Ashoka Chakra | |
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Type | Medal |
Awarded for | Awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice otherwise than in the face of the enemy. [1] |
Description | India's highest peacetime military decoration |
Country | India |
Presented by | Republic of India |
Eligibility |
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Post-nominals | AC |
Status | Active |
Established | 1952 |
First awarded | 1952 |
Last awarded | 2021 |
Total | 98 (As of 2023) [2] [3] |
Total awarded posthumously | 68 |
Total recipients | 98 |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Bharat Ratna |
Equivalent | Param Vir Chakra [lower-alpha 1] [5] [6] [7] |
Next (lower) | Padma Vibhushan [8] |
The Ashoka Chakra (alternative spelling: Ashok Chakra) is India's highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) 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.
Havildar Bachittar Singh and Naik Narbahadur Thapa were the first recipients of the Ashoka Chakra. Subsequent awards of the Ashoka Chakra are recognized by a bar to the medal ribbon. A recipient can be awarded the Kirti Chakra or Shaurya Chakra in addition to separate acts of gallantry.
The medal was originally established on 4 January 1952 as the "Ashoka Chakra, Class I" as the first step of a three-class sequence of non-combatant bravery decorations. In 1967, these decorations were removed from the "class-based" system and renamed as the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra. This is an important point in understanding the independent Indian view of decorations. It would also lead to changes in the Padma Vibhushan series, the distinguished service medal series, the life-saving medal series, and the Defence Security Corps medal series.
From 1 February 1999, the central government instituted a monthly stipend for Ashoka Chakra recipients of Rs. 1400. Jammu and Kashmir awarded a cash award of Rs. 1500 for recipients of this award.
Obverse: Circular gold gilt, 1-3/8 inches in diameter. In the center, the chakra (wheel) of Ashoka, is surrounded by a lotus wreath with an ornate edge. Suspended by a straight bar suspender. The medal is named on the edge.
Reverse: Blank in the center, with "Ashoka Chakra" in Hindi along the upper edge on the medal and the same name in English along the lower rim. On either side is a lotus design. The center is blank, perhaps with the intent that details of the award be engraved there. There is no indication of the class on the pre-1967 awards, and, in fact, there is no difference between these medals & the post-1967 awards.
Ribbon: 32 mm, dark green with a 2 mm central saffron stripe.
As of August 2021 [update] , the medal has been awarded to 86 awardees, of which 68 were to posthumous recipients. The rank refers to the rank held by the recipient at the time of award. Action refers to the conflict or event during which the Ashoka Chakra was awarded.
* | Indicates posthumous honour |
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This section contains a list of miscellaneous information.(August 2021) |
The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. Param Vir Chakra translates as the "Wheel of the Ultimate Brave", and the award is granted for "most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy". As of January 2018, the medal has been awarded 21 times, of which 14 were posthumous and 16 arose from actions in Indo-Pakistani conflicts. Of the 21 awardees, 20 have been from the Indian Army and one has been from the Indian Air Force. Major Somnath Sharma was the first recipient. A number of state governments of India as well as ministries of the central government provide allowances and rewards to recipients of the PVC.
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 Yudh Seva Medal.[total recipients 2094]. [total awarded posthumously is 677].
The Vir Chakra is an Indian wartime military bravery award presented for acts of gallantry on the battlefield, on land or in the air or at sea.
The KirtiChakra 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 equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. It is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards, comes after Ashoka Chakra and before Shaurya Chakra. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class II.
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.
The Indian honours system is the system of awards given to individuals for a variety of services to the Republic of India. The categories of awards are as follows:
Major Laishram Jyotin Singh, AC was an Officer in the Army Medical Corps of the Indian Army, who died fighting a suicide bomber during the attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul. Major Singh was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award in the Indian Armed Forces on 26 January, 2011.
Naib Subedar Chuni Lal AC, VrC, SM was an Indian Army soldier of The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. He was born in Bhaderwah, and basically from Gandhari Paddar and lived in Bhara village with parents Shanker Dass and Shakuntala Devi in Doda district of Jammu. Decorated with Vir Chakra and Sena Medal (Gallantry), JC-593527, Lal was killed in action on 24 June 2007 in a militant flush-out operation in Kashmir's Kupwara sector. These militants, all of whom were also shot dead, were trying to cross the Line of Control (LoC) and enter Indian territory. The success of this militant flush-out operation, which claimed his life, earned him the highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield, the Ashok Chakra. He is the highest decorated soldier of the Indian Army of all time, honored with Sena Medal, Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra.
Havildar Rajesh Kumar, AC was a Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) of Indian Army who was awarded India's highest military decoration Ashoka Chakra.
Subedar Sujjan Singh Yadav, AC was an Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) with the 13th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment. He was awarded the highest peace time gallantry award Ashoka Chakra posthumously for his action in Operation Rakshak in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir.
Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh, AC was a Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) in the Indian Army who was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest peacetime military decoration on 26 January 2015. He had enlisted in the 13th battalion, Rajputana Rifles and was serving in the 57th battalion Rashtriya Rifles when he was killed in action.
Havildar Hangpan Dada, AC was a soldier in the Assam Regiment of the Indian Army. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration in August 2016.
Major General Cyrus Addie Pithawalla AC, VSM, is a former General officer of the Indian Army. He was awarded India's highest peacetime decoration for gallantry, the Ashok Chakra, in 1981, and by virtue of this is one of the most decorated flag officers in the history of the Indian Armed Forces.
Havildar Bachittar Singh, AC was a soldier in Indian Army who was posthumously awarded the highest peacetime military decoration Award "Ashoka Chakra", for conspicuous bravery, indomitable spirit and supreme sacrifice; becoming the first Indian to receive this gallantry award.
Naib Subedar Chhering Mutup, AC is a retired Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) with the Ladakh Scouts who was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration.
Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Mahendra Singh, KC, SM is a decorated Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of 9 Para SF. During an operation, he was paralysed on one side of his body.
Assistant Sub-inspector Babu Ram, AC (1972–2020) was a Police Officer of the Special Operations Group (SOG) Srinagar, who was awarded the highest peace time gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra.