News: President inaugurated Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Vijay Diwas, displaying portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
About Param Vir Chakra Award
- The Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military decoration for the most exceptional acts of valour, courage, and self-sacrifice during war.
- Introduced on: It was introduced on January 26, 1950, with retrospective effect from August 15, 1947.
- Conferred by: It is conferred by the President of India.
- Naming: The term Param Vir Chakra literally means the “Wheel of the Ultimate Brave.”
- Eligibility: It is awarded to officers, men, and women of all ranks of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Reserve Forces, Territorial Army and other lawfully constituted armed forces.
- It can be and often has been, awarded posthumously.
- Design
- The Param Vir Chakra medal was designed by Mrs. Savitri Khanolkar.
- The medal is cast in bronze and has a circular shape.
- In the centre, it has the State Emblem on a raised circle.
- Around the State Emblem, there are four replicas of Indra’s Vajra, and it is flanked by the sword of Shivaji.
- On the reverse side, the words “Param Vir Chakra” are embossed in Hindi and English, with two lotus flowersplaced between the Hindi and English text.
- The fitting uses a swivel mounting, and the decoration is suspended from a straight swivelling suspension bar.
- It is held by a 32 mm purple ribbon.
- First winner: Major Somnath Sharma of the Kumaon Regiment was the first recipient.
- Till now, only 21 people had been given the Param Vir Chakra award.
About Gallantry Awards in India
- Gallantry awards are instituted by the Government of India to honour bravery and sacrifice of armed forces, other forces, and civilians.
- These awards are announced twice every year on Republic Day and Independence Day.
- All gallantry awards may be given posthumously.
- The Order of precedence of these awards is the Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.
- The President presents gallantry awards at Defence Investiture Ceremonies at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- However, the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashoka Chakra are conferred by the President to the awardees on the occasion of the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath.
