Gallantry Awards — Set 5

Correct Answer: C. Param Vir Chakra

The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration for wartime valor. It is equivalent to the Medal of Honor in the United States. It is primarily awarded for 'most conspicuous bravery' in battle.

Correct Answer: D. Ashoka Chakra

The Ashoka Chakra is the highest honor for bravery away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra. It can be awarded to military personnel as well as civilians.

Correct Answer: D. Major Somnath Sharma

Major Somnath Sharma was posthumously awarded the first PVC for his courage during the 1947 Indo-Pak conflict. He belonged to the Kumaon Regiment. His heroic stand at Badgam saved the Srinagar airport.

Correct Answer: D. 1950

The Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra were instituted on January 26, 1950. They were designed to honor acts of valor performed since independence. The medals were officially designed by Savitri Khanolkar.

Correct Answer: B. Maha Vir Chakra

The Maha Vir Chakra is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy. It is the silver medal equivalent of the wartime hierarchy. Over 200 of these have been awarded since 1947.

Correct Answer: B. Shaurya Chakra

The Shaurya Chakra is awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct combat. It ranks after the Kirti Chakra in the peacetime list. The medal is circular and made of bronze.

Correct Answer: B. Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon

Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was honored posthumously for his bravery in the 1971 war. He single-handedly fought six enemy aircraft to save the Srinagar base. His sacrifice remains the highest act of valor in IAF history.

Correct Answer: A. Standard Silver

The Kirti Chakra is made of standard silver and is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. It features a replica of the Ashoka Chakra in the center. The award was originally called the Ashoka Chakra Class II.

Correct Answer: B. 1999 Kargil War

Four PVCs were awarded for the Kargil Conflict to Vikram Batra, Manoj Kumar Pandey, Yogendra Singh Yadav, and Sanjay Kumar. This was a high-altitude war fought in the mountains of Ladakh. It is one of the most well-documented conflicts in modern Indian history.

Correct Answer: B. Half White and Half Saffron

The ribbon of the Maha Vir Chakra is half-white and half-saffron in color. This helps distinguish it from the plain purple ribbon of the Param Vir Chakra. Saffron represents sacrifice and white represents peace and truth.