President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other dignitaries at the Defence Investiture Ceremony-II at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on November 23, 2021. (PIB)
New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, presented Gallantry Awards and Distinguished Service Decorations for the year 2021 at two Defence Investiture Ceremonies at Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 23, 2021.
While the Defence Investiture Ceremony-I was held in the morning, the Defence Investiture Ceremony-II was held in the evening.
Here is the list of Awardees in order of presentation at Defence Investiture Ceremony-I:
Here is the list of Awardees in order of presentation at Defence Investiture Ceremony-II:
It’s notable that post-independence, first three gallantry awards namely Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra were instituted by the Government of India on January 26, 1950 which were deemed to have effect from the August 15, 1947.
Thereafter, other three gallantry awards i.e. Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Ashoka Chakra Class-II and Ashoka Chakra Class-III were instituted by the Government of India on January 4, 1952, which were deemed to have effect from the August 15, 1947. These awards were renamed as Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra respectively in January, 1967.
These gallantry awards are announced twice in a year – first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day. The order of precedence of these awards is the Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.
The wartime Chakra series awards include the highest Paramvir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra and Vir Chakra. The peacetime highest gallantry awards include Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.
Gallantry awards along with some other Defence Distinguished Service awards are conferred to the awardees/Next-of-Kins (NoKs) by the President at the Defence Investiture Ceremony held every year at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. However, the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashoka Chakra are conferred by the President to the awardees/NoKs on the occasion of the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath.
While Param Vishisht Seva Medals and Ati Vishisht Seva Medals are Peacetime Distinguished Service Decorations, Uttam Yudh Seva Medals are Wartime Distinguished Service Decorations. (PW News)
