Param Vir Chakra

Param Vir Chakra Latest News

Portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees are now on display at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing the previously displayed portraits of 96 British Aide-de-Camps (ADCs).

About Param Vir Chakra

• It is India’s highest military decoration, awarded for displaying the most exceptional acts of valour, courage, and self-sacrifice during war.
• It was introduced on January 26, 1950, on the first Republic Day with retrospective effect from 15 August 1947.
• Literally, Param Vir Chakra means ‘Wheel (or Cross) of the Ultimate Brave’.
• It can be awarded to officers, men, and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force; of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army Militia; and of any other lawfully constituted Armed Forces. 
• It can be, and often has been, awarded posthumously. 
• It is similar to the British Victoria Cross, the US Medal of Honor, the French Legion of Honor, or the Russian Cross of St. George.
• Design: 
  • The medal was designed by Mrs. Savitri Khanolkar. 
  • The medal is cast in bronze and circular in shape.
  • In the centre, on a raised circle, is the state emblem, surrounded by four replicas of Indra’s Vajra, flanked by the sword of Shivaji.  
  • On its reverse, it shall have embossed Param Vir Chakra both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between Hindi and English.  The fitting will be swivel mounting.
  • The decoration is suspended from a straight swiveling suspension bar and is held by a 32 mm purple ribbon.
• First winner: Major Somanth Sharma, from the Kumaon regiment.
• Till now, only 21 people had been given the Param Vir Chakra award, of which 14 are posthumous.

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What are Gallantry Awards?

• They 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.
• They are announced twice in a year – first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day.
• All the gallantry awards may be awarded posthumously.
• India’s Gallantry Awards in the Order of Precedence:
  • Param Vir Chakra
  • Ashoka Chakra
  • Mahavir Chakra
  • Kirti Chakra
  • Vir Chakra
  • Shaurya Chakra.
• The President awards the gallantry awards to the awardees or their next of kin at the Defence Investiture Ceremony held every year at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• However, the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashoka Chakra are conferred by the President to the awardees on the occasion of the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath.

Source: TH