of lotus leaves, flowers and buds. 
  • On its reverse shall be embossed the words “SHAURYA CHAKRA” both in Hindi and English, the two versions being separated by two lotus flowers.