New Delhi. 15 August 29017. Indian Prime Minister  Narendra Modi has launched a new website  to honour all the gallantry award winners since Independence. Announcing the launch of the website in a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said the portal will preserve and tell the stories of our bravest men and women, civilians as well as armed forces personnel.

“In remembrance of our heroes who have been awarded gallantry awards since Independence, launched the site http://gallantryawards.gov.in/  “The portal will preserve & tell the stories of our bravest men & women, civilians as well as armed forces personnel. If you have any information/photo that is missing and can be added to the portal, please share it through the feedback link on the site.”, the Prime Minister said.

The website gives details of the Chakra Series awardees i.e., Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra. The portal contains information such as name, unit, year, citations and photographs of awardees till date. The Ministry of Defence would welcome any feedback or suggestion for further improvement.

The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India’s highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of
valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy, similar to the British Victoria Cross, US Medal
of Honor, or French Legion of Honor or Russian Cross of St. George.[2] It can be, and often has
been, awarded posthumously. Introduced on 26th January 1950, this award may be given
posthumously.

The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It may be awarded posthumously. Literally Maha Veer means extraordinarily brave. 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.

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.

For acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether of land or at sea or in the air. It is third in precedence in the war time gallantry awards and comes after the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra. Established by the President of India on 26 January 1950 (with effect from 15 August 1947). The decoration may be awarded posthumously.

Awarded for gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Vir Chakra. 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. The decoration may be awarded posthumously.