President Approves Gallantry Awards to 70 Armed Forces Personnel

President Smt Droupadi Murmu has approved gallantry awards for 70 Armed Forces personnel, including six posthumous honours, on the eve of the 77th Republic Day. The awards recognise acts of exceptional valour, courage and self-sacrifice in both wartime and peacetime operations.

Break-up of Awards
The gallantry decorations announced this year include:

• 1 Ashoka Chakra
• 3 Kirti Chakras
• 13 Shaurya Chakras, including one posthumous

Ashoka Chakra for Space Mission Contribution
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been conferred the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime military decoration. He has been honoured for his outstanding contribution to India’s space programme, particularly through his journey and stay at the International Space Station (ISS).

Evolution of Gallantry Awards in India

• Post-Independence, the first three gallantry awards — Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) and Vir Chakra (VrC) — were instituted on 26 January 1950, with retrospective effect from 15 August 1947.
• Subsequently, Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Class-II and Class-III were instituted on 4 January 1952.
• In January 1967, these were renamed as Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra respectively.

Occasions for Announcement
Gallantry awards are announced twice every year:

• On Republic Day
• On Independence Day

Order of Precedence
The official order of precedence of gallantry awards is:

1. Param Vir Chakra
2. Ashoka Chakra
3. Maha Vir Chakra
4. Kirti Chakra
5. Vir Chakra
6. Shaurya Chakra

Wartime Gallantry Awards
Wartime decorations recognise exceptional bravery during armed conflict. The highest wartime gallantry awards are:

• Param Vir Chakra (highest)
• Maha Vir Chakra
• Vir Chakra

Peacetime Gallantry Awards
The top three peacetime gallantry awards are:

• Ashoka Chakra (highest)
• Kirti Chakra
• Shaurya Chakra

The Ashoka Chakra is awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra and is granted for the “most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice other than in the face of the enemy.”