President approves four Kirti Chakras, 11 Shaurya Chakras

  • August 15, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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President approves four Kirti Chakras, 11 Shaurya Chakras

Subject : Polity

Section: Msc

Context:

  • President Droupadi Murmu approves 76 gallantry awards for armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel.
  • The approval comes on the eve of the 77th Independence Day.

Gallantry Awards in India: Recognizing Bravery and Sacrifice

  • Gallantry Awards instituted by the Government of India to honor acts of bravery and sacrifice by Armed Forces personnel, lawfully constituted forces and civilians.
  • Awards are announced twice a year: Republic Day and Independence Day.

Types of Gallantry Awards

  • Gallantry in the Face of the Enemy
  1. Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
  2. Mahavir Chakra (MVC)
  3. Vir Chakra
  • Gallantry Other than in the Face of Enemy (peacetime)
  1. Ashok Chakra
  2. Kirti Chakra
  3. Shaurya Chakra

Post-Independence Gallantry Awards

  • The first three gallantry awards after India’s independence—Param Vir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, and Vir Chakra—were instituted on January 26, 1950, and their effects were retroactively set to August 15, 1947.
  • Subsequently, three awards—the Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Class-II, and Class-III—were instituted on January 4, 1952, and later renamed the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra in January 1967.

Order of Precedence

  • Order of precedence:
  1. Param Vir Chakra,
  2. Ashoka Chakra,
  3. Mahavir Chakra,
  4. Kirti Chakra,
  5. Vir Chakra,
  6. Shaurya Chakra.
  • This hierarchy reflects the level of bravery and self-sacrifice each award represents.

Investiture Ceremony

  • The gallantry awards, along with some other Defence Distinguished Service awards, are conferred by the President at the Defence Investiture Ceremony held annually at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
  • However, the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashoka Chakra are conferred by the President to the awardees or their Next-of-Kins (NoKs) on the occasion of the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath.

Eligibility for Gallantry Awards

  • Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra & Vir Chakra
    • Eligibility includes officers, men, and women of all ranks in the Armed Forces, Reserve Forces, Territorial Army, Nursing Services, and civilians.
    • Awards awarded for conspicuous bravery, acts of gallantry, and self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy.
  • Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra & Shaurya Chakra
    • Eligibility includes officers, men, and women of all ranks in the Armed Forces, Reserve Forces, Territorial Army, Nursing Services, civilians, and Police Forces.
    • Awards awarded for conspicuous bravery, acts of gallantry, and self-sacrifice not in the face of the enemy.
  • All awards may be given posthumously.
  • Recipients must not have adverse reports, censure, court-martial, or administrative punishments.

Selection Process

  • The Ministry of Defence solicits recommendations twice a year from the Armed Forces and Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
  • Armed Forces initiate cases, reviewed by the Awards Committee at Services HQs, then recommended to the Ministry of Defence.
  • MHA receives recommendations from State/UT Governments, Central Ministries/Departments, Central Armed Police Forces, and Railway Protection Force.
  • Central Honours & Awards Committee (CH&AC) reviews all recommendations, comprising Raksha Mantri, Service Chiefs, Defence Secretary, and Home Secretary for MHA cases.
  • Recommendations submitted for Prime Minister and President approval.
  • Awards are announced on Republic Day and Independence Day.

Other Awards:

  • Sena Medal:
    • It is awarded for acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage in the Army.
  • Nao Sena Medal:
    • It is awarded for individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage in the Navy.
  • Vayu Sena Medal:
    • It is awarded for individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage in the Air Force.
Polity President approves four Kirti Chakras