The Shaurya Chakra Decoration was established in 1952 and is India’s third-highest peacetime military decoration awarded for courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy.
The Ashoka Chakra is awarded to civilians and military personnel, sometimes posthumously. The decoration was first established as the “Ashoka Chakra, Class III”, the name it kept until 27 January 1967.
Since July 1999, the decoration can also be given to Civilians of either gender in all walks of life, other than members of Police Forces or recognized Fire Services. 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.
The Shaurya Chakra Design
The medal is circular in shape, struck in bronze and measures 1-3/8 inches in diameter.
The obverse has the chakra (wheel) of Ashoka surrounded by a lotus wreath and an ornate edge. The reverse has the inscription “Shaurya Chakra” embossed in Hindi and English along the upper and lower edges of the medal. The center is blank.
The ribbon is green with three thin orange lines.
