The Indian Army is known all over the world for its valor and might. Indian Defense Force, in which the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy have shown their might in all wars. Indian forces have defeated the Pakistan Army in 1947, the 1971 war and the 1999 Kargil war. Apart from this, the Indian Army has shown its indomitable courage in important foreign operations. Gallantry awards are awarded by the Indian government to soldiers and officers who have demonstrated courage and valor in the Indian Armed Forces. In this post we will talk about gallantry award.

Gallantry award

Gallantry awards of two types are awarded for gallantry in the three forces of India. which is the following:-

1. Gallantry Award for display of gallantry in time of war.
2. Gallantry Award for display of gallantry during peace time.

Whenever a soldier of the Indian Armed Forces demonstrates his indomitable courage and valor in a battle between India and any other enemy country, he is awarded such gallantry award for the performance of gallantry in the time of war. When there is no war between India and any other country and there is an atmosphere of peace, at that time in danger of terrorist attack or any other type of country, the army jawan shows his valor and bravery, then he should be given peace time. The Indian government is honored with gallantry award.

Gallantry award in time of war

For gallantry during war time, three types of gallantry awards are awarded to soldiers in the Indian Army, which are as follows:-

1. Paramvir Chakar

The highest gallantry award in India is the Param Vir Chakra, which is awarded to the soldiers who have displayed the best gallantry in wartime. India's Param Vir Chakra is at par with America's Medal of Honor and Britain's Victoria Cross. PVC is also called PVC in short form. So far, a total of 21 Param Vir Chakras have been awarded to Indian brave soldiers, out of which 14 jawans have been awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously.

Out of these 21 Param Vir Chakras, 20 PVCs have been awarded to the Indian Army and one PVC has been awarded to the Indian Air Force. Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra in the 1971 war. Now out of PVC winners in January 2019, 3 Param Vir Chakra winners are alive. In which Subedar Major Bana Singh, Subedar Sanjay Kumar and Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav are there.

Apart from cash reward and pension every month, the Central Government also gives allowance to Param Vir Chakra winners. If PVC is awarded posthumously, then the family of Param Vir Sainik receives this honor. The pension and allowances received from him are also given to his wife or parents. Apart from the central government, the state government also honors the PVC winner. The amount received from the state government is much higher than that of the central government.

The central government provides a cash reward of Rs 20,000 per month to the defense person awarded by Paramvir Chakar. The monthly pension of gallantry award has been doubled by the central government from 1st August 2018. As a result of which the Param Vir Chakra winning Defense Person is given an allowance of Rs 20,000 per month instead of Rs 10,000 per month.

2. Mahavir Chakra

The Maha Vir Chakra is given to a defense person who has demonstrated gallantry during the time of war. This is the second highest gallantry award given for gallantry during war time after Param Vir Chakra. Mahavir Chakra and Param Vir Chakra are awarded only to Defense Personnel. The Mahavir Chakra is given as an honor to a defense person who has displayed gallantry in the presence of the enemy.

The last Maha Vir Chakra was awarded in 2001. So far, a total of 218 Mahavir Chakras have been awarded to Army personnel, out of which 73 have been awarded the Mahavir Chakra posthumously. The highest Maha Vir Chakra was awarded in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. In which a total of 11 officers of the Indian Air Force were honored.

The same Defense Person can be awarded twice for gallantry with Maha Vir Chakra, in which he is awarded Maha Vir Chakra bar. So far, a total of 6 times, Mahavir Chakra has been awarded. The central government provides an honorarium of Rs 10,000 every month to the Mahavir Chakra winner which was Rs 5000 per month before 1st August 2018.

3. Veer Chakra

Vir Chakra is the third award given for gallantry during war. After the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra, this award is given to a defense person who has displayed gallantry and gallantry during the war time. Three awards are awarded for gallantry in the time of war, out of which the order of Vir Chakra comes after Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra.

A total of 1322 Vir Chakra Awards have been awarded so far, out of which 361 have been awarded posthumously with the Vir Chakra. The Central Government provides an amount of Rs 6000 per month to the Vir Chakra awarded Defense Person or his family. The brave soldiers of the country are awarded three gallantry awards for gallantry during wartime, which we have talked about. Now let's talk about the gallantry awards given for displaying valor and valor during peacetime.

Gallantry award in time of peace

Now let's talk about the gallantry awards given for gallantry during peacetime. Just as the brave soldiers of the country are awarded with three gallantry awards Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra for gallantry during war time. Similarly, three types of gallantry awards are awarded to the soldiers of the country who show bravery during peace time, which are as follows.

1. Ashoka Chakra

The Ashoka Chakra is the highest gallantry award given during peacetime. Ashoka Chakra is considered to be parallel to Param Vir Chakra in peacetime. Apart from the military person, the Ashok Chakra can also be awarded to civilians for their amazing courage in peacetime.

Apart from the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, Ashok Chakra can also be awarded to the Territorial Army, Paramilitary Force and State Police. The Ashok Chakra was first awarded to Flight Lieutenant Suhas Biswas in the year 1952 and lastly in the year 2018, Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala was awarded the Ashoka Chakra.

Ashok Chakar has been awarded a total of 84 times till the year 2018, out of which Ashok Chakra has been awarded posthumously for 58 times. The central government provides 12000 rupees per month to the person who is awarded the Ashok Chakra or his family.

2. Kirti Chakar

This is the second highest gallantry award in peacetime after the Ashoka Chakra. Like the Ashok Chakra, Kirti Puruskar can also be awarded to military personnel, territorial army, paramilitary force, state police and civilians for their courage and valor. The Kirti Chakra is considered equivalent to the Mahavir Chakra during peacetime.

Before 1967, Kirti Chakra was known as Ashok Chakra Class II. A total of 453 persons have been honored with Kirti Chakra for their courage and valor. Out of which 198 have been awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously. Col N J Nair is the most decorated military person who has been awarded with both Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra so far.

The central government provides an amount of Rs 9000 per month to the person awarded with Kirti Chakra. Now let's talk about the Shaurya Chakra, the next award given during peacetime.

3. Shaurya Chakar

This is the third gallantry award in peacetime after Ashoka Chakra and Kirti Chakra. Its position is also third in the order of gallantry awards in peacetime. Like the Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra can also be awarded to civilians apart from military.

So far, a total of 2014 persons have been honored with Shaurya Chakra, out of which 627 persons have been given this gallantry award posthumously. Shaurya Chakra was known as Ashok Chakra Class III before the year 1967.

Gallantry Awards given above are awarded in wartime and peacetime for gallantry in the Indian Army. Apart from this, soldiers in the Indian Army are awarded with other medals for other excellent works, which we will talk about in the next post.