Gallantry Awards — Set 1
Awards & Honors · वीरता पुरस्कार · Questions 1–10 of 60
Which is the highest wartime gallantry award in India?
Correct Answer: A. Param Vir Chakra
The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy. It replaced the British Victoria Cross after India became a republic. Major Somnath Sharma was the first recipient of this prestigious honor.
What is the highest peacetime gallantry award in India?
Correct Answer: C. Ashoka Chakra
The Ashoka Chakra is awarded for valor or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is equivalent to the Param Vir Chakra but specifically for peacetime operations. It can be awarded to both military personnel and civilians.
Which award is the second-highest wartime gallantry honor in India?
Correct Answer: C. Maha Vir Chakra
The Maha Vir Chakra is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy. It is a silver medal featuring a five-pointed star and the state emblem in the center. Recipients are entitled to use the abbreviation 'MVC' as a post-nominal title.
The Kirti Chakra is the peacetime equivalent of which wartime award?
Correct Answer: D. Maha Vir Chakra
The Kirti Chakra occupies the same rank in the peacetime order as the Maha Vir Chakra does in wartime. It is awarded for conspicuous bravery otherwise than in the face of the enemy. The medal is made of standard silver and features a replica of the Ashoka Chakra.
Who was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra?
Correct Answer: A. Major Somnath Sharma
Major Somnath Sharma received the award posthumously for his bravery in the 1947 Indo-Pak war. He fought valiantly at Badgam to protect the Srinagar airfield from tribal invaders. His sacrifice played a key role in saving the Kashmir valley.
Which of these gallantry awards can be given to civilians?
Correct Answer: A. Ashoka Chakra
The Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra are the three peacetime awards open to civilians. These honors recognize courageous acts performed during non-war situations like anti-terrorist operations. Military wartime awards are exclusively reserved for members of the armed forces.
The ribbon of the Param Vir Chakra is of which color?
Correct Answer: C. Plain Purple
The Param Vir Chakra features a plain purple-colored ribbon. This distinct color helps in identifying the medal easily during ceremonial functions. The medal itself is made of bronze and features four replicas of Indra's Vajra.
Which award is the third-highest wartime gallantry decoration in India?
Correct Answer: D. Vir Chakra
The Vir Chakra is awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea, or in the air. It is made of standard silver and follows the Maha Vir Chakra in order of precedence. The medal features a hollowed center with a five-pointed star.
In which year were the first three gallantry awards (PVC, MVC, VrC) instituted?
Correct Answer: A. 1950
The government of India instituted the first three wartime gallantry awards on January 26, 1950. Although instituted in 1950, they were deemed to have come into effect from August 15, 1947. This was done to honor the heroes of the first conflict in Kashmir.
The Shaurya Chakra is the peacetime equivalent of which wartime award?
Correct Answer: C. Vir Chakra
The Shaurya Chakra is ranked third in the hierarchy of peacetime gallantry awards, equivalent to the Vir Chakra. It is awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct combat with the enemy. The medal is made of bronze.