What are gallantry awards

Indian President Droupadi Murmu approved 78 gallantry awards, including nine Kirti Chakras and 19 Shaurya Chakras, on the eve of the 80th Independence Day. Here’s a look at the major gallantry awards, when they were constituted and more about how the nation honours its Bravehearts.

What are gallantry awards

The gallantry awards recognise acts of exceptional courage or distinguished service rendered by defence personnel during various operations. The awards are announced twice every year — Republic Day and Independence Day. The order of precedence of the awards is Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.

Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest wartime gallantry award, is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or daring or pre-eminent act of self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in air. The first soldier to win the Param Vir Chakra was Major Somnath Sharma, who was martyred in 1947.

India’s highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy, the Param Vir Chakra. Bottom (left): The first winner of the award, Major Somnath Sharma, who died in the Kashmir action on November 3, 1947. Major Dhan Singh Thapa (centre), who repulsed the Chinese attack on a post in Ladakh in 1962 and Major Shaitan Singh (right), for bravery against the Chinese at Rezang La in the Chusul sector of Ladakh.
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu archives

Maha Vir Chakra is the second-highest wartime gallantry honour, while Vir Chakra is the third. The maximum number of Maha Vir Chakra award given in a single conflict was in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, when eleven were given to the Indian Air Force (IAF). .

Ashoka Chakra, the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry award, is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice otherwise than in the face of the enemy. Kirti Chakra is the second-highest peacetime gallantry award, and Shaurya Chakra is the third.

President Droupadi Murmu and others during the Defence Investiture Ceremony–2026 (Phase I) for gallantry awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in June. Photo: X/@SpokespersonMoD via PTI

This year, totally nine Kirti Chakra were announced, including for Lieutenant Colonel Maneo Francis PF of 21 Para (Special Forces) and Major Jitendra Rathee of 2 Para (Special Forces) and Havildar Gajendra Singh of 2 Para (Special Forces). Six personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and other forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have also been awarded the Kirti Chakra, posthumously.

The awards announced by the Central government on August 14, 2026, also include 36 Sena Medals (Gallantry), including five posthumous; three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry); and five Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).

When were the awards instituted

After Independence, the Indian government instituted the first three Gallantry Awards — Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra — on January 26, 1950.

Three more gallantry awards were instituted in 1952, namely Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Ashoka Chakra Class-II and Ashoka Chakra Class-III. However, these were renamed Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra, respectively, in 1967.

The President confers the Param Vir Chakra and Ashoka Chakra to awardees or next-of-kins during the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath. Other gallantry and distinguished service awards are awarded by the President during the Defence Investiture Ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

What is the selection process

The Defence Ministry invites recommendations from the Armed Forces and Union Home Ministry for gallantry awards, twice in a year. Recommendations are invited in August for the awards to be announced on Republic Day and in March for the awards to be announced on the Independence Day.

The Armed Forces and Home Ministry submit the recommendations to Central Honours & Awards Committee (CH&AC). The committee’s recommendations are submitted for the approval of the Prime Minister and the President. After the President’s approval, awards are announced on the eve of Republic Day and Independence Day.