Param Vir Chakra
: The highest decoration for valour is the Param Vir
Chakra which is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or
some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice
in the. presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in
the air.
The decoration is made of bronze and is circular in shape.
It has, on the obverse, four replicas of "Indra's Vajra"
embossed round the State emblem in the centre. On the
reverse, the words "Param Vir Chakra" are embossed both in
Hindi and English with two lotus flowers in the middle.
The decoration is worn on the left breast with a plain,
purple coloured riband about 3.2 cm in width.
Mahavir Chakra : Mahavir Chakra is the second
highest decoration for valour and is awarded for acts of
conspicuous gallantry in the presence of enemy, whether on
land, at sea or in the air.
It is made of standard silver and is circular in shape.
Embossed on the obverse is a five pointed heraldic star with
domed centre-piece bearing the gilded State emblem in the
centre, The words "Mahavir Chakra" are embossed both in
Hindi and English on the reverse with two lotus flowers in
the middle. The decoration is worn on the left breast with a
half-white and half-orange riband about 3.2 cm in width, the
orange being near the left shoulder.
Vir Chakra : Vir Chakra is third in the order of
awards given for the act of gallantry in the presence of the
enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.
The decoration is made of standard silver and is circular in
shape. Embossed on the obverse is a five pointed heraldic
star which has an Ashoka Chakra in the centre. Within this
chakra, there is a domed centre-piece bearing gilded State
emblem. On the reverse, the words "Vir Chakra" are embossed,
both in Hindi and English, with two lotus flowers in the
middle. The Chakra is worn on the left breast with a
half-blue and halforange riband, about 3.2 cm in width, the
orange being nearer the left shoulder.
Ashok Chakra : Ashok Chakra is the highest award for
gallantry during peacetime. Three Army personnel were
awarded the Ashok Chakra on August 14, 2007, on the eve of
the country's 60th Independence Day. The awardees included
Col. Vasanth Venugopal, Captain R. Harshan and Naib Subedar
Chunni Lal. .All of them were awarded posthumously.
Kirti Chakra : The decoration is the nation's second
highest award for gallantry during peacetime. It is made of
standard silver and is circular in shape. The obverse and
the reverse are exactly the same as in Ashok Chakra.
The Chakra is worn on the left breast with a green silk
riband, about 3.2 cm in width and divided into equal
segments by two orange vertical lines.
Kirti Chakras for 2007 were awarded on August 14, 2007, to
six people including three Army officers and as many
civilians. The recipients were Captain Abhinav Handa of 9
Maratha Light Infantry, Lt. Pankaj Kumar of 7/11 Gorkha
Rifles, Naik Radhakrishnan of 10 Madras regiment, Dayanand
Pandey (posthumously), Mohammad Shan Ahmad (posthumously)
and Tarun Kumar Dutta (posthumously).
Shaurya Chakra : The decoration is awarded for an act
of gallantry. It is exactly like Ashok Chakra, except that
it is made of bronze.
The Chakra is worn on the left breast with a green silk
riband, about 3.2 cm in width and divided into four equal
segments by three orange vertical lines.
Of the 20 personnel who were awarded Shaurya Chakras in
2007, 19 belonged to the Army and one to the Air Force. Nine
of them got the award posthumously.
Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal,
Vishisht Seva Medal : The Vishisht Seva (Distinguished
Service) Medals are awarded to personnel of all the three
services in recognition of distinguished service of the
"most exceptional", "exceptional" and "high" order,
respectively. Param Vishisht Seva Medal is made of gold, Ati
Vishisht Seva Medal of standard silver and Vishisht Seva
Medal of bronze, all circular in shape
and 3.5 cm in diameter. Each medal has on its obverse five
pointed stars and on its reverse the Lion Capitol. Its
riband is golden with one dark-blue stripe down the centre
for Param Vishisht Seva Medal, two dark-blue stripes
dividing it into three equal parts for Ati Vishisht Seva
Medal and three dark-blue stripes dividing it into four
equal parts for Vishisht Seva Medal.
On January 26, 2007, 19 Senior Army Officers were decorated
with Param Vishisht Seva Medals (PVSM). Besides these
officers, other military personnel were also given gallantry
awards on the nation's 57th Republic Day. The then
President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam approved four Bar to
Sena Medals (Gallantry), one Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal,
52 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, one Yudh Seva Medal, four
Bar to Vishisht Seva Medals, 123 Vishisht Seva Medals, two
Bar to Sena Medals, 41 Sena Medals;12 Nao Sena Medals and 15
Vayu Sena Medals.
