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Source-This post on gallantry award has been created based on the article “Republic Day 2024: Over 1,100 personnel awarded Gallantry and Service medals.Details here” published in “Live Mint“on 25 January 2024.
Why in the news?
The Central Government has chosen 1,132 personnel from various services including police, fire service, home guard, civil defence, and correctional service for gallantry and service medals on Republic Day.
About Gallantry awards
| Aspect | Detail |
| History | 1) The first three gallantry awards namely Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra were instituted by the government of India on 26th January 1950. These awards are given during war time. 2) Three other gallantry awards — the Ashoka Chakra Class-I, the Ashoka Chakra Class-II, and the Ashoka Chakra Class-III — were instituted in 1952. These awards were renamed Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra in January 1967.These awards are given during peace time. |
| Objective | To honour the acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces and others lawfully constituted Forces and civilians. |
| Frequency | Announced twice in a year – first on Republic Day and then on the the Independence Day |
| Order of precedence | Param Vir Chakra> the Ashoka Chakra> the Mahavir Chakra> the Kirti Chakra> the Vir Chakra >the Shaurya chakra. |
| Awarded by | 1. The President every year at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. 2. However, the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashoka Chakra are conferred by the President to the awardees/NoKs on the occasion of the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath. |
NOTE-1) All the gallantry awards may be awarded posthumously.
2) Civilian citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway Protection Force are eligible for Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.
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