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The gallantry awards of India are the nation’s highest honours for bravery in the armed forces. Six of them follow a fixed order: Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra. The Sena Medal, Nau Sena Medal and Vayu Sena Medal then recognise gallantry in the Army, Navy and Air Force. This guide explains every award in simple words.
Every defence aspirant meets these names sooner or later. They appear in school quizzes, NDA general knowledge papers and SSB interview questions. More importantly, they show what courage looks like in uniform.
What Are the Gallantry Awards of India?
Gallantry awards recognise acts of courage that go far beyond the call of duty. The President of India confers them in the name of the Republic. They fall into two groups, and the difference lies in where the courage was shown.
Wartime awards honour valour in the presence of the enemy. The Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra belong here. Peacetime awards, on the other hand, honour bravery and self-sacrifice away from enemy fire. The Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra belong to this group.
The government created both sets of gallantry awards of India soon after Independence. It instituted the wartime trio on 26 January 1950, with effect from 15 August 1947. The peacetime trio followed on 4 January 1952 as Ashoka Chakra Class I, II and III. Later, in January 1967, the three peacetime awards received their present names: Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.
For a wider list of decorations, you can also check this reference on the awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces.
Order of Precedence: Which Gallantry Award Ranks Highest?
The order of precedence tells you how the six main gallantry awards of India rank against each other. Interestingly, the list alternates between wartime and peacetime honours.
| Rank | Award | Category | Simple Meaning |
| 1 | Param Vir Chakra (PVC) | Wartime | Highest honour for valour in the face of the enemy |
| 2 | Ashoka Chakra (AC) | Peacetime | Highest honour for peacetime gallantry |
| 3 | Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) | Wartime | Second-highest wartime gallantry award |
| 4 | Kirti Chakra (KC) | Peacetime | Second-highest peacetime gallantry award |
| 5 | Vir Chakra (VrC) | Wartime | Third-highest wartime gallantry award |
| 6 | Shaurya Chakra (SC) | Peacetime | Third-highest peacetime gallantry award |
The Sena Medal, Nau Sena Medal and Vayu Sena Medal sit below this list. They are gallantry medals for the Army, Navy and Air Force respectively.
Param Vir Chakra: The Highest Gallantry Award of India
The Param Vir Chakra, or PVC, is India’s highest military decoration. It is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy. Although it was instituted in 1950, it took effect from 15 August 1947. As a result, it could honour the heroes of the very first war after Independence.
Major Somnath Sharma of the Kumaon Regiment received the first Param Vir Chakra. He earned it posthumously for his stand near Badgam in Kashmir in 1947. Savitri Khanolkar designed the medal, and its centre carries the Vajra, the legendary thunderbolt.
The honour is extremely rare. Only 21 Param Vir Chakras have been awarded so far. Captain Vikram Batra, who fought in the Kargil War of 1999, is among its best-known recipients. His story still inspires every NDA aspirant.
Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra: The Wartime Honours
The Maha Vir Chakra ranks second among wartime awards and third overall. It honours acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. Its reverse carries the name in Hindi and English, separated by two lotus flowers.
The Vir Chakra is the third-highest wartime gallantry award and fifth overall. It rewards gallantry in the face of the enemy at a level just below the Maha Vir Chakra. Soldiers, sailors and airmen have earned it in every major conflict since Independence.
Ashoka Chakra: The Highest Peacetime Gallantry Award
The Ashoka Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award. It ranks second overall, right after the Param Vir Chakra. It honours the most conspicuous gallantry or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield, such as in counter-terror operations or daring rescues.
Civilians can receive it too. For instance, Neerja Bhanot, the Pan Am flight attendant who saved passengers during the 1986 hijacking in Karachi, received the Ashoka Chakra posthumously in 1987. Her story proves that courage is not limited to the uniform.
Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra: Peacetime Awards for Courage
The Kirti Chakra is the second-highest peacetime gallantry award. It recognises acts of great bravery that fall just below the standard of the Ashoka Chakra. Many recipients have earned it during operations in insurgency-hit areas.
The Shaurya Chakra is third in precedence among peacetime awards. It honours extraordinary gallantry that does not take place in the face of the enemy. Meanwhile, its green ribbon with saffron edges makes it easy to spot on a parade uniform.
Sena Medal, Nau Sena Medal and Vayu Sena Medal Explained
The Sena Medal is for the Army, the Nau Sena Medal is for the Navy, and the Vayu Sena Medal is for the Air Force. Each one recognises courage and devotion to duty during military operations. Because they carry the word Gallantry in their citations, they sit just below the six chakra-series awards.
A recipient who earns the honour a second time receives a Bar to the Sena Medal. Even so, each medal is hard to win. Together, these three medals extend the gallantry awards of India to every service, and every citation describes an act performed under real danger.
Easy Memory Trick for Gallantry Awards
Exam questions often ask you to arrange the gallantry awards of India in order. Use the first letters P, A, M, K, V and S for the six awards. Then remember this line: Proud Aspirants Must Keep Valuing Sacrifice.
- Wartime awards all carry the word Vir, which means valour: Param Vir, Maha Vir and Vir Chakra.
- Peacetime awards use different names: Ashoka, Kirti and Shaurya.
- Ranks alternate, so the order goes wartime, peacetime, wartime, peacetime, wartime, peacetime.
How Are Gallantry Awards Decided?
Each recommendation for the gallantry awards of India starts within the armed forces and moves up the chain of command. After examination by the Central Honours and Awards Committee, the President of India approves the final list. Announcements come twice a year, on Republic Day and on Independence Day.
For example, reports on the Independence Day 2026 list say the President approved 78 gallantry awards. They include nine Kirti Chakras, nineteen Shaurya Chakras and dozens of Sena, Nau Sena and Vayu Sena Medals for gallantry. Several went to soldiers who gave their lives, which reminds us of the price of courage.
Why Gallantry Awards Matter for Defence Aspirants?
For students preparing for the NDA, the gallantry awards of India are more than trivia. A strong NDA coaching programme builds general awareness alongside maths and English. Gallantry awards often appear in that general knowledge section.
The SSB adds another layer. Assessors often ask why you want to join the forces, and heroes like Captain Vikram Batra give honest, personal answers. Our guide to the SSB interview explains what to expect at each stage.
Good defence exam coaching also teaches students to read about the forces every day. To build that habit, pair this guide with a daily current affairs routine for defence aspirants. Twenty minutes a day is enough to stay sharp.
Younger students can begin early as well. Sainik School coaching introduces children to discipline and military values long before the NDA stage. Parents often find that this early exposure builds confidence.
Above all, remember that courage, duty and self-sacrifice are what the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force look for in every officer. The medals are only the visible proof of those values.
Gallantry Awards of India: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest gallantry award in India?
The Param Vir Chakra is the highest gallantry award in India. It is given for the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy.
What is the order of precedence of gallantry awards?
The order is Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra. Wartime and peacetime awards alternate in this list.
What is the difference between Param Vir Chakra and Ashoka Chakra?
The Param Vir Chakra honours valour in the presence of the enemy during war. The Ashoka Chakra honours the highest gallantry in peacetime, away from enemy fire.
Can civilians receive gallantry awards?
Yes, in certain cases. The Ashoka Chakra, for example, can be given to civilians, as the posthumous honour for Neerja Bhanot in 1987 shows.
Is the Sena Medal a gallantry award?
Yes. The Sena Medal for Gallantry recognises courage and devotion to duty in military operations. It ranks below the six chakra-series awards.
When are gallantry awards announced?
They are announced twice a year, on Republic Day (26 January) and Independence Day (15 August), after the President approves the list.
Final Thoughts
The gallantry awards of India turn individual courage into national memory. Knowing them is a small way to honour the people behind them. If you dream of wearing that uniform one day, start building the habits now. Explore the programmes at Sukhoi Academy and take the first step towards a defence career.