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President Droupadi Murmu approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumous, to personnel of the Defence Forces and Central Armed Police Forces on the eve of Independence Day 2026.
The breakdown is 9 Kirti Chakras (7 posthumous), 1 Bar to Shaurya Chakra, 19 Shaurya Chakras (1 posthumous), 5 Bars to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 36 Sena Medals (Gallantry) with 5 posthumous, 3 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and 5 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
A further 89 Mention-in-Despatches were approved — 75 for the Indian Army, 4 for the Navy and 10 for the Air Force — spanning operations including Rakshak, Hifazat, Orchid, Meghdoot, Snow Leopard, Talash and Chakravyuh.
Separately, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced 1,057 Gallantry and Service Medals for Police, Fire, Home Guard and Civil Defence and Correctional Services personnel — 301 Medals for Gallantry, 92 President's Medals for Distinguished Service and 664 Medals for Meritorious Service.
Honorary commissions were also announced: on the Army side 438 Honorary Captains and 1,803 Honorary Lieutenants on the active list, with 1,365 Honorary Captains, 485 Honorary Lieutenants, 4,225 Honorary Subedar Majors, 776 Honorary Subedars and 5,897 Honorary Naib Subedars after retirement.
| Order | Wartime award (in the face of the enemy) | Peacetime equivalent (other than in the face of the enemy) |
|---|---|---|
| First | Param Vir Chakra | Ashoka Chakra |
| Second | Maha Vir Chakra | Kirti Chakra |
| Third | Vir Chakra | Shaurya Chakra |
| Instituted | 26 January 1950 | 4 January 1952, as Ashoka Chakra Class I, II and III |
| Renaming | Names unchanged | Classes renamed Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra on 27 January 1967 |
Three distinctions in this release repay attention. First, a 'Bar' is not a separate decoration — it marks a second or subsequent award of the same medal to the same person, worn as a bar on the ribbon rather than as another medal. So the single Bar to Shaurya Chakra here means one officer has now earned the Shaurya Chakra twice, and the five Bars to the Sena Medal likewise mark repeat awards. Second, the peacetime series (Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra) is not lesser than the wartime series; it recognises the same order of courage shown 'otherwise than in the face of the enemy', which in Indian practice means counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and rescue operations. That is why the Kirti Chakra count in a year like this is dominated by internal-security actions. Third, a Mention-in-Despatches is the lowest rung of formal gallantry recognition — an act noted in official despatches that does not meet the threshold for a medal. It carries no medal of its own, only an oak-leaf emblem worn on the relevant campaign ribbon, and it is awarded in far larger numbers, 89 here against 78 medals.
Simple Analogy: If the medals are the podium, a Mention-in-Despatches is the official record naming everyone who ran a remarkable race — and a Bar is a second gold in the same event rather than a new one.
Confers all gallantry awards and service medals. The President is also Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces under Article 53 of the Constitution, which is the source of this authority.
Processes and announces gallantry awards for the three Services, along with honorary commissions and Chief of Army Staff and Vice Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards.
Announces the Medal for Gallantry, the President's Medal for Distinguished Service and the Medal for Meritorious Service for Police, Fire Service, Home Guard and Civil Defence and Correctional Services personnel. Details are published on mha.gov.in and the awards portal.
Its personnel receive the President's Medal for Distinguished Service and the Medal for Meritorious Service under the Ministry of Railways on the same occasion.
The President's authority to confer these awards flows from the office's position as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
Gallantry awards are announced twice a year — on the eve of Republic Day and of Independence Day — while civilian Padma awards are announced only on Republic Day eve.
The appearance of Agniveers in the Mention-in-Despatches list marks the first cohorts recruited under the 2022 scheme reaching operational recognition.
That 197 of 301 police gallantry medals came from LWE-affected areas is a usable indicator of where internal security operations are most intense.
Honorary ranks such as Honorary Captain and Honorary Lieutenant are conferred on Junior Commissioned Officers and other ranks in recognition of long and distinguished service, on the active list or at retirement — a distinct recognition track from gallantry.
GS Paper 2 > Polity > Awards, Honours and the Office of the President
General Awareness > Awards and Honours
CDS/AFCAT General Knowledge > Gallantry Awards and Armed Forces
General Awareness > Awards and Current Affairs
The "Param Vir Chakra" was replaced by which award after independence (referring to the British equivalent)?
Answer: Param Vir Chakra
Gallantry awards appear in SSC and defence exams every cycle, and the wartime-peacetime pairing is among the most repeated static-GK items in Indian competitive exams.
A device worn on the ribbon marking a second or subsequent award of the same decoration to the same person.
Formal recognition in official despatches of an act of gallantry not meriting a medal; represented by an oak-leaf emblem on the campaign ribbon.
A decoration conferred after the recipient's death; 13 of the 78 awards this year were posthumous, including 7 of the 9 Kirti Chakras.
The grant of an officer rank such as Honorary Captain or Honorary Lieutenant to Junior Commissioned Officers and other ranks in recognition of long service.
A counter-insurgency force of the Indian Army whose battalions are drawn from the regular regiments — the reason awardees are listed with both a parent regiment and an RR battalion.