Context:
President of India, Droupadi Murmu presented Gallantry Awards at the Defence Investiture Ceremony.
Gallantry Awards:
- Instituted by the Government of India to honour the acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted Forces and civilians.
- Order of precedence – Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.
- Announced twice a year
- 1st on the occasion of the Republic Day.
- 2nd on the occasion of the Independence Day.
- All the gallantry awards may be awarded posthumously.
- Eligible persons include –
- Officers and men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces.
- Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces.
- Civilian citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces, including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway Protection Force.
- Persons recommended for the award shall not be involved in any adverse report or should not have been conveyed any displeasure or censure or given any punishment in a court martial proceeding or through administrative action.
Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra & Vir Chakra:
- Awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime.
Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra & Shaurya Chakra:
- Ashoka Chakra – Highest military award during peacetime for the most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice.
- Kirti Chakra – For conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy.
- Shaurya Chakra – For gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:
1. Bharat Ratna and Padma awards are titles under the Article 18 (1) of the Constitution of India.
2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.
Which of the above statements are not correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect.
National awards such as Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri do not amount to titles within the meaning of Article 18(1) of the Constitution thus cannot be used as prefixes or suffixes to the name of the recipient in any manner.
Statement 2 is incorrect.
There were 2 interrupted years – 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997
Statement 3 is incorrect.
A maximum of 3 people can be awarded the Bharat Ratna.
