Gallantry Awards Of Indian Military

Gallantry awards are those kinds of awards which are presented for exceptional courage, valor and dignity. In India gallantry awards are presented to the personnel’s of the forces for their exceptional bravery and scarifies.

Wartime Gallantry Awards

1. Param Vir Chakra (PVC)

The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. The PVC is equivalent to the Medal of Honor in the United States and the Victoria Cross in the United Kingdom. Only 21 soldiers have received this award to date.

2. Maha Vir Chakra

The Maha Vir Chakra (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. The medal may be awarded posthumously.

3. Vir Chakra

Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. It is third in precedence in the war time gallantry awards and comes after the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra.

Peacetime gallantry awards

1. Ashok Chakra Award

The Ashok Chakra is India's highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and 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. The decoration may be awarded either to military or civilian personnel. Ashok Chakra is equivalent to US Army's peacetime Medal of Honor and the British George Cross.

2. Kirti Chakra

The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military decoration 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, including posthumous awards. It is the peacetime equivalentof the Maha Vir Chakra. It is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards; it comes after Ashok Chakra and before Shaurya Chakra. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashok Chakra, Class II.

3. Shaurya Chakra

The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously. It is third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards and comes after the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra. It precedes the Sena Medal.

Wartime/Peacetime service awards

1. Sena Medal

The Sena Medal is awarded to members of the Indian army, of all ranks, "for such individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage as have special significance for the Army." Awards may be made posthumously and a bar is authorized for subsequent awards of the Sena Medal.

2. Nao Sena Medal

Nao Sena Medal is a gallantry award for servicemen in the Indian Navy.

It was established by the President of India on 17 June 1960.

3. Vayusena Medal

The Vayusena Medal is an Indian military decoration, usually awarded in peacetime for a job well done. However it has been granted during times of conflict for acts of gallantry in the face of enemy, though not in the same numbers as the Vir Chakra.

Posthumous awards may be made and a bar is authorized for subsequent awards of the Vayu Sena Medal.

Wartime Distinguished Service

1. Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal

Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal is India's highest Wartime Distinguished Service decoration. It is awarded for the highest degree of distinguished services in an operational context. "Operation context" include times of war, conflict, or hostilities. The award is a wartime equivalent of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, which is the highest Peacetime Distinguished Service decoration of the country. Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal may be awarded posthumously.

2. Uttam Yudh Seva Medal

Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) is one of India's military decorations for Wartime Distinguished Service. It is awarded for a high degree of distinguished services in an operational context. "Operational context" includes times of war, conflict, or hostilities. The award is a wartime equivalent of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, which is a Peacetime Distinguished Service decoration. Uttam Yudh Seva Medal may be awarded posthumously.

3. Yudh Seva Medal

The Yudh Seva Medal is one of India's military decorations for distinguished service during wartime. It is awarded for a high degree of distinguished service in an operational context, which includes times of war, conflict, or hostilities and may be awarded posthumously. The award is the wartime equivalent of the Vishisht Seva Medal, which is a peacetime distinguished service decoration.

Peacetime Distinguished Service

1. Param Vishisht Seva Medal

Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) is a military award of India. It is awarded in recognition to peace-time service of the most exceptional order and may be awarded posthumously. All ranks of the Indian Armed Forces including Territorial Army, Auxiliary and Reserve Forces, Nursing officers and other members of the Nursing services and other lawfully constituted Armed Forces are eligible for the award.

2. Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) is a military award of India given to recognize "distinguished service of an exceptional order" to all ranks of the armed forces.The award can also be granted posthumously. Subsequent awards are represented by a bar worn on the ribbon. The awardee can use "AVSM" as post-nominal letters.

3. Vishisht Seva Medal

Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) is a decoration of the Indian Armed forces. It is awarded to recognize "distinguished service of an exceptional order" to all ranks of the Indian armed forces. The award may be granted posthumously and subsequent awards are represented by a bar worn on the ribbon. The award carries with it the right to use "VSM" as post-nominal letters. The medal was originally established as the Vishisht Seva Medal, Class III. It was renamed to its present name on 27 January 1967. The design of the medal remained unchanged and the change be reflected only in the records.