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Culture & Knowledge Cluster96 Verified Questions
Gallantry & Military Awards of India GK Questions & Answers
The gallantry awards of the Republic of India were officially instituted on January 26, 1950, by the President of India, with retrospective effect from August 15, 1947, to recognize exceptional acts of valor and self-sacrifice. Indian gallantry decorations are categorized into Wartime and Peacetime honours. The wartime hierarchy comprises the Param Vir Chakra (PVC)—the highest military decoration for conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy—followed by the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) and the Vir Chakra (VrC). Peacetime gallantry awards, instituted on January 4, 1952, as Ashoka Chakra Classes I, II, and III and renamed in 1967, comprise the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra. The physical Param Vir Chakra medallion was designed by Savitri Khanolkar (born Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros), featuring four replicas of Indra's Vajra surrounding the State Emblem, symbolizing the sacrifice of Rishi Dadhichi. Major Somnath Sharma of the 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment, was posthumously conferred the inaugural Param Vir Chakra for his defense of Srinagar airfield at the Battle of Badgam in November 1947. To date, 21 personnel have received the PVC, including Captain Vikram Batra and Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey during Operation Vijay in the 1999 Kargil War.
High-yield conceptual summaries for competitive exams and rapid revision.
The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest wartime military decoration, instituted on January 26, 1950 with retrospective effect from August 15, 1947, followed in precedence by the Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra.
Peacetime gallantry awards—Ashoka Chakra (equivalent to PVC), Kirti Chakra (equivalent to MVC), and Shaurya Chakra (equivalent to VrC)—were instituted in 1952 and renamed in 1967 for acts of valor away from the battlefield.
The PVC medal was designed by Savitri Khanolkar, featuring four replicas of Indra's Vajra crafted from Rishi Dadhichi's bones flanking the Ashoka Lion Capitol on a circular bronze disc.
Major Somnath Sharma of the 4th Kumaon Regiment was the inaugural recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, awarded posthumously for valor during the Battle of Badgam on November 3, 1947.
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon remains the sole Indian Air Force recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, awarded posthumously for defending Srinagar air base during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
Showing 25 Curated Questions96 Total in Bank
1ID: GK-AWRD-00479
easyGallantry Military Awards
Who was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), awarded posthumously for supreme sacrifice during the Battle of Badgam in November 1947?
Verified Explanation
Major Somnath Sharma of the 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment, was posthumously awarded India's first Param Vir Chakra for heroism in Kashmir in 1947.
2ID: GK-AWRD-00493
mediumGallantry Military Awards
What is the distinct solid color of the ribbon attached to India's Param Vir Chakra medal?
Verified Explanation
The Param Vir Chakra medal is suspended from a 32 mm wide plain purple ribbon.
3ID: GK-AWRD-00505
mediumGallantry Military Awards
Who was the only officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra, conferred posthumously for valor during the 1971 Battle of Srinagar Airfield?
Verified Explanation
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon is the sole IAF recipient of the Param Vir Chakra for defending Srinagar air base against six PAF Sabre jets in his Gnat aircraft on 14 December 1971.
4ID: GK-AWRD-00553
mediumGallantry Military Awards
Who was the first recipient of India's highest wartime gallantry decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, awarded posthumously for supreme sacrifice during the Battle of Badgam in November 1947?
Verified Explanation
Major Somnath Sharma of the 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment, received the first Param Vir Chakra posthumously for defending Srinagar airfield against tribal invaders at Badgam on 3 November 1947.
5ID: GK-AWRD-00570
mediumGallantry Military Awards
Who designed the distinctive circular bronze medal and motif of India's highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra, incorporating Indra's Vajra weapon?
Verified Explanation
Savitri Khanolkar (born Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros in Switzerland), wife of Major General Vikram Khanolkar, was commissioned to design the Param Vir Chakra, featuring four replicas of Indra's Vajra surrounding the state emblem.
6ID: GK-INDM-00839
hardGeneral Facts, Superlatives & Important National Days
The Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest wartime gallantry decoration, was designed by which artist who drew inspiration from Sage Dadhichi's Vajra?
Verified Explanation
The Param Vir Chakra medal was designed by Savitri Khanolkar (born Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros in Switzerland), wife of Major General Vikram Khanolkar, at the request of the Ministry of Defence in 1947. She incorporated the motif of Indra's Vajra, fashioned from the bones of Sage Dadhichi, on a circular bronze medal.
7ID: GK-AWRD-00245
hardGallantry Military Awards
What is the distinctive solid color of the 32 mm silk ribbon on which the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) medallion is suspended?
Verified Explanation
Designed by Savitri Khanolkar (born Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros), the circular bronze Param Vir Chakra medal hangs from a plain purple silk ribbon.
8ID: GK-AWRD-00259
easyGallantry Military Awards
Which officer of 13 JAK Rifles was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for capturing Point 5140 and Point 4875 during the 1999 Kargil War with the battle cry 'Yeh Dil Maange More'?
Verified Explanation
Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded India's highest wartime gallantry medal, the Param Vir Chakra, for his exceptional bravery on the peaks of Kargil in July 1999.
9ID: GK-AWRD-00293
hardGallantry Military Awards
Who was the legendary Gorkha Rifles officer who was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra in the 1948 Indo-Pak War and became the first living recipient of the Param Vir Chakra for his heroism in the 1962 Sino-Indian War?
Verified Explanation
Major Dhan Singh Thapa of 1/8 Gorkha Rifles led the defense of the Sirijap post in Ladakh against overwhelming Chinese forces in October 1962, surviving as a POW to receive the Param Vir Chakra.
10ID: GK-AWRD-00332
mediumGallantry Military Awards
What is the color and width of the official ribbon of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) medallion?
Verified Explanation
The Param Vir Chakra medal is suspended from a plain purple ribbon 32 mm in length, worn on the left chest.
11ID: GK-AWRD-00393
hardGallantry Military Awards
Who designed the Param Vir Chakra medal, drawing inspiration from Sage Dadhichi's sacrifice of his bones to create Lord Indra's Vajra (thunderbolt)?
Verified Explanation
Swiss-born Savitri Khanolkar, wife of Major General Vikram Khanolkar, designed the Param Vir Chakra featuring Indra's Vajra flanked on four sides and the Ashoka Emblem in the center.
12ID: GK-AWRD-00405
hardGallantry Military Awards
What is the distinctive ribbon specification of the Param Vir Chakra, in accordance with the official Ministry of Defence uniform regulations?
Verified Explanation
The Param Vir Chakra medal is suspended from a plain purple silk ribbon 32 mm in width. (The Ashoka Chakra uses dark green with an orange stripe).
13ID: GK-AWRD-00428
easyGallantry Military Awards
Who designed the Param Vir Chakra medal, incorporating four replicas of Indra's Vajra surrounding the Ashoka Lion Capitol?
Verified Explanation
Savitri Khanolkar (born Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros in Switzerland), wife of Major General Vikram Khanolkar, was commissioned by the Indian Army to design the Param Vir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, and Vir Chakra.
14ID: GK-AWRD-00435
mediumGallantry Military Awards
Who was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, posthumously honoured for his heroic defence of Srinagar airfield during the Battle of Badgam in November 1947?
Verified Explanation
Major Somnath Sharma of the 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment, was posthumously awarded the first Param Vir Chakra for holding off Pakistani raiders at Badgam on 3 November 1947.
15ID: GK-AWRD-00461
hardGallantry Military Awards
Who is the youngest recipient in Indian military history to be decorated with the Param Vir Chakra, awarded at age 19 for superhuman courage during the capture of Tiger Hill in the 1999 Kargil War?
Verified Explanation
Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav of the 18 Grenadiers was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for climbing a vertical cliff face under heavy fire and capturing enemy bunkers on Tiger Hill on 4 July 1999 at age 19.
16ID: GK-AWRD-00634
hardNational Civilian Honours
Who designed the original medal, ribbon, and motif of the Param Vir Chakra, incorporating the Vajra (thunderbolt) of Sage Dadhichi on a purple ribbon at the request of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru?
Verified Explanation
Savitri Khanolkar, a Swiss-born artist who married Major General Vikram Khanolkar of the Indian Army, designed the Param Vir Chakra featuring four replicas of Indra's Vajra surrounding the Ashoka emblem.
17ID: GK-INDM-00502
mediumFirst in India (Male)
Who was the first recipient of the prestigious Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest wartime gallantry decoration, awarded posthumously in 1947?
Verified Explanation
Major Somnath Sharma of 4 Kumaon Regiment was posthumously awarded the first Param Vir Chakra for supreme bravery during the Battle of Badgam in November 1947.
18ID: GK-INDM-00589
hardFirst in India (Male)
Who was the first Indian to be awarded the prestigious Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest wartime gallantry decoration, awarded posthumously for heroism during the 1947 Battle of Badgam?
Verified Explanation
Major Somnath Sharma of 4 Kumaon Regiment was posthumously awarded India's first Param Vir Chakra for holding off Pakistani raiders at Badgam near Srinagar airport on 3 November 1947.
19ID: GK-AWRD-00499
mediumGallantry Military Awards
Who was the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, awarded posthumously for supreme courage in the Battle of Basantar during the 1971 Indo-Pak War at age 21?
Verified Explanation
2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal of the 17 Poona Horse single-handedly destroyed multiple enemy tanks at the Battle of Basantar on 16 December 1971 before making the supreme sacrifice at age 21.
20ID: GK-AWRD-00519
hardGallantry Military Awards
Which military officer captured Pakistan's "Quaid Post" at an altitude of 21,153 feet on the Siachen Glacier in 1987, winning the Param Vir Chakra and having the post renamed in his honor?
Verified Explanation
Bana Singh led "Operation Rajiv" in June 1987 to capture the strategic Pakistani stronghold on Siachen Glacier, which was subsequently renamed "Bana Top".
21ID: GK-AWRD-00525
hardGallantry Military Awards
During the 1999 Kargil War, who coined the iconic victory slogan "Yeh Dil Maange More!" before capturing Point 5140 and Point 4875, earning a posthumous Param Vir Chakra?
Verified Explanation
Captain Vikram Batra of 13 JAK Rifles displayed legendary heroism in capturing strategic peaks in Kargil before laying down his life on 7 July 1999.
22ID: GK-AWRD-00583
hardGallantry Military Awards
During the 1999 Kargil War (Operation Vijay), which four brave soldiers were awarded the Param Vir Chakra for extraordinary heroism in recapturing Point 4875, Tiger Hill, and Tololing?
Verified Explanation
Capt. Vikram Batra (13 JAK Rifles, posthumous), Lt. Manoj Kumar Pandey (1/11 Gorkha Rifles, posthumous), Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav (18 Grenadiers), and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar (13 JAK Rifles) received the PVC in the 1999 Kargil conflict.
23ID: GK-DEF-00571
hardHistoric Military Operations
Which 13 JAK RIF officer, codenamed 'Sher Shah', was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his conspicuous bravery during the recapture of Point 5140 and Point 4875 in the 1999 Kargil War?
Verified Explanation
Captain Vikram Batra uttered the famous victory slogan 'Yeh Dil Maange More!' after capturing Point 5140 and laid down his life on 7 July 1999 while securing Point 4875 (Batra Top).
24ID: GK-DEF-00581
hardIndian Army Navy Airforce
Which 21-year-old Second Lieutenant of 17 Poona Horse became the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra for destroying 10 enemy Patton tanks in the Battle of Basantar during the 1971 war?
Verified Explanation
Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (1950–1971) refused to abandon his burning Centurion tank 'Famagusta', delivering his famous final message: 'No, Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My main gun is still working and I will get these bastards.'
25ID: GK-DEF-00586
hardIndian Army Navy Airforce
Who remains the only officer of the Indian Air Force to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra, recognized for defending Srinagar airfield in a Folland Gnat against six Sabre jets on 14 December 1971?
Verified Explanation
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon of No. 18 Squadron ('Flying Bullets') engaged Pakistani F-86 Sabres single-handedly at low altitude, shooting down two enemy aircraft before his Gnat crashed.