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Indian Gallantry (Military) Awards, wartime and peacetime award details
List of highest Gallantry (Military) awards of India: Wartime Gallantry Awards of India, Peacetime Gallantry Award
List of highest Gallantry awards are also known as Military Award in India are awarded to defense persons for their extraordinary bravery and courage and to honor them for their distinguished service during times of war and peace
Military awards can be divided into two types as Wartime Gallantry Awards and Peacetime Gallantry Awards.
Major Gallantry awards of India in order of their merit include Param Vir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, and Vir Chakra.
Peacetime Gallantry awards of India are Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra. These awards are produced at india Mint of Kolkata.
Wartime Gallantry (Military) Awards of India:
Param Vir Chakra Award:
Param Vir Chakra Award is the highest military award conferred to army personals for their acts of extreme bravery, valour, courage or self-sacrifice for saving others in front of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.
Maha Vir Chakra Awards:
Maha Vir Chakra Award is the second highest Military decoration of India which is presented to those who show conspicuous Gallantry in the presence of the enemy in all three areas that is on Land, at sea or in the air.
It is equivalent to Medal of Honour given in the United States and Victoria Cross of UK.
Vir Chakra Award:
Vir Chakra Award is the third highest award in the list of Wartime Gallantry Awards. It was the replacement of awards before independence like British Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Military Cross (MC) and Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
Peacetime Gallantry (Military) Award of India:
Peacetime Gallantry award is Ashok Chakra award, Kirti Chakra Award, and Shaurya Chakra award.
Ashok Chakra Award:
Ashok Chakra Award is the country’s highest peacetime Gallantry awards of India which is equivalent to Param Vir Chakra. This is accorded for showing extreme courage, valor or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.
it is not necessarily for Military persons but civilian can also be awarded this award.
Kirti Chakra Award:
Kirti Chakra Award is the Second highest Peacetime Gallantry award of India after Ashoka Award, it is awarded for conspicuous acts of Gallantry and courage away from the battlefield.
It is equivalent to Mahavir Chakra of Battlefield award. It can be also conferred to Military person as well as civilians.
Shaurya Chakra Award:
Shaurya Chakra Award is the third highest Gallantry Award in the list of Peacetime Gallantry awards. The award is given for an act of gallantry away from the battlefield.
It is generally conferred for counterinsurgency operations. It can also be conferred to Military personnel as well as civilian.
Peacetime Distinguished Service Awards:
Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishist Seva Medal, and Vishist Seva Medal:
The Vishist Seva Medals are awarded to personnel of all the three service in recognition of distinguished service of Most Exceptional, Exceptional and High Order respectively.
Param Vishist Seva Medal is made of gold, Ati Vishist Seva Medal made of silver and Vishist Seva mode of bronze. All these medals are circular in shape and 3.5 cm in diameter.
Each medal has on its obverse five-pointed stars and its reverse has the Lion Capitol.
Its ribbon is golden with one dark-blue strip down the center for Param Vishist, two dark blue strips for Ati Vishist and three dark blue strips for Vishist Seva Medal.