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]
The Shaurya Chakra (lit.'Wheel of Gallantry') is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously. It is third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards and comes after the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra. It precedes the Yudh Seva Medal.
History
Established as the "Ashoka Chakra, Class III" 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. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class III. Subsequent awards of the Shaurya Chakra are recognized by a bar to the medal ribbon (to date five have been awarded). It is possible for a recipient to be awarded the Ashoka Chakra or Kirti Chakra in addition for separate acts of gallantry.
Since July 1999, it also being given to Civilians of either gender in all walks of life, other than members of Police Forces and of recognized Fire Services.[4] From 1 February 1999, the central government set a monthly stipend of Rs. 750 for recipients of the award. Jammu and Kashmir awards a cash award of Rs. 700 (ca. 1960) for recipients of the Shaurya Chakra.
Design
Medal: Circular bronze, 1-3/8 inches in diameter. In the centre, the Ashoka Chakra, surrounded by a lotus wreath and with an ornate edge. Suspended by a straight bar suspender. The medal is named on the edge.
Reverse: 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 "Shauryua Chakra" in Hindi above and "SHAURYA CHAKRA" below.
Ribbon: Green colour ribbon divided into four equal parts by three orange vertical lines.
Bar: If a recipient of the Chakra shall again perform such an act of gallantry as would have made him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, such further act of gallantry shall be recognised by a Bar to be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended and, for every subsequent act of gallantry, an additional Bar shall be added and such Bar or Bars may also be awarded posthumously. For every such Bar, a replica of the Chakra in miniature shall be added to the riband when worn alone.
Eligibility
It is the peacetime equivalent of the Vir Chakra. It is generally awarded for Counter-Insurgency operations and actions against the enemy during peace-time.
Following categories of persons are eligible for the Shaurya Chakra:
Officers and 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.
Nursing officers of military nursing service .
Civilian citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway Protection Force.
Shaurya Chakra was awarded in Investiture Ceremony that took place on 18 April 1963 for an action that took place on 26 October 1961 when as commander of a small petrol of 3 ORs was given a task to carry out reconnaissance of route from the patrol base at Jaura Dhok to Chinamarg Gali and beyond in high altitude snow covered mountains of Pir Panjal Range.
After the patrol covered approximately 4 miles it was fired upon by Pakistani infiltrators of much larger strength. In the encounter some infiltrators were killed others ran away leaving some of their arms and ammunition.
Thus the infiltrators failed in their mission of blowing up Kalai Bridge on Rajauri- Poonch road.
The Indian Government honored 2LT Dharam Datt Bhalla's bravery with the prestigious Shaurya Chakra award
On the day of February 23, 1998, a specific intelligence was received that some terrorists are hiding in the Saloor village of Srinagar with an intention to plot explosives on the way of the convoy of VIPs passing through that route. On the same night around 2100h, Sofi Mohalla of that village was cordoned by the army. The next day at 1100h in the morning while searching the last house of the locality Naik Urba Datt noticed some suspicious movement in the heap of hay on the rooftop. He immediately fired however the terrorists jumped off the rooftop into the Nala and ran towards the jungle of Nambal. To this, Naik Urba Dutt too jumped on the Nala and chased the terrorists with a daunting spirit. Despite being severely injured, he gunned down one militant and wounded another militant who succumbed to his injuries later on. This brave soldier also succumbed to his injuries and got martyred. Naik Urba Datt displayed indomitable courage and exemplary valor and laid down his supreme sacrifice on the line of duty for the nation.
CN Bodh's Shaurya Chakra citation:[8] "Lance Naik Chhering Norbu Bodh was selected as a member of the Indian Army Everest Expedition 2001. On 23 May 2001, he was part of the second summit team attempting to summit Everest, after having spent two nights at camp – III (26000 ft). However, blizzards forced them to turn back from 27,000ft. Though exhausted by the effort, he refused to accept defeat. On 23 May 2001, at 2200 hours, he commenced his attempt. Re-entering the Death Zone on Everest above 26,000ft at night required every ounce of physical and mental strength apart from conspicuous courage. He soon started losing strength due to cold, strong winds, poor snow conditions and lack of oxygen. But he continued doggedly and at the same time kept encouraging his team-mates. At Hillary Step he was thoroughly exhausted but in a superhuman effort, he marshalled his remaining energy and clawed his way up the dangerous precipice of rock covered with verglas. His mind fought against loss of energy, numbness in fingers and toes and lack of oxygen but he made it through the step. Then with very little left in him except his mental strength and determination, he willed his body to move. Through this great effort he kept helping and encouraging his team-mates. He finally reached the summit to bring glory to the team and the Army. Lance Naik Chhering Norbu Bodh displayed undaunted determination and conspicuous courage in the face of extreme elements."
Major Pawan Kumar displayed astute tactical acumen, indomitable spirit and raw courage which led to elimination of a hardcore terrorist in September 2017. A top terrorist and the longest surviving terrorist of the valley whilst infiltrating back from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir by taking cover of darkness, thick foliage, boulders and folds of the ground was effectively engaging own troops with deadly fire. The dreaded terrorist could have been engaged only with accurate indirect fire. Major Pawan realising the gravity of situation and danger to safety of own troops, undaunted by heavy volumes of fire, displaying raw courage, used folds of the ground to crawl towards the terrorist and closed in the distance. He lobbed a grenade at the terrorist forcing him to expose himself and in a fierce encounter shot him dead from a close quarter. His elimination not only saved lives of own troops but also prevented revival of terrorism in the valley. Major Pawan Kumar displayed perseverance, dedication to duty, unmatched bravery and raw courage in elimination of a hardcore terrorist.[9][10][11]
