Mentorship Session -53

Date: 20th February 2022

Duration: 60 Minutes

Theme: Indian Honours System-2

(Awards given by the Indian Government)
 Introduction

 The Indian Honour System primarily stands for the awards issued by the Indian Government.

 The Indian honour system is broadly classified into five types:

 Civilian - नागरी

 Patriotic - दे शभक्त

 Literary - साहित्य

 Leadership – नेतत्ृ व

 Particular- विशिष्ट
 The Indian honor system is broadly classified into five types:

We have already learned about the Civilian awards

1. Civilian – नागरी

2. Patriotic/Gallantry - दे शभक्त Let’s find out more about this

 Brief Ask mentees to give brief about the last session ( Civilian award)

 Did they read about the work of the various awards recipients?
 Quote of the day

The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well.

-John D. Rockefeller Jr.

 Gallantry awards

 Gallantry Awards are presented to the personnel in the forces for bravery

 The Gallantry awards that are conferred in India are as follows

(in the order of precedence):

 Param Vir Chakra

 Mahavir Chakra

 Vir Chakra

 Ashoka Chakra

 Kirti Chakra

 Shaurya Chakra
 Gallantry awards

https://youtu.be/DbNY7k7c9r4?t=84

 The following video is a comprehensive video, explains Gallantry awards, difference between wartime and

peacetime gallantry awards and provide information about all gallantry awards

 The video is about 18 minutes

 You can play this video in segments

 PPT also include all the details

 You can skip the points already covered in videos/ revised them

 Refer the PPT for additional information

Gallantry awards
 Gallantry awards

•The first 3 awards in this category that came into existence after independence are-

Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra.

•These awards are conferred twice a year- on Republic Day and Independence Day.

•The other 3 gallantry awards were introduced in 1952- Ashok Chakra Class I, Ashok Chakra Class II, Ashok

Chakra Class III. Later, they were named as Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.

•The gallantry Awards have a certain selection process for the recipients
 Selection Process for Gallantry Awards

The basic selection process for these awards are:

1.In the case of Armed Forces, the award is initiated by the Unit.

2.The recommended personnel name are sent to the Service Headquarters under the supervision of

Commanders in the chain.

3.The Awards Committee verifies the list and gets it approved by the Chiefs before sending the proposal to

the Ministry Of Defense.

 Param Vir Chakra

•Param Vir Chakra is the highest order of recognition in the Military and is conferred to personnel

who have performed a distinguished act of valour at the time of war.

•The name of the award is also referred to as the “Wheel of the Ultimate Brave”.

•On the front, the National Emblem of India appears in the center on a raised circle surrounded by

four sets of the vajra. On the reverse, there are 2 inscribed legends separated by lotus flowers.

•The words “Param Vir Chakra” are written in Hindi and English
 Param Vir Chakra

• Medal:  Circular in shape, made of bronze, one and three eighth inches in diameter and shall

have embossed on the obverse four replicas of "Indra's Vajra" with the State Emblem

embossed in the center. On its reverse, it shall have embossed “PARAM VIR CHAKRA” both in

Hindi and in English with two lotus flowers between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.

• Ribbon: Plain purple colored ribbon.

• Bar: If any recipient of the Chakra shall again perform such an act of bravery as would have made him or her

eligible to receive the Chakra, such further act of bravery shall be recorded by a Bar to be attached to the riband

by which the Chakra is suspended, and for every such additional act of bravery, an additional Bar shall be added,

and any such Bar or Bars may also be awarded posthumously.

• For every Bar awarded a replica of the "Indra's Vajra" in miniature shall be added to the riband when worn alone.
 Param Vir Chakra

• Bar: If any recipient of the Chakra shall again perform such an act of bravery as would have made him or her

eligible to receive the Chakra, such further act of bravery shall be recorded by a Bar to be attached to the riband

by which the Chakra is suspended, and for every such additional act of bravery, an additional Bar shall be added.

• This is applicable to all the Gallantry awards

 By any chance have you heard the name Savitri Khanolkar?

The Swiss-Born Lady Who Designed The Param Vir Chakra

 Most of us didn’t know the real name of the person who designed the

country's highest wartime gallantry award the Param Vir Chakra (PVC)

award.

 Also, do you know she wasn't born in India?

 Yes, that’s true! 

 Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros, a Swiss-born woman who was later changed her

name to Savitri Khanolkar, was the brain behind Param Vir Chakra’s design.
India’s First Param Vir Chakra Receiver – Major Somnath
Sharma, who Started the Legacy of the Indian Army
 Maha Vir Chakra
 The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous

gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.

 Medal:  Circular in shape and of standard silver, one and three eighth inches in diameter, and 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.

On the reverse, it shall have embossed “MAHA VIR CHAKRA” both in Hindi and in English with two lotus flowers between

the Hindi and the English inscriptions.

 Ribbon: The ribbon is of a half-white and half-orange color.

 Maha Vir Chakra

Soldier Brig Sant Singh was awarded Mahavir Chakra twice  in 1965 and 1971 war.
 Vir Chakra
 Vir Chakra is the third-highest honorary gallantry award in India and is conferred to personnel for acts of gallantry in

the presence of the enemy on the battlefield.

 Medal: Circular in shape and of standard silver, one and three eighth inches in diameter, and 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 center a Chakra and within the Chakra shall be a domed center piece bearing the gilded State

Emblem. On the reverse, it shall have embossed “VIR CHAKRA” both in Hindi and in English with two lotus flowers

between the Hindi and the English inscriptions.

 Ribbon: The ribbon is of half blue and half orange in color.

 Vir Chakra

Wing Commander, Abhinandan Varthaman has been awarded the Vir Chakra.

He was awarded for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft in aerial combat on February 27, 2019.

The then Wing Commander was engaged in a fight with a Pakistani fighter jet in the aerial skirmishes between Indian

and Pakistani Air Forces which was followed by the Pulwama attack.
 Peace time gallantry award

  It is the peace time gallantry award i.e., awarded for the “most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent

valour or self-sacrifice” other than in the face of the enemy

 Ashoka Chakra

 Ashok Chakra is conferred to civilians or military personnel for most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or pre-

eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.

 Medal: Circular in shape, one and three eighth inches in diameter, with rims on both sides.

The medal shall be of gold gild. On the obverse of the medal shall be embossed a replica of Ashoka’s Chakra in the center,

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 words “Ashok Chakra” both in Hindi and English the two versions being separated by

two lotus flowers.

 Ribbon: Green colour ribbon divided into two equal segments by an orange vertical line.
 Ashoka Chakra

 Flight attendant Neerja Bhanot was the youngest and the first female recipient of Ashoka Chakra,

India's highest peacetime gallantry award.

 Neerja, aged 23, lost her life while trying to save the lives of passengers from terrorists on board the

hijacked PanAm Flight 73 on September 5, 1986, and was conferred with the award posthumously.
 Ashoka Chakra

 Kamlesh Kumari Yadav was an Indian constable who served

with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and a

recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, the highest possible

award conferred during peacetime by the Republic of

India.

 Kamlesh Kumari died on 13 December 2001 after

successfully preventing terrorist gunmen and a terrorist

suicide bomber from reaching Parliament during the 2001

Indian Parliament attack.

 Kirti Chakra

 This award is presented to the Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice

away from the field of battle and is awarded to civilians as well as military personnel.

 Medal: Circular in shape and of standard silver, one and three-eighth inches in diameter, with rims on both sides. On the

obverse of the medal shall be embossed a replica of Ashoka’s 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 words

“KIRTI CHAKRA” both in Hindi and English, the two versions being separated by two lotus flowers.

 Ribbon: Green colour ribbon divided into three equal parts by two orange vertical lines.
 Kirti Chakra

Second-in-Command Harshpal Singh, KC, PM & two bars, JPM, is a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

Officer.

 He joined the CRPF in 2004. He received the Kirti Chakra, India's second highest peacetime gallantry

medal, on 15 August 2019 (73rd Independence Day), for eliminating three terrorists despite being injured
 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.

 Medal: Circular in shape and made of bronze, one and three-eighth inches in diameter, with rims on

both sides. On the obverse of the medal shall be embossed a replica of Ashoka’s 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 words “SHAURYA CHAKRA” both in

Hindi and English, the two versions being separated by two lotus flowers.

 Ribbon: Green color ribbon divided into four equal parts by three vertical lines.
 Shaurya Chakra

Captain Ashutosh Kumar, an ex-student of Sainik School, Bhubaneswar, has been awarded Shaurya Chakra, the third

highest peacetime gallantry award, posthumously on Independence Day. He was martyred during a counter-terror

operation in Jammu and Kashmir on November 8, 2020.

 Service Medals

 A service medal is an award to individuals who participated in designated wars, campaigns, or

expeditions, or who have fulfilled specific service requirements in a creditable manner.

 SENA MEDAL

•Established: 17 June 1960, by the President of India.

•Awarded for such individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage as have special significance for the Army.

•Eligible Categories: All ranks of the Army.

•Design of the Medal: Circular in shape.

•Made of Silver.

•The mounting shall be a fixed ring attached to a metal stripe 3mm wide ornamented with Ashoka Leaves.

•Design of the Ribbon: Red color with a thin silver-grey stripe down the Centre..
 NAO SENA MEDAL

•Established: 26 January 1960, by the President of India.

•Awarded for such individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage as have special significance for the Navy.

•Eligible Categories: All ranks of the Navy.

•Design of the Medal: Pentangular in shape

•Curved sides made of Standard Silver.

•It shall have embossed on its obverse the Naval Crest.

•Design of the Ribbon:

•Navy blue color with a thin white silver stripe down the Centre.
 VAYU SENA MEDAL

•Established: 26 January 1960.

•Awarded for such individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage as have special significance for the Air Force.

•Eligible Categories: Officers and airmen of the Regular Air Force and officers and airmen of Auxiliary Air Force, Air Defence Reserve

and Regular Reserve when called upon under Section 25 of the Reserve and Auxiliary Air Force Act, 1952.

•Army officers serving as pilots in Aviation Corp.

•Design of the Medal: The medal is Five-Pointed Star.

•Made of Standard Silver.

•Design of the Ribbon:

•32 mm in width in alternate stripes of saffron and silver grey.

 Short Survey for mentees

Please ask your mentees following question and fill the answers in the given link

1. Do you use any social media platform?

2. If yes, What social media channels are you active on? Mentioned their names.

https://nitieedu-my.sharepoint.com/:x:/g/personal/cdel-project_nitie_ac_in/EURvHq8FuwhDg
eWiYsUytb0B_lIH5696l3xXN8W_eeS-qQ?e=qgnCjE
Thank You!