The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest gallantry award for officers and other enlisted personnel of all military branches of India for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. It may be awarded posthumously and, indeed, most of the awards have been posthumous.

     It was established on 26 January 1950 (the date of India becoming a republic), by the President of India, with effect from 15 August 1947 (the date of Indian independence). and presently it is the second highest award of the government of India after Bharat Ratna. It replaced the former British colonial Victoria Cross. The award also carries a cash allowance for those under the rank of lieutenant (or the appropriate service equivalent) and, in some cases, a cash award. On the death of the recipient, the pension is transferred to the widow until her death or remarriage.

     Subedar Major Bana Singh of the Eighth Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry was the only serving personnel of the Indian defence establishment with a Param Vir Chakra till the Kargil operations.

     The medal was designed by Mrs. Savitri Khanolankar who was married to an Indian Army officer. The medal is a circular bronze disc with a 1-3/8 inch (approximately 3.5 centimetre) diameter. In the center, on a raised circle, the state emblem. Surrounding this, four replicas of Indra's Vajra (the all-powerful mythic weapon on the ancient Vedic god of war). The decoration is suspended from a straight swiveling suspension bar. It is named on the edge. On the rear, around a plain center, two legends separated by lotus flowers. The words Param Vir Chakra are written in Hindi and English. Ribbon of the Param Vir ChakraThe ribbon which holds the Param Vir Chakra is of 32 mm length and purple in colour. The medal was designed to symbolise Rishi Dadhichi who donated his thigh bones to gods for making Vajra, and contains an image of Shivaji's sword Bhawani on the other side.

     By coincidence, the first Param Vir Chakra was awarded to Mrs. Savitri Khanolankar's son-in-law, Major Somnath Sharma for his bravery in the Kashmir operations in November 1947. He died while evicting Pakistani infiltrators and raiders from Srinagar Airport. This was when India and newly-formed Pakistan had the first war over the Kashmir issue.Incidentally, both Major Sharma (the first recipient) and Captain Batra belong to the same village, Palampur, in India's Himachal Pradesh state.

     Of the 21 awardees, 20 are from Indian Army and 1 from Indian Air Force. 14 of the 21 awards were posthumous.

     Grenadiers Regiment has won the most number of Param Vir Chakra awards, with 3 awards, one each for the Indo-Pakistan 1965 war, 1971 Indo-Pakistan war and the Kargil War.

     The Gorkha Rifles have also won 3 awards, with the 1st Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment), 8th Gorkha Rifles and 11th Gorkha Rifles each winning one.The Sikh Regiment, Kumaon Regiment, 17th Poona Horse and Jammu and Kashmir Rifles has won 2 awards.

     The highest to be awarded a Param Vir Chakra is that of a Lieutenant Colonel. Lt. Col. Ardeshir Tarapore, thus, had the highest rank to get this award.

     The award to Major Dhan Singh Thapa, for the battle of Sirijap in the 1962 War was initially announced as a Posthumous award. It was not known that Major Thapa was taken POW at that time.

     By an administrative mistake, the Param Vir Chakra to Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav was also announced posthumously. At that time Gren Yadav was recuperating in a hospital from his wounds.

The Param Vir Chakra has been awarded to:

1. Major Som Nath Sharma - November 3, 1947 - Badgam, Kashmir - Posthumous - IC-521 , 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment

2. Lance Naik Karam Singh - October 13, 1948 - Tithwal, Kashmir - IC-22356 - 1st Battalion, Sikh Regiment

3. Second Lieutenant Rama Raghoba Rane - April 8, 1948 - Naushera, Kashmir - SS-14246 - Corps of Engineers

4. Naik Jadu Nath Singh - February 1948 - Naushera, Kashmir - Posthumous - 27373 - 1st Battalion, Rajput Regiment

5. Company Havildar Major Piru Singh Shekhawat - July 17/18, 1948 - Tithwal, Kashmir - Posthumous - 2831592 - 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles

6. Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria - Dec 5, 1961 - Elizabethville, Katanga, Congo - Posthumous - IC-8497 - 3rd Battalion, 1st Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)

7. Major Dhan Singh Thapa - October 20, 1962 - Ladakh, India - IC-7990 - 1st Battalion, 8th Gorkha Rifles

8. Subedar Joginder Singh - October 23, 1962 - Tongpen La, Northeast Frontier Agency, India - Posthumous - JC-4547 - 1st Battalion, Sikh Regiment
9. Major Shaitan Singh -November 18, 1962 - Rezang La - Posthumous - IC-7990 - 13th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment

10. Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid - September 10, 1965 - Chima, Kehm Karan Sector - Posthumous - 2639885 - 4th Battalion, The Grenadiers

11. Major Shaitan Singh - November 18, 1962 - Rezang La - Posthumous - IC-7990 - 13th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment

12. Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid - September 10, 1965 - Chima, Kehm Karan Sector - Posthumous - 2639885 - 4th Battalion, The Grenadiers
13. Lieutenant-Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore - October 15, 1965 - Phillora, Sialkot Sector, Pakistan - Posthumous - IC-5565 - 17th Poona Horse

14. Lance Naik Albert Ekka - December 3, 1971 - Gangasagar - Posthumous - 4239746 - 14th Battalion, Brigade of the Guards

15. Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon - December 14, 1971 - Srinagar, Kashmir - Posthumous - 10877 (P) - No.18 Squadron, Indian Air Force

16. Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal - December 16, 1971 - Jarpal, Shakargarh Sector - Posthumous - IC-25067 - 17th Poona Horse

17. Major Hoshiar Singh - December 17, 1971 - Basantar River, Shakargarh Sector - IC-14608 - 3rd Battalion, The Grenadiers

18. Naib Subedar Bana Singh - June 23, 1987 - Siachen Glacier, Jammu and Kashmir - JC-155825 - 8th Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry

19. Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran - November 25, 1987 - Sri Lanka - Posthumous - IC-32907 - 8th Battalion, Mahar Regiment

20. Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey - July 3, 1999 - Khaluber/Juber Top, Batalik Sector, Kargil area, Jammu and Kashmir - Posthumous - IC-56959 - 1st Battalion, 11th Gorkha Rifles

21. Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav - July 4, 1999 - Tiger Hill, Kargil area - 2690572 - 18th Battalion, The Grenadiers

22. Rifleman Sanjay Kumar - July 5, 1999 - Area Flat Top, Kargil Area - 13760533 - 13th Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles

23. Captain Vikram Batra - July 6, 1999 - Point 5140, Point 4875, Kargil Area - Posthumous - IC-57556 - 13th Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles