Indian honours system

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The Indian Honour System is primarily recognized by the Indian Government. The Indian honour system is broadly classified into five types – Leadership, Literature, Civilian, Patriotic, and Particular.

Leadership awards

Literature awards

Civilian awards

Bharat Ratna

The Bharat Ratna,[1] the highest civilian Award of the country, was instituted in the year 1954. Any person without distinction of race, occupation, position, or gender is eligible for this award. It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President. No formal recommendations for this are necessary. The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year. On conferment of the award, the recipient receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. The Award does not carry any monetary grant. In early years of the award, it was conferred on living recipients. In recent decades that policy was changed and people have been given the award posthumously.[citation needed]

Padma awards

Padma Awards[2] were instituted in the year 1954. Except for brief interruption(s) during the years 1977 and 1980 and 1993 to 1997, these awards have been announced every year on Republic Day. The award is given in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

• Padma Shri is awarded for ‘distinguished service’.

• Padma Bhushan for ‘distinguished service of a high order’.

• Padma Vibhushan for ‘exceptional and distinguished service'.

The award seeks to recognize work of any distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines, such as Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc. All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards.

The award is normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously if the demise of the person proposed to be honoured has been recent, say within a period of one year preceding the Republic Day on which it is proposed to announce the award.

A higher category of Padma award can be conferred on a person only where a period of at least five years has elapsed since conferment of the earlier Padma award. However, in highly deserving cases, a relaxation can be made by the Awards Committee.

However, there are often complaints that these awards are given to entertainers, businessmen, film stars, cricketers and influential persons while the entire community of common persons have got nothing, according to Shri Sharad Yadav (Janata Dal President).[3]

Inspired Teacher Awards

The President of India instituted the Inspired Teacher Award as a means to give dignity and recognition to quality teachers from India. It was essential that such Inspired Teachers be recognized so that they have motivation and drive. Awardees will be invited for one week-long ‘In Residence’ programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Famous refusals

Although the Padma awards, including the Padma Vibhushan are the highest civilian awards in India and those selected for the award are famous for their contribution to Indian social, cultural, economical, political or other spheres of life, several noted public figures have refused the award on various grounds. In the eminent jurist and former Chief Justice of India J. S. Verma was awarded the Padma Bhushan posthumously in 2014. His family refused to accept the award as they believed Justice Verma in principle "was never a man to yearn or lobby for any acclaim, reward or favour".[citation needed]

Several artists including musicians and writers including S. Janaki, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Romila Thapar, Sitara Devi, Phanishwarnath Renu and Salim Khan have also refused various Padma awards due to various reasons, including personal pride and what has been described as 'national interest'.[citation needed]

Patriotic Awards

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Main article: Indian military decorations

Wartime gallantry awards

  • Param Vir Chakra — Highest military award for, equivalent to the Victoria Cross (which was replaced once India gained its independence).
  • Maha Vir Chakra – The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.
  • Vir Chakra – Third in precedence in the awards for wartime gallantry

Peacetime gallantry awards

  • Ashok Chakra Award – An Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra.
  • Kirti Chakra – Second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.
  • Shaurya Chakra – Third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.

Wartime/Peacetime service and gallantry awards

Wartime Distinguished Service

Peacetime Distinguished Service

Particular awards

National sports awards

Police awards

  • President's Police Medal for Gallantry
  • President's Fire Services Medal for Gallantry
  • President's Correctional Service Medal for Gallantry
  • President's Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Gallantry
  • Police Medal for Gallantry
  • Fire Services Medal for Gallantry
  • Correctional Service Medal for Gallantry
  • Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Gallantry
  • President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service
  • President's Fire Services Medal for Distinguished Service
  • President's Correctional Service Medal for Distinguished Service
  • President's Home Guards and Civil Defence for Distinguished Service
  • Police Medal for Meritorious Service
  • Fire Services Medal for Meritorious Service
  • Correction Service Medal for Meritorious Service
  • Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Meritorious Service

Bravery awards

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India (Award Scheme)[dead link]
  2. ↑ http://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/Scheme-PadmaAwards-050514.pdf
  3. ↑ Padma Awards Given Only to 'Dishonest' People, Says Sharad Yadav

External links

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