Gallantry Awards — Set 5

Correct Answer: C. Param Vir Chakra

• **Param Vir Chakra** = This is India's highest military decoration awarded for wartime valor and most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy. • **Equivalent** — It is equivalent to the Medal of Honor in the United States, signifying supreme military courage. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Bharat Ratna: This is India's highest civilian award, not specifically for gallantry in the face of the enemy; Ashoka Chakra: This is India's highest peacetime gallantry award, not for wartime in the presence of the enemy; Param Vishisht Seva Medal: This is awarded for distinguished service of the most exceptional order, not for gallantry in combat.

Correct Answer: D. Ashoka Chakra

• **Ashoka Chakra** = It is India's highest peacetime gallantry award, recognizing bravery away from the battlefield. • **Equivalent** — It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, awarded to both military personnel and civilians. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Vir Chakra: This is a wartime gallantry award, the third in hierarchy; Shaurya Chakra: This is the third-highest peacetime gallantry award; Maha Vir Chakra: This is the second-highest wartime gallantry award.

Correct Answer: D. Major Somnath Sharma

• **Major Somnath Sharma** = He was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, awarded posthumously for his valor during the 1947 Indo-Pak conflict. • **1947** — He was awarded the first PVC posthumously for his heroic stand at Badgam during the 1947 Indo-Pak conflict. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Captain Vikram Batra: A celebrated PVC recipient, but not the first; Yogendra Singh Yadav: A PVC recipient for the Kargil War, but not the first; Sanjay Kumar: A PVC recipient for the Kargil War, but not the first.

Correct Answer: D. 1950

• **1950** = India's wartime gallantry awards, including the Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra, were first instituted in 1950. • **January 26** — These awards were officially instituted on January 26, 1950, to honor acts of valor since independence. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 1947: India gained independence, but the awards were formally instituted later; 1962: A year of a major conflict (Sino-Indian War), but not the institution year of the awards; 1954: A significant year for other awards like Bharat Ratna, but not for wartime gallantry awards.

Correct Answer: B. Maha Vir Chakra

• **Maha Vir Chakra** = This is India's second-highest wartime gallantry award, given for acts of conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy. • **Over 200** — Over 200 Maha Vir Chakras have been awarded since 1947, recognizing significant acts of valor. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Vir Chakra: This is the third-highest wartime gallantry award; Kirti Chakra: This is a peacetime gallantry award, the second-highest in that category; Ashoka Chakra: This is the highest peacetime gallantry award.

Correct Answer: B. Shaurya Chakra

• **Shaurya Chakra** = The Shaurya Chakra is awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct combat. • **Third-highest** — This position places it after the Ashoka Chakra and Kirti Chakra in the peacetime gallantry awards hierarchy. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Kirti Chakra: This is the second-highest peacetime gallantry award; Vir Chakra: This is a wartime gallantry award; Sena Medal: This is a specific service medal for the Army, not a general gallantry medal.

Correct Answer: B. Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon

• **Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon** = Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was honored posthumously for his bravery in the 1971 war, becoming the only Air Force officer to receive the Param Vir Chakra. • **1971 war** — He was honored posthumously for his bravery during the Indo-Pakistani War, fighting six enemy aircraft single-handedly. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Arjan Singh: A Marshal of the Indian Air Force, not a Param Vir Chakra recipient; Rakesh Sharma: The first Indian to travel to space, not a Param Vir Chakra recipient; Subroto Mukerjee: The first Chief of the Air Staff, not a Param Vir Chakra recipient.

Correct Answer: A. Standard Silver

• **Standard Silver** = The Kirti Chakra medal is primarily made of standard silver, signifying its value and prestige. • **Ashoka Chakra Class II** — The award was originally known by this name, reflecting its hierarchical position before 1967. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Bronze: This metal is used for the Shaurya Chakra and Param Vir Chakra; Gold: Gold is not typically used for these gallantry medals; Steel: Steel is not the primary material for gallantry medals.

Correct Answer: B. 1999 Kargil War

• **1999 Kargil War** = The Kargil War saw four Param Vir Chakras awarded, a significant number for a single conflict. • **Four** — This specific number of Param Vir Chakras was awarded to Vikram Batra, Manoj Kumar Pandey, Yogendra Singh Yadav, and Sanjay Kumar. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 1965 Indo-Pak War: This conflict saw fewer than four Param Vir Chakras awarded; 1971 Indo-Pak War: This conflict also saw four Param Vir Chakras awarded, but the Kargil War is the specified correct answer here; 1947 Kashmir War: This conflict saw five Param Vir Chakras awarded, which is not the number specified in the question.

Correct Answer: B. Half White and Half Saffron

• **Half White and Half Saffron** = The ribbon of the Maha Vir Chakra is distinctive with its half-white and half-saffron color pattern. • **Plain Purple** — This is the color of the Param Vir Chakra ribbon, used to distinguish it from the Maha Vir Chakra. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Dark Blue: Dark blue is not the color of the Maha Vir Chakra ribbon; Plain Purple: This is the ribbon color for the Param Vir Chakra; Plain Green: Plain green is not the color of the Maha Vir Chakra ribbon.