Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)

Ashoka Chakra
Ashoka Chakra and its ribbon
Type	Medal
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.[1]
Description	India's highest peacetime military decoration
Country	India
Presented by	Republic of India
Eligibility	Officers, men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces. Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces. Civilian Citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway protection Force.[1]
Post-nominals	AC
Status	Active
Established	1952; 72 years ago (1952)
First awarded	1952
Last awarded	2021
Total	98 (As of 2023)[2][3]
Total awarded posthumously	68
Total recipients	98
Precedence
Next (higher)	Bharat Ratna
Equivalent	Param Vir Chakra[a][5][6][7]
Next (lower)	Padma Vibhushan[8]

The Ashoka Chakra (alternative spelling: Ashok Chakra, lit. 'Wheel of Ashoka') 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.

Havildar Bachittar Singh and Naik Narbahadur Thapa were the first recipients of the Ashoka Chakra. 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.

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