The appreciation of bravery and gallantry has always been a prestigious affair in our country. The Government of India honors the act of bravery and sacrifice made by the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted forces, and civilians by awarding them Gallantry Awards. The decoration may be awarded posthumously (after death) too.

Gallantry awards are divided into 2 categories- Wartime gallantry awards and Peacetime gallantry awards.

Eligibility:

Officers, men and women of all ranks of lawfully constituted Armed Forces(e.g. the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Reserve Forces, the Territorial Army, etc.) and the hospital and nursing staff(e.g. Matrons, nurses, sisters ) are eligible for all the gallantry awards. Civilian citizens are only eligible for the peacetime gallantry award.
The date on which the act of gallantry was performed should not be beyond two calendar years.

Selection Procedure:

• In respect of armed forces, the recommendation is initiated by the unit (of that particular armed force) immediately after the act of gallantry is performed. If found fit, the proposal is then considered by the awards committee before recommending it to the Ministry of Defense with the approval of the respective Chiefs.
• In respect of civilian citizens, the recommendations are received from all State/UT Governments, Central Ministries/ Departments, Central Armed Police Forces, and Railway Protection Force, etc. which then gets forwarded to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The recommendations are scrutinized by a subcommittee in the MHA and then they are forwarded to the Ministry of Defense with the approval of the Union Home Secretary.

Wartime gallantry awards

Wartime gallantry awards are awarded for the act of bravery or valor or self-sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy(during a war), whether on land, at sea, or in the air.

1. Param Vir Chakra (PVC)

• India’s highest wartime military decoration for most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy.
• Design of Medal: The medal is made of bronze and is circular in shape (one and three eighth inches in diameter). Four replicas of “Indra’s Vajra” with the State Emblem in the center are embossed on the obverse. On its opposite side, “PARAM VIR CHAKRA” is embossed both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.
• Design of Ribbon: Plain purple-colored

2. Maha Vir Chakra (MVC)

• India’s second-highest wartime military decoration for conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy.
• Design of Medal: The medal is made of silver and circular in shape (one and three eighth inches in diameter). Five-pointed heraldic stars with the points of the star just touching the rim and a domed gilded State Emblem(in the center) are embossed on the obverse. On its reverse, “MAHA VIR CHAKRA” is embossed both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.
• Design of Ribbon: Half-white and half-orange colored

3. Vir Chakra (VrC)

• India’s wartime military decoration for acts of bravery in the presence of the enemy.
• Design of Medal: The medal is made of standard silver and circular in shape (one and three eighth inches in diameter). Five-pointed heraldic stars with the points of the star just touching the rim and a domed gilded State Emblem(in the center)inside a chakra are embossed on the obverse. On its reverse, “VIR CHAKRA” is embossed both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.
• Design of Ribbon: Half blue and half orange colored

Peacetime gallantry awards

Peacetime gallantry awards are awarded for the act of bravery or valor or self-sacrifice otherwise than in the face of the enemy(during peace).

1. Ashok Chakra (AC)

• India’s highest military decoration for most conspicuous bravery during peacetime.
• Design of Medal: The medal is gold-gilded and circular in shape (one and three eighth inches in diameter) with rims on both sides. A replica of Ashoka’s Chakra(in the centre) surrounded by a lotus wreath is embossed on the obverse. Patterns of lotus leaves, flowers and buds are embossed on the inner side of the rim. On its reverse, “ASHOKA CHAKRA” is embossed both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.
• Design of Ribbon: Green coloured with a vertical orange line in the centre

2. Kirti Chakra (KC)

• India’s second-highest military decoration for conspicuous bravery during peacetime.
• Design of Medal: The medal is made of standard silver and circular in shape (one and three eighth inches in diameter) with rims on both sides. A replica of Ashoka’s Chakra (in the center) surrounded by a lotus wreath is embossed on the obverse. Patterns of lotus leaves, flowers, and buds are embossed on the inner side of the rim. On its reverse, “KIRTI CHAKRA” is embossed both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.
• Design of Ribbon: Green colored with two vertical orange lines dividing the ribbon into three

3. Shaurya Chakra (SC)

• India’s military decoration for acts of bravery during peacetime.
• Design of Medal: The medal is made of bronze and circular in shape (one and three eighth inches in diameter) with rims on both sides. A replica of Ashoka’s Chakra (in the center) surrounded by a lotus wreath is embossed on the obverse. Patterns of lotus leaves, flowers, and buds are embossed on the inner side of the rim. On its reverse, “SHAURYA CHAKRA” is embossed both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.
• Design of Ribbon: Green colored with three vertical orange lines dividing the ribbon into four

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