Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra and Other Gallantry Awards in the News
Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Awards, Honours and International Recognitions · Topic 22.9
Gallantry awards are the military honours of India for acts of bravery. The Param Vir Chakra (PVC), the highest wartime award instituted in 1950 and effective from 15 August 1947, has been given to 21 persons, and its peacetime counterpart is the Ashoka Chakra. The order of precedence is Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra. The Ministry of Defence announces them on the eve of Republic Day and Independence Day, and the President confers them. On Republic Day 2026, the Ashoka Chakra went to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station, among 70 gallantry awards.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Awards, Honours and International Recognitions
At a Glance
- Highest wartime award Param Vir Chakra, 21 recipients
- Highest peacetime award Ashoka Chakra
- Order PVC, AC, MVC, KC, VrC, SC
- Announced Republic Day and Independence Day
- Ashoka Chakra 2026 Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Awards, Honours and International Recognitions
Where Does It Fit?
This topic covers honours for military bravery, in contrast to the civilian honours in the first topic. Prelims often asks about the order of the awards and the difference between wartime and peacetime awards. Previous topic: Global Rankings and Recognitions of Indian Institutions and Cities (QS Rankings, Smart City Awards). Next topic: Dronacharya and Arjuna Awards in Sports.
What Is the Order of Gallantry Awards and What Does Each Recognise?
| Award | Purpose and facts |
|---|---|
| Param Vir Chakra | Highest wartime gallantry award for most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy. Instituted on 26 January 1950, effective from 15 August 1947. First awarded to Major Somnath Sharma. The medal design is credited to Savitri Khanolkar |
| Ashoka Chakra | Highest peacetime gallantry award for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. Open to civilians and all ranks |
| Maha Vir Chakra | Second highest wartime award for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy |
| Kirti Chakra | Second highest peacetime award, ranking below the Ashoka Chakra |
| Vir Chakra | Third highest wartime award |
| Shaurya Chakra | Third highest peacetime award |
| Sena, Nao Sena and Vayu Sena Medals | Gallantry medals for the three services, with a Bar for a repeat honour |
What Were the Recent Awards in the News?
- Republic Day 2026: the President approved 70 gallantry awards, with one Ashoka Chakra, three Kirti Chakras and 13 Shaurya Chakras, along with Sena, Nao Sena and Vayu Sena medals, as reported
- Ashoka Chakra 2026: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force received the Ashoka Chakra, reported as being for his June 2025 mission to the International Space Station
- Kirti Chakra 2026: recipients reported include Major Arshdeep Singh of the Assam Rifles and Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba of 2 PARA (Special Forces)
- Investiture 2026: a Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in June 2026 conferred 51 gallantry awards, including seven Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras and 29 Shaurya Chakras, as reported
- Independence Day 2026: a list of Independence Day 2026 gallantry awards could not be confirmed in the sources checked
What Else Should You Remember?
- Param Vir Chakra count: 21 persons have received it, most of them posthumously
- Kargil recipients: Captain Vikram Batra and Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, both posthumous, and Yogendra Singh Yadav and Sanjay Kumar are the four from the 1999 Kargil war and are the latest PVC recipients
- Other PVC names: Major Somnath Sharma in 1947, Major Shaitan Singh in 1962, Abdul Hamid in 1965 and Arun Khetarpal in 1971 are among the best known
- Civilians: civilians and police can receive the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra
- Allowance: awardees receive a monthly cash allowance, which has been raised several times
- Link to civilian honours: for civilian honours see Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards (Recent Recipients)
- Link to sport: for sports honours see Dronacharya and Arjuna Awards in Sports
- Link to defence news: for reforms in the forces see Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Theatre Command Restructuring
- Eligibility: awards are given for acts in a specified period and need a recommendation through the chain of command, which is then examined by the services and the Ministry of Defence before the President approves
- Posthumous honours: next of kin receive the award from the President, and many of the highest awards have gone to personnel who died in the act of bravery
- Criticism: critics note delays in conferring awards, and the fact that many awards go posthumously
- Operations: awards for actions in recent operations are often announced with delay and limited detail for security reasons
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Order: PVC, Ashoka Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, Shaurya Chakra
- Wartime and peacetime: which awards belong to which group
- First PVC: Major Somnath Sharma
- Latest Ashoka Chakra: Shubhanshu Shukla for 2026
- Common errors: calling Ashoka Chakra a wartime award, or swapping Kirti Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra
As an analytical point, gallantry awards reinforce the values of service and sacrifice. Timely announcement, clear award statements and support for families sustain the morale that the awards are meant to build.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Order Six main awards
- Groups Wartime and peacetime
- Recent Republic Day 2026
What Came Next?
The last topic of the macro covers national sports awards. Next topic: Dronacharya and Arjuna Awards in Sports.
Key People and Terms
- PVC Param Vir Chakra
- AC Ashoka Chakra
- MVC Maha Vir Chakra
- KC Kirti Chakra
- VrC Vir Chakra
- SC Shaurya Chakra
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Order: PVC, AC, MVC, KC, VrC, SC.
- PVC recipients: 21; first: Somnath Sharma.
- Wartime: PVC, MVC, VrC; peacetime: AC, KC, SC.
- Ashoka Chakra 2026: Shubhanshu Shukla.
- Republic Day 2026: 70 gallantry awards.
Do Not Confuse With
- Param Vir Chakra and Ashoka Chakra Wartime versus peacetime top award
- Kirti Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra Peacetime versus wartime second award
- Gallantry and civilian awards Military bravery versus public service
Memory Hook
Param Vir leads war, Ashoka leads peace, then Maha, Kirti, Vir, Shaurya.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the armed forces and national values. These points help.
- Value Morale and national pride
- Gaps Delays and visibility
- Way ahead Timely recognition and family support
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the role of gallantry awards in sustaining morale in the armed forces and public respect for military service.”
How to Answer
- Awards Name the order.
- Role Morale and honour.
- Gaps Delays.
- Way Support to families.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Param Vir Chakra?
The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest wartime gallantry award, for the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy. It was instituted on 26 January 1950, effective from 15 August 1947, and 21 persons have received it. Major Somnath Sharma was the first recipient, and the medal design is credited to Savitri Khanolkar.
What is the order of gallantry awards in India?
The order of precedence is Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra. The Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra are wartime awards, while the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra are peacetime awards.
Who received the Ashoka Chakra in 2026?
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force received the Ashoka Chakra, announced on Republic Day 2026, as reported, in recognition of his June 2025 mission as the first Indian to visit the International Space Station. The Ashoka Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award, open to military personnel and civilians.
How many gallantry awards were announced on Republic Day 2026?
The President approved 70 gallantry awards for Republic Day 2026, as reported, with one Ashoka Chakra, three Kirti Chakras and 13 Shaurya Chakras, along with Sena, Nao Sena and Vayu Sena medals. Figures can differ between outlets, so check the Press Information Bureau release for the official list.
Which ministry announces gallantry awards?
The Ministry of Defence announces the gallantry awards on the eve of Republic Day and Independence Day, and the President of India confers them at investiture ceremonies at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra are open to civilians and police, as well as to all ranks of the armed forces.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Ashoka Chakra is a wartime gallantry award.
It is the peacetime counterpart of the PVC.
2 Major Somnath Sharma was the first Param Vir Chakra recipient.
For action in 1947.
3 The Kirti Chakra ranks above the Maha Vir Chakra.
The Maha Vir Chakra ranks higher.
4 21 persons have received the Param Vir Chakra.
Most of them posthumously.
Related Topics
Browse the full Current Affairs & Government Schemes index