The Ministry of Defence seeks recommendations twice annually from the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Home Affairs for Gallantry Awards in India. These honours are awarded to personnel who exhibit extraordinary bravery, courage, and commitment to duty, often at great personal risk. The recipients have showcased exceptional courage during a range of operations, including counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts in Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East, anti-piracy missions, and critical fire-fighting operations.
Gallantry Awards in India
The Government of India instituted the Gallantry Awards to honour acts of bravery, courage, and sacrifice by members of the armed forces, other organised forces, and even civilians. These awards are announced twice a year on Republic Day and Independence Day. Soon after independence, on January 26, 1950, the government introduced the First Gallantry Awards in India, the Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra, with their effect dating back to August 15, 1947. In 1952, three additional awards were created, Ashoka Chakra Class I, Class II, and Class III also considered effective from the same date. These were later renamed in January 1967 as Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra, respectively.
| Gallantry Awards in India | |||
|
Category |
Name of Gallantry Awards in India |
Level |
Awarded For |
|
Wartime |
Param Vir Chakra |
Highest |
Most conspicuous bravery or supreme sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. |
|
Maha Vir Chakra |
Second-highest |
For acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy. |
|
|
Vir Chakra |
Third-highest |
Acts of gallantry on battlefield |
|
|
Peacetime |
Ashoka Chakra |
Highest |
Bravery away from battlefield (e.g. terrorism, rescue ops) |
|
Kirti Chakra |
Second-highest |
Courageous action in peacetime (e.g. counter-insurgency, internal ops) |
|
|
Shaurya Chakra |
Third-highest |
Bravery during peacetime situations such as rescue or security operations |
|
List of Gallantry Awards 2025
On May 22, 2025, during Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, President Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred six Kirti Chakras, including four posthumous honours and 33 Shaurya Chakras, of which seven were awarded posthumously. The recipients included personnel from the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces, and State or Union Territory Police.
| List of Gallantry Awards 2025 | |||
|
Name |
Service/Unit |
Award |
Status |
|
Major Malla Rama Gopal Naidu |
The Maratha Light Infantry, 56 Rashtriya Rifles |
Kirti Chakra |
Living |
|
Major Manjit |
The Punjab Regiment, 22 Rashtriya Rifles |
Kirti Chakra |
Living |
|
Rifleman Ravi Kumar |
J&K Light Infantry, 63 Rashtriya Rifles |
Kirti Chakra |
Posthumous |
|
Colonel Manpreet Singh, SM |
Sikh Light Infantry, 19 Rashtriya Rifles |
Kirti Chakra |
Posthumous |
|
Dy. SP Himayun Muzzammil Bhat |
J&K Police |
Kirti Chakra |
Posthumous |
|
Naik Dilwar Khan |
Regiment of Artillery, 28 Rashtriya Rifles |
Kirti Chakra |
Posthumous |
|
Maj. (Lt Col) Vijay Verma |
Rajput Regiment, 44 Rashtriya Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Deputy Commandant Vikrant Kumar |
CRPF |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Inspector/GD Jeffrey Hmingchullo |
CRPF |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Wg Cdr Vernon Desmond Keane, VM |
Indian Air Force (Pilot) |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Sqn Ldr Deepak Kumar |
Indian Air Force (Pilot) |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
SPO Abdul Latif |
J&K Police |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Subedar Sanjeev Singh Jasrotia |
5 J&K Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Colonel Pawan Singh |
666 Army Aviation Squadron (R&O) |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Subedar P Pabin Singha |
Artillery, 56 Rashtriya Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Major Sahil Randhawa |
Artillery, 34 Rashtriya Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Maj. (Lt Col) CVS Nikhil |
21 PARA (Special Forces) |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Major Tripatpreet Singh |
Army Service Corps, 34 Rashtriya Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Lt Cdr Kapil Yadav |
AEO, INS Visakhapatnam |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Deputy Commandant Lakhveer |
CRPF |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Asst Commandant Rajesh Panchal |
CRPF |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
CT/GD Malkit Singh |
CRPF |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Subedar Mohan Ram |
20 JAT |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Commodore Sharad Sinsunwal |
CO, INS Kolkata |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Flt Lt Aman Singh Hans |
Indian Air Force (Pilot) |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Sergeant Dabhi Sanjay Hiffabhai |
Indian Air Force |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Major Kunal |
Army Service Corps, 1 Rashtriya Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Major Ashish Dahiya |
Corps of Engineers, 50 Rashtriya Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Havildar Prakash Tamang |
9 Gorkha Rifles, 32 Rashtriya Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Major Satender Dhankar |
Armoured Corps, 4 Rashtriya Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Asst Commandant Eshenthung Kikon |
4 Assam Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Subedar Vikas Tomar |
1 PARA (Special Forces) |
Shaurya Chakra |
Living |
|
Major Aashish Dhonchak, SM |
Sikh Light Infantry, 19 Rashtriya Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Posthumous |
|
Sepoy Pardeep Singh |
Sikh Light Infantry, 19 Rashtriya Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Posthumous |
|
Havildar Rohit Kumar |
Dogra Regiment, HAWS |
Shaurya Chakra |
Posthumous |
|
Shri Pawan Kumar, CT/GD |
CRPF |
Shaurya Chakra |
Posthumous |
|
Shri Devan C, CT/GD |
CRPF |
Shaurya Chakra |
Posthumous |
|
OEM GDE-1 Vijayan Kutty G |
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) |
Shaurya Chakra |
Posthumous |
|
Captain Deepak Singh |
Corps of Signals, 48 Rashtriya Rifles |
Shaurya Chakra |
Posthumous |
Gallantry Awards Types
Gallantry Awards in India are classified into two distinct categories based on the nature of the act of bravery. The first category includes awards for gallantry in the face of the enemy, which are given for acts of heroism during combat or military engagement. These include the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), and Vir Chakra. The second category recognises bravery not necessarily in direct combat but in situations that demand exceptional courage, such as counter-insurgency, rescue, or peacetime operations. This category includes the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra.
| Gallantry Awards Types | |||
|
Award |
Medal Description |
Ribbon |
Bar System |
|
Param Vir Chakra |
Circular bronze medal (1 3/8 inch), embossed with four "Indra’s Vajra" and the State Emblem in the center. "PARAM VIR CHAKRA" inscribed on the reverse in Hindi & English, with two lotus flowers. |
Plain purple |
Bar added for each subsequent act of bravery. A miniature “Indra’s Vajra” is added to the riband for each bar when worn alone. Posthumous Bars allowed. |
|
Mahavir Chakra |
Silver circular medal (1 3/8 inch), five-pointed star touching the rim, State Emblem at center. "MAHA VIR CHAKRA" inscribed in Hindi & English on reverse, separated by two lotus flowers. |
Half-white and half-orange |
Bar attached to the riband for each additional qualifying act. Miniature Chakra on riband for each bar when worn alone. Posthumous Bars allowed. |
|
Vir Chakra |
Silver circular medal (1 3/8 inch), five-pointed star with a chakra and gilded State Emblem in the center. "VIR CHAKRA" inscribed on the reverse in Hindi & English, with two lotus blossoms. |
Equal parts blue and orange |
Bar added to riband for additional acts. Riband has a small duplicate of the Chakra for each bar. Bars may be awarded posthumously. |
|
Ashoka Chakra |
Gold-leaf circular medal (1 3/4 inch), Ashoka Chakra on the obverse encircled by lotus wreath. Inner rim has lotus leaves, flowers, and buds. Reverse has "ASHOK CHAKRA" in Hindi & English, separated by two lotus flowers. |
Green ribbon with two halves separated by an orange line |
Bar added to riband for each additional brave act. Miniature Chakra on riband for each bar. Bars may be awarded posthumously. |
|
Kirti Chakra |
Silver circular medal (1 3/8 inch), Ashoka Chakra on obverse with lotus wreath design. Reverse shows “KIRTI CHAKRA” in Hindi & English, separated by two lotus flowers. |
Green ribbon split into 3 parts by 2 orange vertical lines |
Bar added for repeated qualifying acts. Miniature Chakra on riband for each bar. Bars may be awarded posthumously. |
|
Shaurya Chakra |
Bronze circular medal (1 3/8 inch), Ashoka Chakra on obverse with lotus wreath design. Reverse shows “SHAURYA CHAKRA” in Hindi & English, separated by two lotus flowers. |
Green ribbon divided into 4 equal parts by 3 orange lines |
Bar added for each additional act of gallantry. Miniature Chakra on riband for each bar. Posthumous Bars allowed. |
Gallantry Awards in India Eligibility Criteria
Gallantry Awards in India are divided into two main categories based on whether the act of bravery occurs in the presence of the enemy or in peacetime situations. The Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra are wartime Gallantry Awards in India, while the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra are awarded for courageous actions during peacetime. The table below includes the Gallantry Awards in India Eligibility Criteria.
| Gallantry Awards in India Eligibility Criteria | |||
|
Award |
Eligible Personnel |
Awarded For |
Presence of Enemy |
|
Param Vir Chakra |
Officers and personnel of the Armed Forces, Reserve Forces, Territorial Army, Militia, and related Nursing/Hospital services; Civilians serving with these forces. |
Most conspicuous bravery, daring, or self-sacrifice of the highest order. |
Yes |
|
Maha Vir Chakra |
Same as above. |
Acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy. |
Yes |
|
Vir Chakra |
Same as above. |
Gallant acts in the presence of the enemy. |
Yes |
|
Ashoka Chakra |
Armed Forces, Reserve Forces, Territorial Army, Central Para-Military Forces, Railway Protection Force, civilians, and nursing services personnel. |
Most conspicuous courage, daring act, or self-sacrifice of the highest order in peacetime. |
No |
|
Kirti Chakra |
Same as above. |
Distinguished acts of bravery not involving direct engagement with the enemy. |
No |
|
Shaurya Chakra |
Same as above. |
Bravery and valour shown under circumstances not involving the enemy (e.g., during peacetime operations, rescues). |
No |
Gallantry Awards in India FAQs
Q1: What are Gallantry Awards in India?
Ans: Gallantry Awards are honors given for bravery, valor, and courage in the face of danger, especially in the armed forces.
Q2: Which is the highest Gallantry Award in India?
Ans: The Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest wartime gallantry award, awarded for the highest degree of bravery.
Q3: What are the main types of Gallantry Awards?
Ans: They are categorized into Wartime (Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra) and Peacetime (Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra).
Q4: When are Gallantry Awards announced?
Ans: They are announced twice a year—on Republic Day (26th January) and Independence Day (15th August).
Q5: Who presents Gallantry Awards in India?
Ans: The President of India presents Gallantry Awards during ceremonial functions at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
