NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, conferred eight Kirti Chakras (KCs), including five posthumous, and 29 Shaurya Chakras, including five posthumous, to the personnel of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces and State/Union Territory Police during Defence Investiture Ceremony in here on Tuesday.
Kirti Chakra is the second highest and Shaurya Chakra is the third highest peacetime gallantry award. Of the eight KCs, three went to the Indian Army, three to Chhattisgarh Police, one each with the Border Security Force and J&K Police respectively.
All the posthumously awarded Shaurya Chakras have been conferred on the soldiers and officers of the Army. Three personnel, including one of a Major-rank, from the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles,have been conferred the Kirti Chakra, the ministry said. The Rashtrapati Bhavan later also shared pictures from the ceremony on Twitter.
The gallantry awards were given for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and extreme devotion to duty, the Home Ministry said. A group of personnel from the Army, the Air Force, Navy and those rendering services under the Ministry of Home Affairs have also been conferred the Shaurya Chakra, according to the statement. The Shaurya Chakra is India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award after the Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra.