Gallantry Awards given to 80 soldiers in 2024
President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, gave Gallantry awards to 80 Armed Forces personnel, including 12 posthumous, on the eve of 75th Republic Day. Gallantry Awards were presented at the Defence Investiture Ceremony-2024 (Phase-I) held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in July 2024. Post – independence, the Government of India instituted the first three gallantry awards, namely Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra, on 26th January 1950 and were deemed effective from the 15th August 1947.
After that, three other 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 Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra in January 1967. These gallantry awards are announced twice a year – first on the occasion of Republic Day and then on the occasion of 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.
Param Vir Chakra
Medal: Circular in shape, made of bronze, one and three eighth inches in diameter and 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” in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.
Mahavir Chakra
Medal: Circular in shape, it is made of standard silver and is embossed on the obverse a five-pointed heraldic star with the points of the star just touching the rim. The medal shall be one and three-eighth inches in diameter. The state emblem (including the motto) is embossed and adorned in the centrepiece. The star is polished, and the centrepiece is in gold gilt. On the reverse, it will have embossed Maha Vir Chakra, both in Hindi and English, with two lotus flowers between Hindi and English. The fitting is swivel mounting.
Vir Chakra
Medal: Circular in shape, it is made of standard silver and is embossed on the obverse a five-pointed heraldic star with the points of the star just touching the rim. The State Emblem (including the motto) is embossed in the domed centrepiece. The star is polished, and the centrepiece is in gold gilt. On the reverse, it will have embossed Vir Chakra in both Hindi and English, with two lotus flowers between Hindi and English wording. The fitting is swivel mounting.
Ashok Chakra
Medal: Circular in shape, one and three-eighth inches in diameter, with rims on both sides. It will be of gold and gilt. On the obverse, it shall have embossed a replica of Ashoka’s Chakra in the centre, surrounded by a lotus wreath. On its reverse shall be embossed the words “Ashoka Chakra” in Hindi and English, the two versions separated by two lotus flowers.
Kirti Chakra
Medal: Circular in shape and made of standard silver, one and three eight inches in diameter. On the obverse of the medal shall be embossed a replica of Ashoka Chakra in the centre, surrounded by a lotus wreath. On its reverse shall be embossed the words KIRTI CHAKRA, both in Hindi and English, the versions separated by two lotus flowers.
Shaurya Chakra
Medal: Circular in shape and of bronze, one and three-eighth inches in diameter. On the obverse of the medal shall have embossed a replica of Ashoka Chakra in the centre, surrounded by a lotus wreath. On its reverse shall be embossed the words “SHAURYA CHAKRA” in Hindi and English, the two versions separated by two lotus flowers. This year, the President announced six Kirti Chakras, including three posthumous; 16 Shaurya Chakras, including two posthumous; 53 Sena Medals, including seven posthumous; one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) and four Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). The President also approved 311 defence decorations for Armed Forces and other personnel. These include 31 Param Vishisht Seva Medals; four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals; two Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medals; 59 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals; 10 Yudh Seva Medals; eight Bar to Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty); 38 Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty); 10 Nao Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty); 14 Vayu Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty); five Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal and 130 Vishisht Seva Medals.