Orders, Decorations, and Medals of India
The Orders, Decorations, and Medals of India are a collection of military and civilian awards presented by the Government of India to recognize and honour the exceptional service, gallantry, and achievements of individuals in various fields. These awards are conferred by the President of India, who is the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
History
The history of Indian honours and awards dates back to the British colonial era, when the British Crown instituted several orders and medals for the Indian subcontinent. After India gained independence in 1947, the newly formed government continued some of these awards and introduced new ones to reflect the country’s sovereignty and values.
Categories
The honours system in India is broadly categorized into two groups:
- Civil Honours
- Military Honours
Civil Honours
- Bharat Ratna: The highest civilian award in India, conferred for exceptional service or performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.
- Padma Awards: Comprising Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, these awards recognize distinguished service of a high order in any field.
- Civilian Awards for Gallantry: The Ashoka Chakra series of awards, including Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra, are presented for courageous action and self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy.
Military Honours
- Param Vir Chakra: The highest military decoration in India, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime.
- Maha Vir Chakra: The second-highest military decoration, awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy.
- Vir Chakra: The third-highest military decoration, awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy.
- Sena Medal, Nao Sena Medal, and Vayu Sena Medal: Awarded for individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage.
Other Notable Awards
- Arjuna Award: Presented for consistent outstanding performance in sports for four years.
- Dronacharya Award: Conferred on coaches for producing outstanding achievements in sports.
- Dhyan Chand Award: Presented for lifetime achievement in sports.
- Jnanpith Award: The highest literary award in India, presented for outstanding contribution towards literature.
- Sahitya Akademi Award: Presented by the Sahitya Akademi for the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian languages.
Nomination and Selection Process
The nomination and selection process for various awards differ based on the category. For civilian awards, nominations are invited from state governments, union territory administrations, ministries, and departments of the central government, as well as individuals. The nominations are then reviewed by various committees before the final selection is made by the Prime Minister and approved by the President.
For military awards, recommendations are made by the respective service headquarters and are then approved by the Ministry of Defence and the President.
Controversies and Criticism
The Indian honours system has faced criticism and controversy over the years. Some critics argue that the selection process lacks transparency and is influenced by political considerations. There have also been instances of awardees returning or refusing their awards as a form of protest against government policies or actions.
Despite these challenges, the Orders, Decorations, and Medals of India continue to serve as a means of recognizing and honouring the exceptional contributions of individuals in various fields, inspiring others to strive for excellence in their respective domains.
