Kirti Chakra

The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. It is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards; it comes after Ashoka Chakra and before Shaurya Chakra. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class II.

This article is about the Indian Gallantry award. For the 2006 Malayalam film, see Keerthi Chakra (film).

Kirti Chakra


Kirti Chakra and its ribbon, the second highest peacetime decoration of India
TypeMedal
Awarded forAwarded for conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy.[1]
Country Republic of India
Presented by Republic of India
Eligibility
  • Officers, men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces.
  • Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces.
  • Civilian Citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway protection Force.[2]
Post-nominalsKC
StatusCurrently Awarded
Established1952
First awarded1952
Last awarded2019[3]
Total awarded posthumously198
Total recipients458 (As of 2017)[4]
Precedence
Next (higher)Param Vishisht Seva Medal[5]
EquivalentMaha Vir Chakra[5]
Next (lower)Padma Shri[5]

History

Established as the "Ashoka Chakra, Class II" by the President of India, 4 January 1952 (with effect from 15 August 1947). The statutes were revised and the decoration renamed on 27 January 1967.

To understand the award better, a sample recipient would be No. 18161 Naik Mukhtiar Singh, 4 J. & K. Infantry (to date from 19 March 1956).

"On the night of 18/19 March 1956, the position occupied by our troops on the Bela at Hussainiwala Headworks, near Ferozepore on the Indo-Pakistani Border was attacked. Approximately one platoon of attackers managed to secure a foothold on the Bela from the left flank. On being ordered by his platoon commander to take his section to the threatened flank and stem the advance, No. 18161 Naik Mukhtiar Singh personally led his section through heavy automatic fire. He inflicted two casualties on the attackers, captured their rifles and led his section up to the right Guide Bund and secured his objective. Whilst his section was securing the objective on the Bund, a hand grenade landed near him in the midst of his section. To save his section, he lifted the grenade with his left hand and tried to throw it back on the attackers. The grenade exploded in the meantime and his left elbow was blown off. Though seriously wounded he continued to exhort his men to fight on and refused to be evacuated. No. 18161 Naik Mukhtiar Singh by his high example of personal leadership, courage and complete disregard for his personal safety averted a disaster to his section and to the Bela Position."[6]

Design


Medal : It is circular in shape and is made of standard silver, one and three eight inches in diameter.


Obverse : On the obverse of the medal shall be embossed a replica of Ashoka Chakra in the centre, surrounded by a lotus wreath.


Reverse :On its reverse shall be embossed the words KIRTI CHAKRA both in Hindi and in English the versions being separated by two lotus flowers.For pre-1967 awards, the medal is blank in the centre, with "Ashoka Chakra" in Hindi along the upper edge on the medal and the same name in English along the lower rim, "ASHOKA CHAKRA". On either side is a lotus design. The centre is blank, perhaps with the intent that details of the award be engraved there. There is no indication of the class on the pre-1967 awards. For the post-1967 awards, the, names are changed to "Kirti Chakra" in Hindi above and "KIRTI CHAKRA" below.


Ribbon : 30 mm, dark green with two 2 mm saffron stripes. Dark green 8.5 mm, saffron 2 mm, dark green 9 mm, saffron 2 mm, dark green 8.5 mm.


Bar : If a recipient of the Chakra again performs such an act of gallantry as would have made him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, such further act of bravery shall be recognised by a Bar to be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended. For every Bar awarded, a replica of the Chakra in miniature shall be added to the riband when worn alone.

Eligibility

Personnel Eligible: The following categories of personnel shall be eligible for the Chakra :-

  • Officers, men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted Armed Forces.
  • Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces.
  • Civilian citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway Protection Force.

Conditions of Eligibility: The medal is awarded for conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy. The decoration may be awarded posthumously. Monetary Allowance. Rs. 1050/- pm and each bar to the decoration will carry the same amount of monetary allowance as admissible to the original award with effect from 01.02.1999.

Recipients
NumberRankNameRegimentDateNotes
Major Tushar Gauba

Prakash jadhav

 20 Jat 2019
Major Vijayant Bisht 4 Jak LI 2018 MAJOR VIJAYANT BISHT, 4TH BATTALION THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY
Sawar Vijay Kumar Indian Army 2019
IC-63798F Major Rohit Suri 4 Para (SF) 2017 [7]
IC-42851N 2 Lt Pradipta Narayan Mohapatra 14 Sikh Light Infantry 1986 [8]
5047749K Havaldar Prem Bahadur Resmi Magar 3/1 Gorkha Rifles 2016 Posthumous[7]
BSF OfficerNarindra Nath Dhar Dubey2012
MAJ JS Tanwar 32 RR
IC-70886 LT Vikas Sharma 6 PARA 2011 [9]
IC-61562CaptainVishal BhandralGarhwal Rifles, 14 RR2007Posthumous
HavaldarPremnath RaiEME, 833 ARMD WKSP, 618 EME BN1989Posthumous
IC-54327MajorManish Hiraji Pitambare3 Para (SF)2007Posthumous
IC-47050COLGurbir Singh SarnaGDRS, 29 RR (Indian Army)2007[10]Posthumous
SS-39680 Maj James Thomas 10 Sikh Light Infantry 2006 Posthumous
Captain R Subramanian 1 Para (SF) 2001 Posthumous[11]
SR CD GUNNER N Kelman Indian Navy 1962 [12]
67103ORD S/MBachan SinghIndian Navy1962[12]
66901ORD S/MVPS TomarIndian Navy1962[12]

Brig. Ransher Singh Ranawat (Kankarwa, Mewar), 9th Brigade of the Guards, 1971 Indo-Pak war

49416PO TAS IGUR IQBAL SINGH (P)Indian Navy1974
04988-KLT CDRAbhilash TomyIndian Navy2013
Wing CommanderRavish MalhotraIndian Air Force1984
SPVinod Kumar ChoubeyIndian Police Service2009Posthumous[13]
IC - 51821MajorAjay Kothiyal4 Garhwal Rifles2004[14]
IC - 52871Lt. Col.Saurabh Singh Shekhawat21 SF Para2009[15]
IPSAjit DovalIndian Police Service1988
InspectorLohit Sonowal Assam Police Commando Battalion2013Posthumous
IFS OfficerPandillapalli Srinivas Special task force - Veerappan1992Posthumous
LieutenantBharani Prakash5 Jak LI2000
IC-67270FMajorAnup Joseph ManjaliBihar Regiment/24th Battalion, The Rashtriya Rifles2012[16][17]
IC-70971CaptainVikrant Ajit Deshmukh8 Madras2011[18][19]
IC-65454FMajorMahesh Kumar(SM, PUNJAB, 22 RR )Indian Army2013[20]
SS-43887YMajorDavid ManlunTHE NAGA REGIMENT, 164 INFANTRY BATTALION (TERRITORIAL ARMY) (HOME & HEARTH) NAGA2017Posthumous[21][22]
IC-52777MajorAvinash Singh Bhadauria( MADRAS, 8 RR ) Indian Army2002Posthumous[23]
25107 F(P)Wing CommanderDarryl CastelinoIndian Air Force2013Posthumous[24]
Havildar Badri Lal Lunawat 10 Para (SF) 1998[25]
Wing Commander Balakrishna Pillai Sreebhavan Krishnakumar Indian Airforce 2005[26]

Wing Commander Nedyam Bhaskar Menon Indian Airforce Award Date 28 Jan 1956 [27]

Trivia

Only one Soldier has been awarded both the Kirti Chakra and the Ashok Chakra, making him the most decorated soldier (for bravery) in India; Col N. J. Nair, 16 MLI.

Outline:

  • Ashoka Chakra, Class II (1952–67)
  • Kirti Chakra (1967--)

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRQ99muZKcA
  4. "Awardees - Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  5. "Precedence Of Medals". indianarmy.nic.in/. Indian Army. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  6. No. 4-Pres/57 of 26 January 1957, in Gazette of India, part I, section 1, 26 January 1957, p. 22.
  7. "List of Awardees 2017" (PDF). Pibphoto.nic.in. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  8. "AWARDEES - KIRTI CHAKRA - Gallantry Awards". Gallantryawards.gov.in. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  9. "AWARDEES - KIRTI CHAKRA - Gallantry Awards". Gallantryawards.gov.in. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "CAPT R SUBRAMANIAN KIRTI CHAKRA (Posthumous)". Gallantry Awards. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Press Information Bureau". Pib.nic.in. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  14. "AJAY KOTHIYAL, SC". Gallantryawards.gov.in. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  15. "LT COL SAURABH SINGH SHEKHAWAT, SC, SM, VSM".
  16. "Major Anup Joseph awarded Kirti Chakra". Thehindu.com. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  17. "Republic Day 2013 Gallantry Awards". Stratpost.com. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  18. "President presents gallantry awards to defence personnel". Thehindu.com. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  19. "Army Roll of Honor". Stratpost.com. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 August 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. "DAVID MANLUN - Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  22. "President honours Major David Manlun of the Naga Regiment with Kirti Chakra". YouTube. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  23. "MAJ AVINASH SINGH BHADAURIA - Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  24. http://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/wing-commander-darryl-castelino
  25. "HAV BADRI LAL LUNAWAT KIRTI CHAKRA". Gallantry Awards. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  26. "WING COMMANDER BALAKRISHNA PILLAI SREEBHAVAN KRISHNA KUMAR KIRTI CHAKRA". Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  27. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/2994
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