Param Vir Chakra (PVC) Overview
The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest military decoration, awarded for exceptional bravery and self-sacrifice in the face of the enemy. It is equivalent to the British Victoria Cross, the US Medal of Honor, the French Legion of Honor, and the Russian Cross of St. George. This prestigious award can be conferred posthumously.
Introduced on 26th January 1950, the Param Vir Chakra translates to the "Wheel of the Ultimate Brave." In Sanskrit, "Param" means ultimate, "Vir" (pronounced veer) means brave, and "Chakra" means wheel.
The award is open to officers, men, and women of all ranks from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, including Reserve Forces, Territorial Army, Militia, and other lawfully constituted Armed Forces. Recipients receive a monthly allowance of ₹3,000, with an additional ₹3,000 per bar for subsequent awards.
History of Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
After India became independent, the British system of military awards was no longer used. However, during the Jammu and Kashmir conflict, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru decided that India needed its own bravery awards for soldiers. Since both India and Pakistan could still give British awards, leaders felt it was not right to honor soldiers from opposing forces with the same medals.
So, in June 1948, India created three new awards for bravery in war:
- Param Vir Chakra (PVC) – The Highest honor
- Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) – The Second-highest honor
- Vir Chakra (VrC) – The Third-highest honor
Nehru asked Major General Hira Lal Atal, India's first Adjutant General, to organize the PVC. He asked Savitri Khanolkar, the wife of Major Vikram Khanolkar of the Sikh Regiment, to design the medal. Coincidentally, the first-ever Param Vir Chakra was given to Major Somnath Sharma, who was married to the daughter of Savitri Khanolkar.
Param Vir Chakra (PVC) Recipient List (1947-1999)
| Images | Recipient Name | Service | War Date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Somnath Sharma | Kumaon Regiment | 17 July 1948* |
|
Jadunath Singh | Rajput Regiment | |
|
Rama Raghoba Rane | Bombay Sappers | |
|
Piru Singh | Rajputana Rifles | |
|
Karam Singh | Sikh Regiment | |
|
Gurbachan Singh Salaria | 1 Gorkha Rifles | |
|
Dhan Singh Thapa | 8 Gorkha Rifles | |
|
Joginder Singh | Sikh Regiment | |
|
Shaitan Singh | Kumaon Regiment | |
|
Abdul Hamid | The Grenadiers | |
|
Ardeshir Tarapore | Poona Horse | |
|
Albert Ekka | Brigade of the Guards | |
|
Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon | No. 18 Squadron IAF | |
|
Arun Khetarpal | Poona Horse | |
|
Hoshiar Singh Dahiya | The Grenadiers | |
|
Bana Singh | Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry | |
|
Ramaswamy Parameshwaran | Mahar Regiment | |
|
Manoj Kumar Pandey | 11 Gorkha Rifles | |
|
Yogendra Singh Yadav | The Grenadiers | |
|
Sanjay Kumar | Jammu and Kashmir Rifles | |
|
Vikram Batra | Jammu and Kashmir Rifles |
Param Vir Chakra (PVC) Facts
- The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) has been awarded 21 times in total.
- Out of these, 14 awards were given after the soldiers had passed away (posthumously).
- 16 awards were given for bravery shown during the Indo-Pakistani wars.
- Most winners (20) were from the Indian Army, and only 1 was from the Indian Air Force.
- The Grenadiers regiment has received the highest number of PVC awards (3 awards).
- Gorkha Rifle regiments have also received 3 awards in total, with the 1st, 8th, and 11th Gorkha Rifles each getting one.
- Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon is the only Indian Air Force officer to receive the PVC, awarded after his death in 1971.
- There are only three living Param Vir Chakra awardees:
- Subedar Major Bana Singh
- Subedar Sanjay Kumar
- Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav
