Gallantry Awards 2025

• 31 May 2025

Why in News? 

The President of India conferred Gallantry Awards, including 6 Kirti Chakras (4 posthumously) and 33 Shaurya Chakras (7 posthumously), to personnel from the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces, and State/UT Police, which were announced on the eve of the 76th Republic Day 2025. 

Key Points 

Gallantry Awards 

• About: They are given to the personnel for displaying raw courage, unparalleled bravery and total disregard to personal safety in the line of duty. 
  • These gallantry awards are announced twice a year, first on the occasion of Republic Day and then on the occasion of Independence Day. 
• Types: 
  • Gallantry Award in the Face of the Enemy: 
    • Param Vir Chakra (PVC): It shall have embossed on the obverse four replicas of "Indra's Vajra" with the State Emblem embossed in the centre. 
      • It is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy. 
    • Mahavir Chakra (MVC): It shall have embossed on the obverse a five-pointed heraldic star with the points of the star just touching the rim. The star shall have in the centre a domed gilded State Emblem. 
      • It is awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy. 
    • Vir Chakra: The star will feature a Chakra at its centre, with a domed centerpiece inside the Chakra bearing the gilded State Emblem. 
      • It is awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air. The decoration may be awarded posthumously. 
  • Gallantry Award Other than in the Face of Enemy:  
    • Medals: It includes Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra, on which the obverse of the medal shall be embossed with a replica of the respective chakra in the centre, surrounded by a lotus wreath.  
      • Along the rim, on the inner side, shall be a pattern of lotus leaves, flowers, and buds. 
      • On its reverse shall be embossed the respective words, both in Hindi and English, the two versions being separated by two lotus flowers. 
• Order of precedence of the Award:  
  • Param Vir Chakra 
  • Ashoka Chakra 
  • Mahavir Chakra 
  • Kirti Chakra 
  • Vir Chakra 
  • Shaurya Chakra 

 

• Eligibility: 
  • For Param Vir Chakra, the Maha Vir Chakra and the Vir Chakra: All ranks of the Naval, Military, Air, Reserve, and Territorial Forces, including medical and nursing staff, and civilians serving under their direction. 
  • For Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra & Shaurya Chakra: All ranks of the Armed Forces, Reserve and Territorial Forces, Nursing Services, Police, Central Para-Military Forces, Railway Protection Force, and civilian citizens. 

Note: For each subsequent act of similar bravery, recipients are recognized by a Bar to the Chakra. 

• Also, both Chakra and Bar to the chakra for additional bravery may be awarded posthumously.