Gallantry Awards 2024: Honoring Bravery and Sacrifice (GS Paper 3, Security, Forces & Agencies)
Introduction
- The President of India recently presented the Gallantry Awards at the Defence Investiture Ceremony-2024 held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, recognizing the acts of bravery and sacrifice of military personnel and civilians.
About Gallantry Awards
- Gallantry Awards are conferred to honor acts of bravery and sacrifice by officers and personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted forces, and civilians.
- These awards are announced twice a year: on Republic Day and Independence Day.
Gallantry Awards in the Face of Enemy
- Param Vir Chakra (PVC): Features four replicas of "Indra's Vajra" with the State Emblem at the center.
- Mahavir Chakra (MVC): Embossed with a five-pointed heraldic star and a domed gilded State Emblem at the center.
- Vir Chakra: Features a Chakra at its center with a gilded State Emblem.
Gallantry Awards Other than in the Face of Enemy
- Ashok Chakra: Embossed with a replica of the Ashok Chakra in the center, surrounded by a lotus wreath.
- Kirti Chakra: Features a replica of the Kirti Chakra, surrounded by a lotus wreath.
- Shaurya Chakra: Embossed with a replica of the Shaurya Chakra, surrounded by a lotus wreath.
Order of Precedence
- Param Vir Chakra
- Ashoka Chakra
- Mahavir Chakra
- Kirti Chakra
- Vir Chakra
- Shaurya Chakra
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra
- Eligible Personnel: All ranks of the Naval, Military, and Air Forces, Reserve Forces, Territorial Army, Militia, and other lawfully constituted Armed Forces.
- Eligibility: Awarded for actions against the enemy on land, at sea, or in the air.
- Param Vir Chakra: For most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valor or self-sacrifice.
- Maha Vir Chakra: For acts of conspicuous gallantry.
- Vir Chakra: For acts of gallantry.
Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra
- Eligible Personnel: Officers, men and women of all ranks of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Reserve Forces, Territorial Army, Militia, and other lawfully constituted forces; members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces; civilian citizens; members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway Protection Force.
- Eligibility: Awarded for acts of bravery not in the face of the enemy.
- Ashoka Chakra: For most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valor or self-sacrifice.
- Kirti Chakra: For conspicuous gallantry.
- Shaurya Chakra: For gallantry.
Selection Process
- The Ministry of Defence invites recommendations from the Armed Forces and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
- For Armed Forces personnel, cases for gallantry awards are initiated by the Unit and recommended by Commanders.
- Civilian recommendations are received from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
- The Central Honours & Awards Committee (CH&AC), comprising the Defence Minister, three Service Chiefs, and the Defence Secretary, considers the recommendations.
Awardees at the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2024
- Kirti Chakra: 10 awarded (7 posthumously). Notable posthumous awardees include Inspector Dilip Kumar, Head Constable Raj Kumar Yadava, Constable Bablu Rabha, and Sambhu Roy of the 210 CoBRA Battalion, CRPF, for their bravery against Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur.
- Shaurya Chakra: 26 awarded (7 posthumously). Major Vikas Bhambhu and Major Mustafa Bohara were posthumously awarded for steering their burning chopper away from human habitation, ultimately losing their lives in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district.
Conclusion
- The Gallantry Awards ceremony not only recognizes the exceptional bravery and sacrifice of the awardees but also inspires others to uphold the highest standards of courage and commitment in the service of the nation.
