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Gallantry and Civilian Awards
A compact, tabular revision of India's military gallantry awards, peacetime decorations and the order of precedence, plus civilian and police awards, for CAPF Paper I and the interview
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At a glance
SubjectStatic GK
RevisionStatic GKAwardsGallantryInternal SecurityPaper 1
One screen per section. Cover the right column and test yourself. The award names, their order and the conditions of award are durable static facts; the latest recipients change each year (Republic Day and Independence Day announcements), so for any named recipient verify the latest. This sheet pairs with padma and bharat ratna notes on the civilian honours.
| Award |
Note |
| Param Vir Chakra (PVC) |
Highest wartime gallantry award; first recipient Major Somnath Sharma (1947) |
| Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) |
Second-highest wartime gallantry award |
| Vir Chakra (VrC) |
Third wartime gallantry award |
| Award |
Note |
| Ashoka Chakra |
Highest peacetime gallantry award (equivalent of the PVC) |
| Kirti Chakra |
Second peacetime gallantry award |
| Shaurya Chakra |
Third peacetime gallantry award |
| Award |
Note |
| Sarvottam Yuddh Seva Medal |
Highest distinguished service during war |
| Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) |
Highest peacetime distinguished service |
| Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) |
Distinguished service of an exceptional order |
| Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) |
Distinguished service of a high order |
| Sena, Nao Sena, Vayu Sena Medals |
Service-specific gallantry and devotion-to-duty medals |
| Award |
Note |
| President's Police Medal for Gallantry |
Highest police gallantry award |
| Police Medal for Gallantry |
Gallantry recognition for police and CAPF personnel |
| President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service |
Distinguished service |
| Antarrashtriya Yog Diwas / internal-security medals |
Operation-specific medals are awarded by the MHA |
| Award |
Rank / note |
| Bharat Ratna |
Highest civilian award of India |
| Padma Vibhushan |
Second-highest civilian award |
| Padma Bhushan |
Third-highest civilian award |
| Padma Shri |
Fourth-highest civilian award |
These are detailed separately in padma and bharat ratna notes.
| Award |
Field |
| Jnanpith Award |
Literature (Indian languages) |
| Sahitya Akademi Award |
Literature |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award |
Cinema (lifetime achievement) |
| Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna |
Sports (highest sporting honour) |
| Arjuna Award |
Sports (outstanding performance over years) |
| Dronacharya Award |
Sports coaching |
| Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize |
Science and technology |
| Peg |
Recall |
| Highest wartime gallantry |
Param Vir Chakra |
| Highest peacetime gallantry |
Ashoka Chakra |
| First PVC recipient |
Major Somnath Sharma (1947) |
| Highest civilian award |
Bharat Ratna |
| Highest sporting award |
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna |