Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)

India's highest peacetime military decoration

The Ashoka Chakra Award is India's highest peacetime military decoration or award for courageous action or self-sacrificing away from the battlefield. This is awarded for the most notable bravery. Ashoka Chakra was awarded either to military-men as well as civilians.

Ashoka Chakra
अशोक चक्र


Ashoka Chakra and its ribbon, the highest peacetime decoration of India
Awarded by India Republic of India
CountryIndia Republic of India
TypeMedal
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.[1]
Awarded forAwarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice otherwise than in the face of the enemy.[1]
StatusCurrently Awarded
Post-nominalsAC
Statistics
Established1952
First awarded1952
Last awarded2016
Total awarded63
Posthumous
awards
&+
Precedence
Next (higher)Param Vir Chakra[2]
Next (lower)Padma Vibhushan[2]

Lieutenant Suhas Biswas was the first person to be awarded with Ashoka Chakra award in 1952.The awarded persons were paid Rs.1400 monthly.Ashoka Chakra was established on 4 January 1952.

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=p6xUHC5yMgV3Tyuw9ZIb6w==&ParentID=tFRV4t12pKRhSFm2sMq5yQ==
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Precedence Of Medals". Indian Army. Retrieved 9 September 2014.