Military Awards & PVC
Defence GK · सैन्य पुरस्कार और PVC
📋Quick Overview
India's military honours system has two categories: wartime gallantry awards and peacetime gallantry awards. The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is the highest military award, equivalent to Britain's Victoria Cross. It was established in 1950 and has been awarded 21 times, with 14 being posthumous. The award was designed by Savitri Khanolkar (Eva Yvonne Maday de Maros), a Swiss-born Indian woman.
The PVC is cast from the metal of enemy guns captured during the 1947-48 Kashmir war. First PVC: Major Somnath Sharma (posthumous, 1947 war).
📖India's Military Awards — Hierarchy
| Award | Category | Rank | Established |
|---|---|---|---|
| Param Vir Chakra (PVC) | Wartime Gallantry | 1st (Highest) | 1950 |
| Mahavir Chakra (MVC) | Wartime Gallantry | 2nd | 1950 |
| Vir Chakra (VC) | Wartime Gallantry | 3rd | 1950 |
| Ashoka Chakra (AC) | Peacetime Gallantry | 1st (Highest) | 1952 |
| Kirti Chakra (KC) | Peacetime Gallantry | 2nd | 1952 |
| Shaurya Chakra (SC) | Peacetime Gallantry | 3rd | 1952 |
| Sena Medal / Nao Sena Medal / Vayu Sena Medal | Service Gallantry | For each service | 1960 |
📖All Param Vir Chakra Recipients
| Recipient | Service | War/Year | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Somnath Sharma† | 4 Kumaon | 1947 War | Badgam — died holding off tribal raiders till reinforcements arrived |
| Subedar Joginder Singh† | 1 Sikh | 1962 War | Tongpen La — fought off Chinese attack till last breath |
| Major Dhan Singh Thapa | 8 Gorkha Rifles | 1962 War | Sirijap — lone survivor of post attack; captured; survived |
| CQMH Abdul Hamid† | 4 Grenadiers | 1965 War | Asal Uttar — destroyed Patton tanks with RCL rifle |
| Lt. Col. A.B. Tarapore† | Poona Horse | 1965 War | Phillora — commanded tank regiment; killed in action |
| 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal† | Poona Horse | 1971 War | Basantar River — held back Pakistani armour alone at 21 |
| Capt. Vikram Batra† | 13 JAK Rif | Kargil 1999 | Point 4875 — 'Yeh dil maange more'; killed Jul 7 |
| Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav | 18 Grenadiers | Kargil 1999 | Tiger Hill — youngest PVC; survived multiple gunshots |
Note: † denotes posthumous award. Total PVC awards: 21 (as of 2024). War-wise: 1947-48: 3, 1961 Goa: 1, 1962: 3, 1965: 6, 1971: 4+, Kargil 1999: 4. The last PVC was awarded to Lt. Manoj Kumar Pandey (posthumous, Kargil 1999, Batalik sector).
📝Key Facts About PVC
- •Designed by: Savitri Khanolkar (born Eva Yvonne Maday de Maros in Switzerland)
- •Made from: Bronze of captured enemy guns from the 1947-48 war
- •Established: January 26, 1950
- •Symbol: Indra's Vajra flanked by 4 lotus flowers on each arc
- •Youngest PVC: Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav (19 years, Kargil)
- •Only living field PVC in 1965 war: Major Dhan Singh Thapa, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, Capt. Bana Singh (Siachen, 1987)