Decorations Awarded In The Indian Armed Forces

Hello, Warriors!

In the Indian Armed Forces, decorations are awarded for extraordinary bravery and courage, as well as distinguished service during times of war and peace to the most daring and the bravest personnel of the Armed Forces.

Service and campaign medals have also been awarded throughout the history of India as an independent state.

The various decorations in the Indian Armed Forces are:

1. Wartime gallantry awards 

• Param Vir Chakra (PVC)- The PVC is India’s highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. The majority of the recipients were awarded posthumously (14 out of 21) and the most number of PVC belongs to the Gorkha Rifles and The Grenadiers, 3 each.

• Maha Vir Chakra (MVC)- The MVC is the second highest military decoration in India, after the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.

• Vir Chakra (VrC)- It is third in precedence in the war time gallantry awards and comes after the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra. It is presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield.

2. Peacetime gallantry awards

• Ashok Chakra (AC)- The highest peacetime military decoration, it is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice other than in the face of the enemy.

• Kirti Chakra (KC)- The Kirti Chakra is awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel.

• Shaurya Chakra (SrC)- Third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry award, it is the peacetime equivalent of the Vir Chakra. It is generally awarded for Counter-Insurgency operations and actions against the enemy during peace-time.

Among these, the wartime gallantry awards are given only to the officers and other enlisted personnel of all military branches of India whereas the Peacetime gallantry awards are open to civilians too.

Likewise, various medals are awarded in the Indian Armed Forces for an exceptional act of bravery during peacetime and wartime. You can check out the next article for Medals awarded in the Armed Forces here.