Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
18.12.2025
Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
Context
On Vijay Diwas (December 16), 2025, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the ‘Param Vir Dirgha’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This gallery features the portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra (PVC) awardees, replacing the portraits of British Aide-de-Camps (ADCs) as a symbolic move to shed colonial legacies and honor national heroes.
About the Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
The Param Vir Chakra (literally "Wheel of the Ultimate Brave") is India’s highest military decoration for gallantry. It is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy during wartime.
Key Features:
- Instituted: January 26, 1950 (with retrospective effect from August 15, 1947).
- Eligibility: All ranks of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other lawfully constituted forces.
- Posthumous Award: Can be awarded posthumously; 14 of the 21 awards to date were conferred after the recipient's martyrdom.
- Precedence: In the Indian order of precedence, the PVC is second only to the Bharat Ratna.
Design and Symbolism
The medal was designed by Savitri Khanolkar (born Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros), a Swiss-born designer who married an Indian Army officer.
- Obverse: A circular bronze disc with the National Emblem in the center, surrounded by four replicas of Indra's Vajra.
- Symbolism of the Vajra: It represents the sacrifice of Rishi Dadhichi, who gave his bones to the Gods to fashion a weapon (the Vajra) to defeat evil, symbolizing supreme sacrifice and strength.
- Reverse: The words "Param Vir Chakra" are embossed in both Hindi and English, separated by two lotus flowers.
- Ribbon: A plain purple-colored ribbon.
Awardees and Milestones
- First Recipient: Major Somnath Sharma (Posthumous, 1947 Indo-Pak War).
- Only Air Force Recipient: Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (1971 War).
- Living Recipients: Currently, three living recipients are Subedar Major (Hony Capt) Yogendra Singh Yadav, Subedar Sanjay Kumar, and Subedar Major Bana Singh.
- Total Count: As of 2025, there have been 21 recipients in total across various conflicts including the 1947-48 Kashmir War, 1962 Sino-Indian War, 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak Wars, and the 1999 Kargil War.
Aide-de-Camp (ADC): The Replaced Legacy
Prior to the 2025 inauguration, the gallery corridors displayed portraits of British Aide-de-Camps.
- Definition: An ADC is a personal military assistant to high-ranking officials such as the President, Governors, or Service Chiefs.
- Role: They act as a liaison between the dignitary and military/civil authorities, managing protocol, security, and official engagements.
- Significance of Change: Moving from British ADCs to PVC awardees marks a shift toward celebrating indigenous military excellence and the "unconquerable spirit" of Indian defenders.
Conclusion
The creation of the Param Vir Dirgha is a significant milestone in India's cultural and military history. By centering the supreme sacrifices of the 21 Param Virs within the highest office of the land, the state reaffirms its commitment to honoring those who defended the nation’s sovereignty at the ultimate cost.