Ashoka Chakra (military decoration): Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Auntof6
Last edited March 14, 2026
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.
fix information to improve readability and cleaned formatting
 
Line 4: Line 4:
{{Infobox award
{{Infobox award
| name            = Ashoka Chakra
| name            = Ashoka Chakra
| image            = [[File:Ashoka-chakra.png|350px]]<br/><br/>[[Image:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|150px]]
| image            = [[File:Ashoka-chakra.png|120px]]<br><br>[[Image:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|150px]]
| caption          = Ashoka Chakra and its ribbon
| caption          = Ashoka Chakra and its ribbon
| presenter        = {{flagicon|India}} [[Republic of India]]
| presenter        = [[Government of India]]
| country          = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
| country          = India
| type            = [[Medal]]
| type            = [[Medal]]
| 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.
| eligibility      = {{bullet list|Officers of [[Indian Armed Forces]], [[Indian Territorial Army|territorial army]], militia and any other lawfully constituted forces|Members of nursing services of the armed forces|Civilians and members of [[Police in India|police]] including [[Central Armed Police Forces|central para-military forces]] and [[Railway Protection Force]]}}
*Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces.
| awarded_for              = Most conspicuous bravery, or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice
*Civilian Citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway protection Force.<ref name=army>http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=p6xUHC5yMgV3Tyuw9ZIb6w==&ParentID=tFRV4t12pKRhSFm2sMq5yQ== {{Dead link|date=August 2022}}</ref>
| awarded_for              = Awarded 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.<ref name=army/>
| campaign        =  
| campaign        =  
| status          = Active
| status          = active
| description      =India's highest peacetime military decoration  
| description      = India's highest peacetime military decoration  
| motto            =  
| motto            =  
| clasps          =  
| clasps          =  
Line 21: Line 19:
| established      = {{start date and age|df=yes|1952}}
| established      = {{start date and age|df=yes|1952}}
| firstawarded      = 1952
| firstawarded      = 1952
| lastawarded      = 2021
| lastawarded      = 2026
| total_awarded            = 86 <small>(As of 2021)</small><ref name="gallantryawards.gov.in">{{cite web|url=http://gallantryawards.gov.in/awardees-0|title=Awardees - Gallantry Awards|website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref><ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/martyred-corporal-jyoti-prakash-nirala-joins-elite-iaf-club-tomorrow/articleshow/62647401.cms|title=Martyred Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala joins elite IAF club tomorrow &#124; India News - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
| total_awarded_posthumously = 68
| total_awarded_posthumously       = 68
| total_recipients = 87
| total_recipients       =86
| precedence_label =
| precedence_label =
| individual      =  
| individual      =  
| higher          = [[File:Bharat Ratna Ribbon.svg|55px]] [[Bharat Ratna]]
| higher          = [[File:Bharat Ratna Ribbon.svg|55px]] [[Bharat Ratna]]
| same            = [[File:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg|55px]] [[Param Vir Chakra]]{{efn|Though the Ashoka Chakra is placed below the PVC in order of wear, it is considered as a peacetime equivalent to Param Vir Chakra (or [[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]]).<ref name="Awards Warb">{{cite web|title=Awards Warb|url=http://www.warb-mha.gov.in/pdf/awards.pdf|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)]]|access-date=5 September 2016|page=1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035719/http://www.warb-mha.gov.in/pdf/awards.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>}}{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|p=40}}<ref name="Precedence of Medals">{{cite web|title=Precedence of Medals|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=BXcX5hxppEZqCOXb6hqedA==&ParentID=4KygHdsq1A/bXA7u5dbrJQ==|publisher=Indian Army|access-date=17 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023351/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=BXcX5hxppEZqCOXb6hqedA%3D%3D&ParentID=4KygHdsq1A%2FbXA7u5dbrJQ%3D%3D|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=precedence>{{cite web|title=Precedence of Medals |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=zCQHR1MODtMw0EJ0MUc5CA==&ParentID=XRRy6fl/Yj1c0bK0sve+Pg== |work=indianarmy.nic.in/ |publisher=Indian Army |access-date=9 September 2014}}</ref>
| same            = [[File:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg|55px]] [[Param Vir Chakra]]{{efn|Though the Ashoka Chakra is placed below the [[Param Vir Chakra]] in the precedence, it is considered as a peacetime equivalent of Param Vir Chakra.}}
| lower            = [[File:Padma Vibhushan Ribbon.svg|55px]] [[Padma Vibhushan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=BXcX5hxppEZqCOXb6hqedA==&ParentID=4KygHdsq1A/bXA7u5dbrJQ==|title=Precedence of Medals|publisher=Indian Army, Govt of India official website}}</ref>
| lower            = [[File:Padma Vibhushan Ribbon.svg|55px]] [[Padma Vibhushan]]
| related          =  
| related          =  
| image2          =
| caption2        = Rakesh singh of Granadiers.
1992 Posthoumesly.
}}
}}


The '''Ashoka Chakra''' (alternative spelling: '''Ashok Chakra''') is India's highest peacetime [[military decoration]] awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the [[Param Vir Chakra]] (PVC) and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy. The decoration may be awarded either to military or civilian personnel.
The '''Ashoka Chakra''' ({{lit|[[Ashoka Chakra|Wheel of Ashoka]]}}) is India's highest peacetime [[military decoration]]. It is the peacetime equivalent of the [[Param Vir Chakra]] and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice". The decoration may be awarded either to military personnel or civilians by the [[Government of India]].


[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] [[Narbahadur Thapa]], [[Havildar]] [[Bachittar Singh (soldier)|Bachittar Singh]] and [[Flight lieutenant|Flight Lieutenant]] [[Suhas Biswas]] were the first recipients of the Ashoka Chakra.<!--wasn't he the first person of any description?  why single out the air force?--> Subsequent awards of the Ashoka Chakra are recognized by a bar to the medal ribbon. A recipient can be awarded the [[Kirti Chakra]] or [[Shaurya Chakra]] in addition to separate acts of gallantry.
The circular medal consists of [[Ashoka Chakra]] surrounded by a [[Indian lotus|lotus]] wreath on the front. The obverse consists of "Ashoka Chakra" written in [[Devanagari]] along the upper edge on the medal and in [[English language|English]] along the lower rim. It is suspended by a straight bar suspender from a green ribbon with a central saffron stripe.


== History ==
{{As of|2026}}, there have been 87 recipients of the award. Of these, 68 have been posthumous recipients, and 17 have been civilians. [[Havildar]] [[Bachittar Singh (soldier)|Bachittar Singh]] of the [[Indian Army]] was the first recipient of the award, in 1952. [[D. K. Jatar]], a pilot of [[Air India]]'s [[Kashmir Princess]] was the first civilian recipient of the award, in 1955. Only two women have ever been awarded the Ashok Chakra, [[flight attendant]] [[Neerja Bhanot]] in 1987 and [[police constable]] [[Kamlesh Kumari]] in 2001. Two non-Indians, [[cosmonaut]]s [[Gennadi Strekalov]] and [[Yuri Malyshev (cosmonaut)|Yuri Malyshev]] were given the award in 1984. [[Indian Air Force]] officer [[Shubhanshu Shukla]], decorated in 2026, is the most recent awardee.<ref>{{cite press release |date=25 January 2026 |title=77th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry awards to 70 Armed Forces personnel, including six posthumous, also clears military decorations to 301 personnel |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2218540&reg=3&lang=1 |work=[[Press Information Bureau]], [[Government of India]] |access-date=25 January 2026}}</ref>


The medal was originally established on 4 January 1952 as the "Ashoka Chakra, Class I" as the first step of a three-class sequence of non-combatant bravery decorations. In 1967, these decorations were removed from the "class-based" system and renamed as the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra. This is an important point in understanding the independent Indian view of decorations. It would also lead to changes in the Padma Vibhushan series, the distinguished service medal series, the life-saving medal series, and the Defence Security Corps medal series.
== Description ==
The medal was originally established on 4 January 1952 as the "Ashoka Chakra, Class I" by the [[President of India]] deemed to have been in effect from 15 August 1947.<ref name="Gallantry">{{cite web|title=Ashok Chakra|url=http://www.warb-mha.gov.in/pdf/awards.pdf|work=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)]]|access-date=5 September 2016|page=1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035719/http://www.warb-mha.gov.in/pdf/awards.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It was the highest class of the three gallantry awards established at the time.<ref name="Award">{{cite web|title=Gallantry Awards|url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/about|work=[[Government of India]]|access-date=5 September 2016|page=1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035719/http://www.warb-mha.gov.in/pdf/awards.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In January 1967, the award was renamed as Ashok Chakra with the other two classes renamed as [[Kirti Chakra]] and [[Shaurya Chakra]] respectively.<ref name="Gallantry"/><ref name="Award"/> The awards are given out twice a year&ndash; during the [[Republic Day (India)|Republic Day]] and [[Independence Day (India)|Independence Day]].<ref name="Award"/> Though the Ashok Chakra is placed below the [[Param Vir Chakra]] in the order of precedence,<ref name="Award"/> it is considered to be the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra.<ref name="Gallantry"/> The award includes a medal, and a monthly stipend of {{INRconvert|2800}}.<ref name="Gallantry"/><ref name="IAF">{{Cite web|author=|url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/ashoka-chakra/|title=Ashoka Chakra|work=[[Indian Air Force]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref>


From 1 February 1999, the central government instituted a monthly stipend for Ashoka Chakra recipients of Rs. 1400. Jammu and Kashmir awarded a cash award of Rs. 1500 for recipients of this award.
== Eligibility ==
The Ashok Chakra can be awarded to all enlisted officers of the [[Indian Armed Forces]] including the [[Indian Army]], [[Indian Airforce]], and [[Indian Navy]], the [[Indian Territorial Army]], reserve personnel, and any other legally constituted armed force. Nursing members of the armed forces are also eligible for the award. [[Police in India|Police personnel]] including the [[Central Armed Police Forces]], and the [[Railway Protection Force]] are also eligible for the award. The award can also be given to any civilian at the discretion of the [[Government of India]].<ref name="Gallantry"/><ref name="IAF"/> It is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" during times other than war.<ref name="Gallantry"/><ref name="IAF"/>


== Overview ==
== Design ==
The medal is circular with a diameter of {{cvt|1.375|in}}. It has prominent rims and is made of [[gold]] [[gilding]]. On the front side, it has a replica of the [[Ashok Chakra]] surrounded by a wreath of [[sacred lotus]]. In the reverse, the words "Ashok Chakra" are embossed in [[Devanagri]] on the top and [[English language|English]] towards the bottom edge. These are separated by a lotus flowers on either side. The medal is suspended by a straight bar suspender from a green ribbon with a central saffron stripe. If a recipient receives subsequent such awards, more bars are added to the ribbon by which the medal is suspended.<ref name="IAF"/>


'''Obverse:''' Circular gold gilt, 1-3/8&nbsp;inches in diameter. In the center, the chakra (wheel) of Ashoka, is surrounded by a lotus wreath with an ornate edge. Suspended by a straight bar suspender. The medal is named on the edge.
== Recipients ==
{{As of|2026}}, the medal has been awarded to 87 awardees, of which 68 were to posthumous recipients.<ref name="List">{{cite web|url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/awards|title=Awardees|work=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> [[Havildar]] [[Bachittar Singh (soldier)|Bachittar Singh]] of the [[Indian Army]] was the first recipient of the award for his part in the [[Operation Polo]] in 1948.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/bachittar-singh-first-ashoka-chakra-awardee-8938420/|title=Bachittar Singh: the soldier who won India’s first Ashoka Chakra for action on Sept 13, 1948|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> [[Flight lieutenant]] [[Suhas Biswas]] was the first member of the [[Indian Air Force]] to be commemorated with the award in 1953.<ref name="BR">{{cite web|url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/iaf/awards/peace/ashoka-chakra/|title=Ashok Chakra|work=[[Bharat Rakshak]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> [[Flight captain]] [[D. K. Jatar]], who was the pilot of the bombed [[Air India]] [[Kashmir Princess|flight 300]], was the first civilian recipient of the award in 1955.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/1955-air-india-international-flight-crash-failed-assassination-attempt-on-chinese-premier-revealed-by-declassified-diplomatic-records-airindia-kashmirprincess-1955crash-101681495959341.html|title=Air India plane crashes in botched assassination bid|newspaper=[[The Hindustan Times]]|date=1 June 2024}}</ref> Only two women have ever been awarded the Ashok Chakra, flight attendant [[Neerja Bhanot]] in 1987 and police constable [[Kamlesh Kumari]] in 2001 for their actions during the hijack of [[Pan Am Flight 73]] and [[2001 Indian Parliament attack]] respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/top-stories/inspiration/the-women-awardees-of-ashok-chakra-in-india-republic-day-2022/|title=Women Awardees Of Ashok Chakra In India|work=She the people|date=26 January 2022|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref>


'''Reverse:''' Blank in the center, with "Ashoka Chakra" in [[Hindi]] along the upper edge on the medal and the same name in English along the lower rim. On either side is a lotus design. The center 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, and, in fact, there is no difference between these medals & the post-1967 awards.
Two non-Indians, [[cosmonauts]] [[Gennadi Strekalov]] and [[Yury Malyshev (cosmonaut)|Yuri Malyshev]] were given the award in 1984 for their [[Soyuz T-11]] mission which also carried [[Rakesh Sharma]], the first Indian to space.<ref name="BR"/> [[Paratrooper]] [[Sanjog Chhetri]] was the youngest awardee at 20 years of age, when he was killed in the counter terrorism operations in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/1098|title=Sanjog Chhetri|work=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://en.mynewsne.com/sikkim-youth-achieves-top-rank-in-national-defence-academy-examination/|title=Sikkim Youth Achieves Top Rank in National Defence Academy Examination|date=13 April 2025|access-date=15 April 2025|work=North East News}}</ref> [[Colonel]] [[Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair]] was the only recipient of both the Ashok Chakra and [[Kirti Chakra]], the two highest peacetime honours.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/1088|title=Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair|work=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref>
 
'''Ribbon:''' 32&nbsp;mm, dark green with a 2&nbsp;mm central saffron stripe.
 
== Ashoka Chakra recipients ==
{{As of|August 2021}}, the medal has been awarded to 86 awardees, of which 68 were to posthumous recipients.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Key
|+ Key
|-
|-
|align=center style="width:50px;background-color:#e3d9ff;"|*
| align=center style="background-color:lightblue" |†
|Indicates posthumous honour
| Indicates posthumous honour
|-
| align=center style="background-color:pink" | ^
| Indicates non-Indian recipient
|}
|}


{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;" style="font-size: 90%"
|+ List of award recipients, showing the year
|+ Ashok Chakra recipients<ref name="List"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Ashoka Chakra Recipients|author=Rashmi Aggarwal|year=2021|publisher=[[Prabhat Prakashan]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8LjjDAAAQBAJ|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref>
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Year
!Rank
! scope="col" | Recipient
! scope="col" | Recipient
!Branch
! Rank{{efn|name=Rank|Refers to the rank held by the recipient at the time of award. }}
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="text-align:center;" |{{Tooltip|Refs.|Reference}}
! Entity
! Action{{efn|name=Action|Refers to the conflict or event for which the Ashoka Chakra was awarded.}}
|-
|-
|2021
| 1952
|[[Assistant sub-inspector of police|Assistant Sub-Inspector]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Babu Ram]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Bachittar Singh (soldier)|Bachittar Singh]]†
|[[Jammu and Kashmir Police]]||<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/as-jammu-and-kashmir-police-bags-gallantry-medals-dgp-heaps-praises-101628948167153-amp.html|title=As Jammu and Kashmir Police bags gallantry medals, DGP heaps praises|date=14 August 2021|work=Hindustan Times}}</ref>
| [[Havildar]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Operation Polo]]
|-
|-
| 2019
| 1952
|[[Lance naik|Lance Naik]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Nazir Ahmad Wani]] *
| [[Narbahadur Thapa]]
|[[Territorial Army (India)|Territorial Army]] ([[Indian Army]]) ||<ref>{{cite web|title=411 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=187777|website=pib.nic.in}}</ref>
| [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Operation Polo]]
|-
|-
| 2018
| 1953
|[[Corporal]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Jyoti Prakash Nirala]] *
| [[Suhas Biswas]]
|[[Indian Air Force]]||<ref name="AC2009-2018"/<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/martyred-corporal-jyoti-prakash-nirala-joins-elite-iaf-club-tomorrow/articleshow/62647401.cms|title=Martyred Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala joins elite IAF club tomorrow &#124; India News - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
| [[Flight Lieutenant]]
| [[Indian Air Force]]
| Stricken flight landing
|-
|-
| 2017
| 1955
|[[Havildar]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Hangpan Dada]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[D. K. Jatar]]†
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
| [[Flight Captain]]
| [[Air India]]
| [[Kashmir Princess|Kashmir Princess bombing]]
|-
|-
| 2016
| 1956
|[[Lance naik|Lance Naik]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Lance Naik Mohan Goswami|Mohan Goswami]] *
| [[Sundar Singh (soldier)|Sundar Singh]]
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
| [[Lance Naik]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir conflict]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2014
| 1957
|[[Major]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Mukund Varadarajan]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Jagannath Raoji Chitnis]]†
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
| [[Lieutenant Colonel]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Ethnic conflict in Nagaland|Nagaland insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Neeraj Kumar Singh]] *
| 1957
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Joginder Singh (soldier)|Joginder Singh]]†
| [[Havildar]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Ethnic conflict in Nagaland|Nagaland insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Sub-inspector|Sub-Inspector]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[K. Prasad Babu]] *
| 1957
|[[Andhra Pradesh Police]]||<ref>{{cite web|title=The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee giving away the highest gallantry award Ashok Chakra to Shri K. Venkatraman father of the Reserve Inspector, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Shri K.L.V.S.S.H.N.V. Prasad Babu, (Posthumous), during the 65th Republic Day Parade 2014, in New Delhi on January 26, 2014.|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/photoright.aspx?phid=52360|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=18 January 2017|date=26 January 2014}}</ref>
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Pollur Mutthuswamy Raman]]†
| [[Second Lieutenant]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Ethnic conflict in Nagaland|Nagaland insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 2012
| 1958
|[[Lieutenant]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Navdeep Singh (Ashok Chakra)|Navdeep Singh]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Eric James Tucker]]†
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
| [[Captain]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Ethnic conflict in Nagaland|Nagaland insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 2011
| 1962
|[[Major]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Laishram Jyotin Singh]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |Khadka Bahadur Limbu†
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
| [[Subedar Major]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Ethnic conflict in Nagaland|Nagaland insurgency]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2010
| 1962
|[[Havildar]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Rajesh Kumar (soldier)|Rajesh Kumar]] *
| [[Man Bahadur Rai]]
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
| [[Captain]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Ethnic conflict in Nagaland|Nagaland insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Major]]||[[D. Sreeram Kumar]]
| 1965
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
| style="background-color:lightblue" |Chaman Lal†
|  
| [[Firefighter]]
| Train fire
|-
|-
|[[Major]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Mohit Sharma (soldier)|Mohit Sharma]] *
| 1965
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016">{{cite web|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=Zb02lKANjvkVUclnaE1NSg%3d%3d&ParentID=xvMfYnM+Kb8YsPT0gtXYmg%3d%3d|title=Ashoka Chakra recipients (2009–16)|publisher=Indian Army Web Portal|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>
| style="background-color:lightblue" |Lajja Ram†
|
| [[Civilian]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
| 1965
| style="background-color:lightblue" |Purshottam†
|
| [[Civilian]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
|-
| rowspan="11" | 2009
| 1965
|[[Havildar]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Bahadur Singh Bohra]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |Tej Singh†
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
|
| [[Civilian]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
|-
|[[Joint commissioner of police|Joint Commissioner of Police]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Hemant Karkare]] *
| 1967
|[[Indian Police Service]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
| style="background-color:lightblue" |Shankar Lal Shrivastava†
| [[Head Constable]]
| [[Madhya Pradesh Police]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
|-
|[[Inspector]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Vijay Salaskar]] *
| 1968
|[[Maharashtra Police|Maharashtra Police Service]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
| style="background-color:lightblue" |Takhat Singh†
|
| [[Civilian]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
|-
|[[Additional Commissioner of Police]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Ashok Kamte]] *
| 1968
|[[Indian Police Service]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
| Dhanpat Singh
|
| [[Civilian]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
|-
|[[Assistant sub-inspector of police|Assistant Sub-Inspector]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Tukaram Omble]] *
| 1968
|[[Maharashtra Police|Maharashtra Police Service]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
| Govind Singh
|
| [[Civilian]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
|-
|[[Havildar]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Havaldar Gajender Singh|Gajender Singh Bisht]] *
| 1968
|[[National Security Guard|NSG]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
| Hukum Singh
|
| [[Civilian]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
|-
|[[Major]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Sandeep Unnikrishnan]] *
| 1968
|[[National Security Guard|NSG]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
| Lakhan Singh
|
| [[Civilian]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
|-
|[[Inspector]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Mohan Chand Sharma]] *
| 1969
|[[Delhi Police]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
| [[Jas Ram Singh]]
| [[Captain]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Mizo insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Colonel]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Jojan Thomas]] *
| 1971
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009">{{cite press release|title=Ashoka Chakra awardees and their saga of gallantry|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=46980|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=18 January 2017|date=25 January 2009}}</ref>
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Baij Nath Singh]]†
|
| [[Civilian]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
|-
|[[Deputy Superintendent of Police]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;" |[[R. P. Diengdoh]] *
| 1972
|[[Meghalaya Police]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
| [[Bhure Lal]]
| [[Constable]]
| [[Madhya Pradesh Police]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
|-
|[[Assistant commandant|Assistant Commandant of Police]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Pramod Kumar Satapathy]] *
| 1972
|[[Odisha Police]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Ummed Singh Mahra]]†
| [[Captain]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Ethnic conflict in Nagaland|Nagaland insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 2008
| 1974
|[[Major]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Dinesh Raghu Raman]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Gurnam Singh (soldier)|Gurnam Singh]]†
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Naib Subedar]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Mine explosion]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2007
| 1974
|[[Captain]]
| Munni Lal
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan]] *
|  
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Civilian]]
| Dacoit attack
|-
|-
|[[Naib subedar|Naib Subedar]]
| 1981
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Chuni Lal]] *
| [[Cyrus Addie Pithawalla]]
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Second Lieutenant]]
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Manipur insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Colonel]]
| 1984
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Vasanth Venugopal]] *
|style="background-color:pink" | [[Gennadi Strekalov]]^
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Flight Engineer]]
| [[Roscosmos]]
| [[Soyuz T-11]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2004
| 1984
|[[Lieutenant]]
| style="background-color:pink" |[[Yury Malyshev (cosmonaut)|Yury Malyshev]]^
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Triveni Singh]] *
| [[Colonel]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Soviet Air Forces]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Soyuz T-11]]
|-
|-
|[[Paratrooper]]
| 1985
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Sanjog Chhetri]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |Bhawani Datt Joshi†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Operation Blue Star]]
|-
|-
|2003
| 1985
|[[Subedar-major|Subedar Major]] (Assistant Commander Grade I.)
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Bhukant Mishra]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Suresh Chand Yadav]] *
| [[Major (rank)|Major]]
|[[National Security Guard]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref>{{cite news|title=Suresh Chand Yadav |url=https://www.nsg.gov.in/our-martyrs/veer-gatha/suresh-chand-yadav|access-date=21 June 2020 |work=National Security Guards}}</ref>
| [[Operation Blue Star]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2002
| 1985
|[[Subedar]]
| [[Chhering Mutup]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Surinder Singh (Ashok Chakra)|Surinder Singh]] *
| [[Havildar|Lance Havildar]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Siachen conflict]]
|-
|-
|[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
| 1985
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Rambeer Singh Tomar]] *
| [[Jasbir Singh Raina]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Captain]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Operation Blue Star]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |2001
| 1985
|[[Shri]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Nirbhay Singh Sisodiya]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Jagdish Prasad Yadav *
| [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
|Security Assistant Rajya Sabha Secretariat
| [[Indian Army]]
|
| [[Operation Blue Star]]
|-
|-
|[[Shri]]
| 1985
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Matbar Singh Negi *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Ram Prakash Roperia]]†
|Security Assistant Rajya Sabha Secretariat
| [[Lieutenant]]
|
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Operation Blue Star]]
|-
|-
|[[Constable]]
| 1985
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Kamlesh Kumari]] *
| [[Rakesh Sharma]]
|[[Central Reserve Police Force|CRPF]]
| [[Wing Commander]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009" />
| [[Indian Air Force]]
| [[Soyuz T-11]]
|-
|-
| 2000
| 1986
|[[Major]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Vijay Jagirdar]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Sudhir Kumar Walia]] *
|
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Civilian]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[1984 anti-Sikh riots]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1997
| 1987
|[[Second lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Neerja Bhanot]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Puneet Nath Datt]] *
|  
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Pan Am]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Pan Am Flight 73]] hijack
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant colonel|Lieutenant Colonel]]
| 1991
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Shanti Swaroop Rana|Shanti Swarup Rana]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Randhir Prasad Verma]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Superintendent of Police]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Bihar Police]]
| [[Bank robbery]]
|-
|-
| 1996
| 1992
|[[Captain]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Sandeep Sankhla]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Arjun Singh Jasrotia|Arun Singh Jasrotia]] *
| [[Major (rank)|Major]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1995
| 1993
|[[Major]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Rakesh Singh Malhan]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Rajiv Kumar Joon]] *
| [[Second Lieutenant]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Subedar]]
| 1994
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Sujjan Singh (soldier)|Sujjan Singh]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Colonel]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant colonel|Lieutenant Colonel]]
| 1995
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Harsh Uday Singh Gaur]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Harsh Uday Singh Gaur]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Lieutenant Colonel]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 1994
| 1995
|[[Colonel]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Rajiv Kumar Joon]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair]] *
| [[Major (rank)|Major]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 1993
| 1995
|[[Second lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Sujjan Singh Yadav]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Rakesh Singh (soldier)|Rakesh Singh]] *
| [[Subedar]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009">{{cite web|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=Zb02lKANjvkVUclnaE1NSg%3d%3d&ParentID=xvMfYnM+Kb8YsPT0gtXYmg%3d%3d|title=Ashoka Chakra recipients (1993–2009)|publisher=Indian Army Web Portal|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 1992
| 1996
|[[Captain]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Arun Singh Jasrotia]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Sandeep Sankhla]] *
| [[Captain]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 1991
| 1997
|[[Police officer|Police Officer]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Puneet Nath Datt]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Randhir Prasad Verma]] *
| [[Second Lieutenant]]
|[[Police Service]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 1987
| 1997
|[[Flight attendant|Flight Attendant]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Shanti Swaroop Rana]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Neerja Bhanot]] *
| [[Lieutenant Colonel]]
|[[Flight attendant|Pan Am]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|1986
| 2000
|[[Shri]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Sudhir Kumar Walia]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Vijay Jagirdar *
| [[Major (rank)|Major]]
|Civilian
| [[Indian Army]]
|
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="7" | 1985
| 2001
|[[Havildar|Lance Havildar]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |Jagdish Prasad Yadav†
|[[Chhering Mutup]]
|  
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Rajya Sabha]] secretariat
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[2001 Indian Parliament attack]]
|-
|-
|[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
| 2001
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Nirbhay Singh (soldier)|Nirbhay Singh]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |Matbar Singh Negi†
|[[Indian Army]]
|
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Rajya Sabha]] secretariat
| [[2001 Indian Parliament attack]]
|-
|-
|[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
| 2001
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Bhawani Datt Joshi]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Kamlesh Kumari Yadav]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Constable]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Central Reserve Police Force]]
| [[2001 Indian Parliament attack]]
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant]]
| 2002
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Ram Prakash Roperia]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Surinder Singh (soldier)|Surinder Singh]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Subedar]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Captain]]
| 2002
|[[Jasbir Singh Raina]]  
|style="background-color:lightblue" | [[Rambeer Singh Tomar]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Major]]
| 2003
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Bhukant Misra]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Suresh Chand Yadav]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Subedar Major]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[National Security Guard]]
| [[Akshardham Temple attack]]
|-
|-
|[[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]]
| 2004
|[[Rakesh Sharma]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Sanjog Chhetri]]†
|[[Indian Air Force]]
| [[Paratrooper]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1984
| 2004
|[[Flight engineer|Flight Engineer]]
|style="background-color:lightblue" | [[Triveni Singh]]†
|[[Gennadi Strekalov]]
| [[Lieutenant]]
|[[Flight engineer|Soviet Flight Engineer]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Colonel]]
| 2007
|[[Yuri Malyshev (cosmonaut)|Yury Malyshev]]
|style="background-color:lightblue" | [[Chuni Lal]]†
|[[Soviet Air Forces|Soviet Airforce]]
| [[Naib Subedar]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 1981
| 2007
|[[Second lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]]
|style="background-color:lightblue" | [[Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan]]†
|[[Cyrus Addie Pithawalla]]
| [[Captain]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |1974
| 2007
|[[Shri]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Vasanth Venugopal]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Munni Lal *
| [[Colonel]]
|Civilian
| [[Indian Army]]
|
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Naib subedar|Naib Subedar]]
| 2008
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Gurnam Singh (soldier)|Gurnam Singh]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Dinesh Raghu Raman]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Major (rank)|Major]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92" />
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |1972
| 2009
|[[Shri]]
|style="background-color:lightblue" | [[Ashok Kamte]]†
|[[Bhure Lal]]
| [[Additional Commissioner of Police|Additional Commissioner]]
|[[Madhya Pradesh Police]]
| [[Maharashtra Police]]
|
| [[2008 Mumbai attacks]]
|-
|-
|[[Captain]]
| 2009
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Ummed Singh Mahra]] *
|style="background-color:lightblue" | [[Bahadur Singh Bohra]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Havildar]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92" />
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|1971
| 2009
|[[Shri]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Gajender Singh Bisht]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Baij Nath Singh]] *
| [[Havildar]]
|Civilian
| [[National Security Guard]]
|
| [[2008 Mumbai attacks]]
|-
|-
| 1969
| 2009
|[[Captain]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Hemant Karkare]]†
|[[Jas Ram Singh]]
| [[Joint Commissioner of Police|Joint Commissioner]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Maharashtra Police]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[2008 Mumbai attacks]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="5" |1968
| 2009
|[[Shri]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Jojan Thomas]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Takhat Singh *
| [[Colonel]]
|Civilian
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8LjjDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT63|title=Ashoka Chakra Recipients|last1=Aggarwal|first1=Rashmi|year=2021|section=Sri Takhat Singh|page=63}}</ref>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Shri]]
| 2009
|Lakhan Singh
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Mohan Chand Sharma]]†
|Civilian
| [[Inspector of Police|Inspector]]
|
| [[Delhi Police]]
| [[Batla House encounter]]
|-
|-
|[[Shri]]
| 2009
|Hukum Singh
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Pramod Kumar Satapathy]]†
|Civilian
| [[Deputy Superintendent of Police|Assistant Commandant of Police]]
|
| [[Odisha Police]]
| [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Shri]]
| 2009
|Govind Singh
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[R. P. Diengdoh]]†
|Civilian
| [[Deputy Superintendent of Police|Deputy Superintendent]]
|
| [[Meghalaya Police]]
| [[Insurgency in Meghalaya|Meghalaya Insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Shri]]
| 2009
|Dhanpat Singh
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Sandeep Unnikrishnan]]†
|Civilian
| [[Major (rank)|Major]]
|
| [[National Security Guard]]
| [[2008 Mumbai attacks]]
|-
|-
|1967
| 2009
|[[Head constable|Head Constable]]
|style="background-color:lightblue" | [[Tukaram Omble]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Shankar Lal Shrivastava]] *
| [[Assistant sub-inspector of police|Assistant Sub-Inspector]]
|[[Madhya Pradesh Police]]
| [[Maharashtra Police]]
|
| [[2008 Mumbai attacks]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="4" |1965
| 2009
|[[Shri]]
|style="background-color:lightblue" | [[Vijay Salaskar]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Tej Singh *
| [[Inspector of Police|Inspector]]
|Civilian
| [[Maharashtra Police]]
|
| [[2008 Mumbai attacks]]
|-
|-
|[[Shri]]
| 2010
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Lajja Ram *
| [[D. Sreeram Kumar]]
|Civilian
| [[Major (rank)|Major]]
|
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Manipur insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Shri]]
| 2010
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Chaman Lal *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Mohit Sharma (soldier)|Mohit Sharma]]†
|Civilian
| [[Major (rank)|Major]]
|
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Shri]]
| 2010
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Purshottam *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Rajesh Kumar (soldier)|Rajesh Kumar]]†
|Civilian
| [[Havildar]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92" />
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1962
| 2011
|[[Subedar-major|Subedar Major]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Laishram Jyotin Singh]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Kharka Bahadur Limbu]] *
| [[Major (rank)|Major]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92" />
| [[February 2010 Kabul attack]]
|-
|-
|[[Captain]]
| 2012
|[[Man Bahadur Rai]]
|style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Navdeep Singh (Ashok Chakra)|Navdeep Singh]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Lieutenant]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 1958
| 2014
|[[Captain]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Mukund Varadarajan]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Eric James Tucker]] *
| [[Major (rank)|Major]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1957
| 2014
|[[Lieutenant colonel|Lieutenant Colonel]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Neeraj Kumar Singh]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Jagannath Raoji Chitnis]] *
| [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Second lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]]
| 2014
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Pollur Mutthuswamy Raman]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[K. Prasad Babu]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Sub-Inspector]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Andhra Pradesh Police]]
| [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Havildar]]
| 2016
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Havildar Joginder Singh|Joginder Singh]] *
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Mohan Nath Goswami]]†
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Lance Naik]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Indian Army]]
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 1956
| 2017
|[[Lance naik|Lance Naik]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Hangpan Dada]]†
|[[Sundar Singh (Soldier)|Sundar Singh]]
| [[Havildar]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|1955
| 2018
|[[Aircraft pilot|Pilot]]
| style="background-color:lightblue" |[[Jyoti Prakash Nirala]]†
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Damodar Kashinath Jatar]] *
| [[Corporal]]
|[[Air India]]
| [[Indian Air Force]]
|
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| 1953
| 2019
|[[Flight lieutenant|Flight Lieutenant]]
|style="background-color:lightblue" | [[Nazir Ahmad Wani]]†
|[[Suhas Biswas]]
| [[Lance Naik]]
|[[Indian Air Force]]
| [[Territorial Army (India)|Territorial Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |1952
| 2021
|[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
|style="background-color:lightblue" | [[Babu Ram]]†
|[[Narbahadur Thapa]]  
| [[Assistant sub-inspector of police|Assistant Sub-Inspector]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Jammu and Kashmir Police]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92">{{cite web|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=Zb02lKANjvkVUclnaE1NSg==&ParentID=xvMfYnM+Kb8YsPT0gtXYmg==|title=Ashoka Chakra recipients (1952–92)|publisher=Indian Army Web Portal|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>
| [[Kashmir insurgency]]
|-
|-
|[[Havildar]]
| 2026
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Bachittar Singh (Soldier)|Bachittar Singh]] *
| [[Shubhanshu Shukla]]
|[[Indian Army]]
| [[Group captain (India)|Group Captain]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
| [[Indian Air Force]]
| [[Axiom Mission 4]]
|}
|}


==Ashoka Chakra recipients by year and service==
=== Summary ===


{|class="plainrowheaders"
{|class="plainrowheaders"
Line 521: Line 619:
| data7      = 12
| data7      = 12
| label8      = 2020–2029
| label8      = 2020–2029
| data8      = 01
| data8      = 02
}}
}}
! scope="col" style="vertical-align:top"|
! scope="col" style="vertical-align:top"|
Line 535: Line 633:
| data1      = 52
| data1      = 52
| label2      = Indian Air Force
| label2      = Indian Air Force
| data2      = 03
| data2      = 04
| label3      = Indian Navy
| label4      = Civilians
| data3      = 00
| label4      = Indian Civilians
| data4      = 17
| data4      = 17
| label5      = Indian State Police
| label5      = Police
| data5      = 11
| data5      = 12
| label6      = Foreigners
| label6      = Non-Indians
| data6      = 02
| data6      = 02
| label7      = CAPF
| data7      = 01
}}
}}
|}
|}


==Superlatives==
==See also==
{{trivia|section|date=August 2021}}
* [[List of highest military decorations by country]]
* [[Havildar]] [[Bachittar Singh (soldier)|Bachittar Singh]], [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] [[Narbahadur Thapa]], were the first recipients of the Ashoka Chakra.
 
*Shri Amrat Lal Mehra was first youngest recipient of Ashoka Chakra from Madhya Pradesh
==Notes==
* [[Flight lieutenant|Flight Lieutenant]] [[Suhas Biswas]] was the first recipient of the Ashoka Chakra from [[Indian Air Force]].
{{notelist}}
* [[Paratrooper]] [[Sanjog Chhetri]] (aged 20 when posthumously awarded) was the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
* [[Colonel]] [[Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair]] was awarded both Ashoka Chakra and [[Kirti Chakra]].
* Damodar Kashinath Jatar, a pilot who was the first civilian recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
* [[Colonel]] [[Yuri Malyshev (cosmonaut)|Yury Malyshev]] and [[Flight engineer|Flight Engineer]] [[Gennadi Strekalov]] from Russia were the first foreign recipients of the Ashoka Chakra. (both were astronauts)
* [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] [[Rakesh Sharma]] is the first Indian astronaut to be awarded the Ashoka Chakra.
* [[Neerja Bhanot]], a flight attendant of PAN AM who was the first female recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
* [[Kamlesh Kumari]], a constable of [[CRPF]] who was the first recipient of the Ashoka Chakra from [[Central Armed Police Forces]].
* [[Bhure Lal]], a constable from [[Madhya Pradesh Police]] who is the first state policeman to be awarded the Ashoka Chakra. (Note that Shankar Lal Shrivastava, a retired head constable from [[Madhya Pradesh Police]] was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 1967.)
* Lt. Col. Harsh Uday Singh Gaur,10 Bihar Regiment. On November 29, 1994. https://www.mynation.com/news/saluting-lt-col-harsh-uday-singh-gaur-ashok-chakra-posthumous--pj04mf


== References ==
== References ==
{{notelist}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{citation|first1=B.C. |last1=Chakravorty|title=Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners|year=1995|publisher=Allied Publishers|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7023-516-3|language=en|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzizVBSb4YsC}}
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
==Further reading==
*{{cite book|first1=B.C. |last1=Chakravorty|title=Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners|year=1995|publisher=Allied Publishers|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-8-17023-516-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzizVBSb4YsC}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=b+1ZutT6zSxJdBSzssmTPA==&ParentID=pbr5FyyGZbGntZI1xD6GgA== Ashoka Chakra] at [[Indian Army]] website
* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Awards/Peace/305-AC.html Ashoka Chakra awardees of the Indian Air Force]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220035320/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/awards/peace/305-ac.html |date=20 December 2019 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041224172728/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/HEROISM/AC.html Bharat Rakshak Page on Ashoka Chakra]
* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Awards/Peace/305-AC.html Ashoka Chakra awardees of the Indian Air Force]
* [http://www.dsalert.org/gallantry-awards/ashok-chakra/ Recipients of Ashoka Chakra Award]


{{Indian honours and decorations}}
{{Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces}}
{{Ashoka Chakra award recipients}}
{{Highest gallantry awards}}


[[Category:Civil awards and decorations of India]]
[[Category:Civil awards and decorations of India]]

Latest revision as of 04:44, 14 March 2026


This article is about the military decoration. For the symbol, see Ashoka Chakra.
Ashoka Chakra
Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Ashoka Chakra and its ribbon
TypeMedal
Awarded forIndia's highest peacetime military decoration
CountryIndia
Presented byGovernment of India
Eligibility
Post-nominalsAC
Statusactive
Established1952; 74 years ago (1952)
First awarded1952
Last awarded2026
Total awarded posthumously68
Total recipients87
Precedence
Next (higher) Bharat Ratna
EquivalentError creating thumbnail: File missing Param Vir Chakra[lower-alpha 1]
Next (lower)Error creating thumbnail: File missing Padma Vibhushan

The Ashoka Chakra (lit. 'Wheel of Ashoka') is India's highest peacetime military decoration. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice". The decoration may be awarded either to military personnel or civilians by the Government of India.

The circular medal consists of Ashoka Chakra surrounded by a lotus wreath on the front. The obverse consists of "Ashoka Chakra" written in Devanagari along the upper edge on the medal and in English along the lower rim. It is suspended by a straight bar suspender from a green ribbon with a central saffron stripe.

As of 2026, there have been 87 recipients of the award. Of these, 68 have been posthumous recipients, and 17 have been civilians. Havildar Bachittar Singh of the Indian Army was the first recipient of the award, in 1952. D. K. Jatar, a pilot of Air India's Kashmir Princess was the first civilian recipient of the award, in 1955. Only two women have ever been awarded the Ashok Chakra, flight attendant Neerja Bhanot in 1987 and police constable Kamlesh Kumari in 2001. Two non-Indians, cosmonauts Gennadi Strekalov and Yuri Malyshev were given the award in 1984. Indian Air Force officer Shubhanshu Shukla, decorated in 2026, is the most recent awardee.[1]

Description[edit | edit source]

The medal was originally established on 4 January 1952 as the "Ashoka Chakra, Class I" by the President of India deemed to have been in effect from 15 August 1947.[2] It was the highest class of the three gallantry awards established at the time.[3] In January 1967, the award was renamed as Ashok Chakra with the other two classes renamed as Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra respectively.[2][3] The awards are given out twice a year– during the Republic Day and Independence Day.[3] Though the Ashok Chakra is placed below the Param Vir Chakra in the order of precedence,[3] it is considered to be the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra.[2] The award includes a medal, and a monthly stipend of ₹2,800 (US$39).[2][4]

Eligibility[edit | edit source]

The Ashok Chakra can be awarded to all enlisted officers of the Indian Armed Forces including the Indian Army, Indian Airforce, and Indian Navy, the Indian Territorial Army, reserve personnel, and any other legally constituted armed force. Nursing members of the armed forces are also eligible for the award. Police personnel including the Central Armed Police Forces, and the Railway Protection Force are also eligible for the award. The award can also be given to any civilian at the discretion of the Government of India.[2][4] It is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" during times other than war.[2][4]

Design[edit | edit source]

The medal is circular with a diameter of 1.375 in (34.9 mm). It has prominent rims and is made of gold gilding. On the front side, it has a replica of the Ashok Chakra surrounded by a wreath of sacred lotus. In the reverse, the words "Ashok Chakra" are embossed in Devanagri on the top and English towards the bottom edge. These are separated by a lotus flowers on either side. The medal is suspended by a straight bar suspender from a green ribbon with a central saffron stripe. If a recipient receives subsequent such awards, more bars are added to the ribbon by which the medal is suspended.[4]

Recipients[edit | edit source]

As of 2026, the medal has been awarded to 87 awardees, of which 68 were to posthumous recipients.[5] Havildar Bachittar Singh of the Indian Army was the first recipient of the award for his part in the Operation Polo in 1948.[6] Flight lieutenant Suhas Biswas was the first member of the Indian Air Force to be commemorated with the award in 1953.[7] Flight captain D. K. Jatar, who was the pilot of the bombed Air India flight 300, was the first civilian recipient of the award in 1955.[8] Only two women have ever been awarded the Ashok Chakra, flight attendant Neerja Bhanot in 1987 and police constable Kamlesh Kumari in 2001 for their actions during the hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 and 2001 Indian Parliament attack respectively.[9]

Two non-Indians, cosmonauts Gennadi Strekalov and Yuri Malyshev were given the award in 1984 for their Soyuz T-11 mission which also carried Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to space.[7] Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri was the youngest awardee at 20 years of age, when he was killed in the counter terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir.[10][11] Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair was the only recipient of both the Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra, the two highest peacetime honours.[12]

Key
† Indicates posthumous honour
^ Indicates non-Indian recipient
Ashok Chakra recipients[5][13]
Year Recipient Rank[lower-alpha 2] Entity Action[lower-alpha 3]
1952 Bachittar Singh† Havildar Indian Army Operation Polo
1952 Narbahadur Thapa Naik Indian Army Operation Polo
1953 Suhas Biswas Flight Lieutenant Indian Air Force Stricken flight landing
1955 D. K. Jatar† Flight Captain Air India Kashmir Princess bombing
1956 Sundar Singh Lance Naik Indian Army Kashmir conflict
1957 Jagannath Raoji Chitnis† Lieutenant Colonel Indian Army Nagaland insurgency
1957 Joginder Singh† Havildar Indian Army Nagaland insurgency
1957 Pollur Mutthuswamy Raman† Second Lieutenant Indian Army Nagaland insurgency
1958 Eric James Tucker† Captain Indian Army Nagaland insurgency
1962 Khadka Bahadur Limbu† Subedar Major Indian Army Nagaland insurgency
1962 Man Bahadur Rai Captain Indian Army Nagaland insurgency
1965 Chaman Lal† Firefighter Train fire
1965 Lajja Ram† Civilian Dacoit attack
1965 Purshottam† Civilian Dacoit attack
1965 Tej Singh† Civilian Dacoit attack
1967 Shankar Lal Shrivastava† Head Constable Madhya Pradesh Police Dacoit attack
1968 Takhat Singh† Civilian Dacoit attack
1968 Dhanpat Singh Civilian Dacoit attack
1968 Govind Singh Civilian Dacoit attack
1968 Hukum Singh Civilian Dacoit attack
1968 Lakhan Singh Civilian Dacoit attack
1969 Jas Ram Singh Captain Indian Army Mizo insurgency
1971 Baij Nath Singh† Civilian Dacoit attack
1972 Bhure Lal Constable Madhya Pradesh Police Dacoit attack
1972 Ummed Singh Mahra† Captain Indian Army Nagaland insurgency
1974 Gurnam Singh† Naib Subedar Indian Army Mine explosion
1974 Munni Lal Civilian Dacoit attack
1981 Cyrus Addie Pithawalla Second Lieutenant Indian Army Manipur insurgency
1984 Gennadi Strekalov^ Flight Engineer Roscosmos Soyuz T-11
1984 Yury Malyshev^ Colonel Soviet Air Forces Soyuz T-11
1985 Bhawani Datt Joshi† Naik Indian Army Operation Blue Star
1985 Bhukant Mishra† Major Indian Army Operation Blue Star
1985 Chhering Mutup Lance Havildar Indian Army Siachen conflict
1985 Jasbir Singh Raina Captain Indian Army Operation Blue Star
1985 Nirbhay Singh Sisodiya† Naik Indian Army Operation Blue Star
1985 Ram Prakash Roperia† Lieutenant Indian Army Operation Blue Star
1985 Rakesh Sharma Wing Commander Indian Air Force Soyuz T-11
1986 Vijay Jagirdar† Civilian 1984 anti-Sikh riots
1987 Neerja Bhanot† Pan Am Pan Am Flight 73 hijack
1991 Randhir Prasad Verma† Superintendent of Police Bihar Police Bank robbery
1992 Sandeep Sankhla† Major Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
1993 Rakesh Singh Malhan† Second Lieutenant Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
1994 Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair† Colonel Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
1995 Harsh Uday Singh Gaur† Lieutenant Colonel Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
1995 Rajiv Kumar Joon† Major Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
1995 Sujjan Singh Yadav† Subedar Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
1996 Arun Singh Jasrotia† Captain Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
1997 Puneet Nath Datt† Second Lieutenant Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
1997 Shanti Swaroop Rana† Lieutenant Colonel Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2000 Sudhir Kumar Walia† Major Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2001 Jagdish Prasad Yadav† Rajya Sabha secretariat 2001 Indian Parliament attack
2001 Matbar Singh Negi† Rajya Sabha secretariat 2001 Indian Parliament attack
2001 Kamlesh Kumari Yadav† Constable Central Reserve Police Force 2001 Indian Parliament attack
2002 Surinder Singh† Subedar Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2002 Rambeer Singh Tomar† Naik Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2003 Suresh Chand Yadav† Subedar Major National Security Guard Akshardham Temple attack
2004 Sanjog Chhetri† Paratrooper Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2004 Triveni Singh† Lieutenant Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2007 Chuni Lal† Naib Subedar Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2007 Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan† Captain Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2007 Vasanth Venugopal† Colonel Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2008 Dinesh Raghu Raman† Major Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2009 Ashok Kamte† Additional Commissioner Maharashtra Police 2008 Mumbai attacks
2009 Bahadur Singh Bohra† Havildar Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2009 Gajender Singh Bisht† Havildar National Security Guard 2008 Mumbai attacks
2009 Hemant Karkare† Joint Commissioner Maharashtra Police 2008 Mumbai attacks
2009 Jojan Thomas† Colonel Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2009 Mohan Chand Sharma† Inspector Delhi Police Batla House encounter
2009 Pramod Kumar Satapathy† Assistant Commandant of Police Odisha Police Naxalite–Maoist insurgency
2009 R. P. Diengdoh† Deputy Superintendent Meghalaya Police Meghalaya Insurgency
2009 Sandeep Unnikrishnan† Major National Security Guard 2008 Mumbai attacks
2009 Tukaram Omble† Assistant Sub-Inspector Maharashtra Police 2008 Mumbai attacks
2009 Vijay Salaskar† Inspector Maharashtra Police 2008 Mumbai attacks
2010 D. Sreeram Kumar Major Indian Army Manipur insurgency
2010 Mohit Sharma† Major Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2010 Rajesh Kumar† Havildar Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2011 Laishram Jyotin Singh† Major Indian Army February 2010 Kabul attack
2012 Navdeep Singh† Lieutenant Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2014 Mukund Varadarajan† Major Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2014 Neeraj Kumar Singh† Naik Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2014 K. Prasad Babu† Sub-Inspector Andhra Pradesh Police Naxalite–Maoist insurgency
2016 Mohan Nath Goswami† Lance Naik Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2017 Hangpan Dada† Havildar Indian Army Kashmir insurgency
2018 Jyoti Prakash Nirala† Corporal Indian Air Force Kashmir insurgency
2019 Nazir Ahmad Wani† Lance Naik Territorial Army Kashmir insurgency
2021 Babu Ram† Assistant Sub-Inspector Jammu and Kashmir Police Kashmir insurgency
2026 Shubhanshu Shukla Group Captain Indian Air Force Axiom Mission 4

Summary[edit | edit source]

Template:Bar graph

Template:Bar graph

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Though the Ashoka Chakra is placed below the Param Vir Chakra in the precedence, it is considered as a peacetime equivalent of Param Vir Chakra.
  2. ↑ Refers to the rank held by the recipient at the time of award.
  3. ↑ Refers to the conflict or event for which the Ashoka Chakra was awarded.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "77th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry awards to 70 Armed Forces personnel, including six posthumous, also clears military decorations to 301 personnel". Press Information Bureau, Government of India (Press release). 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Ashok Chakra" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs (India). p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Gallantry Awards" (PDF). Government of India. p. 1. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Ashoka Chakra". Indian Air Force. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Awardees". Government of India. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "Bachittar Singh: the soldier who won India's first Ashoka Chakra for action on Sept 13, 1948". The Indian Express. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Ashok Chakra". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "Air India plane crashes in botched assassination bid". The Hindustan Times. 1 June 2024.
  9. ↑ "Women Awardees Of Ashok Chakra In India". She the people. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  10. ↑ "Sanjog Chhetri". Government of India. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Sikkim Youth Achieves Top Rank in National Defence Academy Examination". North East News. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  12. ↑ "Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair". Government of India. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  13. ↑ Rashmi Aggarwal (2021). Ashoka Chakra Recipients. Prabhat Prakashan. Retrieved 1 June 2024.

Further reading[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Highest gallantry awards

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashoka_Chakra_(military_decoration)&oldid=467923"
Discover more