Awards in India 2023: Know All Civilian and Gallantry Awards in India

Both central and state government of India gives awards to the people with noteworthy achievement  to respect and honour them. Every year, the list of people getting various awards by the government in India is very big. It is so because a lot of people mark great achievement in various fields. From a competitive exam point of view, students should have good knowledge about these awards. Many questions in popular exams SSC, Railways, State PSC, Banking, etc. are asked. In this post, we are going to provide you the list of Popular Awards in India 2023 including Civilian Awards and Gallantry Awards.

Latest Update – 939 police medals including 189 for gallantry were awarded last year on Republic Day.

Types of Awards in India

To honour the citizens of India in various fields, the government has classified the awards into two groups.

• Civilian Awards
• Gallantry Awards

List of Civilian Awards in India

Civilian Awards are given to those citizens who work exceptionally in their respective fields. These awards are presented to the recipients by the President of India on Republic Day. 1954 is the inception year of the Civilian Awards in India.

There are the following four types of civilian awards in India.

1. Bharat Ratna – 1^st degree of honour
2. Padma Vibhushan – 2^nd degree of honour
3. Padma Bhushan – 3^rd degree of honour
4. Padma Shri – 4^th degree of honour

Bharat Ratna

• Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian honour in India.
• Earlier, this award was given for exceptional work in the field of Science, Literature, Arts and Public Services.
• In the year 2013, sports is also added as one of the award categories.
• It is a bronze-toned award with the shape of a peepal leaf. Apart from this, the emblem of the sun is in the middle and the word “Bharat Ratna” is inscribed below the emblem in Devanagari Script.
• On the reverse side, the award has the state emblem and state motto.

Padma Vibhushan

• Padma Vibhushan is the 2^nd highest civilian award in India.
• This award is presented to those people who achieve great milestones in the field of Arts, Literature, Science, Public Services.
• It is a bronze-toned award with a circular shape along with a geometric pattern superimposed on the circle.
• In the centre of the circle, a lotus flower is embossed. Plus, the words “Padma” and “Vibushan” are inscribed above and below the lotus flower in Devnagri Script.
• The state emblem and state motto are marked on the reverse side of the award.

Padma Bhushan

• Padma Bhushan is the 3^rd highest civilian award in India.
• The award is given to the people with outstanding achievements in service in any field including service rendered by Government servants including doctors and scientists. Remember, this award is not given to those who are working with the public sector undertaking.
• In shape and size, the Padma Bhushan award is quite similar to the Padma Vibhushan. All the embossing is done in gold.

Padma Shri

• Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in India in the order of
• The award is presented to the people for achievements in any field including the service rendered by the Government employees.
• The shape of the award is a superimposition of a geometric pattern on the circle.
• The words “Padma” and “Shri” are between the lotus flower in the centre.
• Look wise, the award is very beautiful. All the embossing is done in stainless steel and the periphery is furnished in bronze.

List of Medals Awarded on Republic Day 2022

Check List-I

Check List-II

Check List-III

Check List-IV

List of Civilian Awards in India 2021

Note – Please note that no Bharat Ratna Award was given in the year 2021.  The list of Padma Awards is given below.

List of Padma Vibhushan Awardees

Padma Bhushan List

List of Padma Bhushan Awardees

Padma Shri Award List

List of Padma Shri Awards is given below

Gallantry Awards in India

Gallantry Awards are given to the personnel of the armed forces of India for their bravery and valour.

Currently, there are the following 6 types of Gallantry awards that are conferred in India (given in the order of precedence).

1. Param Vir Chakra
2. Ashoka Chakra
3. Mahavir Chakra
4. Kirti Chakra
5. Vir Chakra
6. Shaurya Chakra

List of Gallantry Awards in India

Param Vir Chakra

• Param Vir Chakra is the highest and the most prestigious Military Gallantry Award in India.
• This award is present to personnel who show a distinguished act of valour and courage at the time of the war.
• Param Vir Chakra is also known as the “Wheel of the Ultimate Brave”.
• The shape of this award is similar to a circular disc. The national emblem of India appears on the front side of the award. It is surrounded by four sets of vajra.
• On the reverse side of the award, there are 2 inscribed legends separate by lotus flowers. Plus, the words “Param Vir Chakra” are written in both Hindi and English language.

Mahavir Chakra

• Mahavir Chakra is the 2^nd highest military honour in India after Param Vir Chakra.
• The award is given to that personnel who display outstanding courage at the of war in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.
• Mahavir Chakra replaced the British Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
• The shape of this award is circular and it is made of silver.
• On the front side of the award, a five-pointed star with a circular centerpiece on which the state emblem of India is inscribed is embossed.
• On the reverse side of the award, the words “Mahavira Chakra” are written in Hindi and English language separated by two lotus flowers.

Vir Chakra

• Vir Chakra is the 3^rd highest honorary gallantry award in India.
• It is given to the personnel for an act of bravery in the presence of the enemy on the battlefield.
• The award is circular in shape and it has a five-pointed star with the wheel or chakra in the centre and the state emblem is inscribed.
• “Vir Chakra” is embossed in both Hindi and English language separated by lotus flowers around a plain centre.

Ashoka Chakra

• Ashoka Chakra is an award given to a person for showing amazing bravery or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.
• This award can be given to both civilians and military personnels.
• The shape of the award is circular and “Ashok Chakra” is written in both Hindi and English languages. Both versions are separated by two lotus flowers.
• The award is equivalent to the US Army’s peacetime Medal of Honour and the British George Cross.

Kirti Chakra

• Just like Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra is also given to both military personal and civilians.
• This award is given for showing alour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle.
• It is the peacetime award equivalent to the Maha Vir Chakra. It comes in between Ashoka Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.
• Before the year 1967, this award was known by the name of Ashoka Chakra Class II.
• In shape and style, the award looks like a replica of the Ashoka Chakra and it is surrounded by a lotus ring. On the backside, Kirti Chakra is written in both English and Hindi languages.

Shaurya Chakra

• Shaurya Chakra is a military gallantry award presented to those who show unprecedented valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy.
• The shape of the award is circular and it is bronze-toned. The word “Ashoka Chakra” is surrounded by a lotus wreath and an ornate edge.
• On the backside, the word “Ashoka Chakra” is inscribed in both Hindi and English language.

Interested Facts about Indian Gallantry Awards

• The first three gallantry awards – Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra came into existence after independence.
• The gallantry awards are presented twice a year on republic day and independence day.
• Other three gallantry awards – Ashok Chakra Class 1, Ashok Chakra Class II (Kirti Chakra), and Ashok Chakra Class III (Shaurya Chakra) was started in the year 1952.
• There is a fixed selection process for the Indian Gallantry Awards

Indian Gallantry Awards Selection Process

The basic selection process for Indian Gallantry Awards is explained below.

• In case of the Armed Force, the award is initiated by the Unit.
• The name recommended by the unit then sent to the Service Headquarters under the supervision of Commanders in the chain.
• The Award committee then verify the lists and get them to approve the chiefs of Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Finally, the list is sent to the ministry of defence.

List of Gallantry Awards & Awardees

The list of Indian Gallantry Awardees is as follows.

On 26^th January 2021 (Republic Day), the government of India Awarded the following gallantry awards

Mahavir Chakra

• Col Bikumalla Santosh Babu, 16 Bihar (Posthumous)

Vir Chakra

• NB Sub Nuduram Soren, 16 Bihar (Posthumous)
• Hav K Palani, 81 FD Regt (Posthumous)
• Hav Tejinder Singh, 3 Med REGT
• NK Deepak Singh, AMC, 16 Bihar (Posthumous)
• Sep Gurtej Singh, 3 Punjab (Posthumous)

Kirti Chakra

• Sub Sanjiv Kumar, 4 Para (SF) (Posthumous)

Shaurya Chakra

• Maj Anuj Sood, Guards, 21 RR (Posthumous)

Frequently Asked Questions