Indian Honour System

(Awards given by the Indian Government)

The Indian Honour System primarily stands for the awards issued by the Indian Government. The Indian honour system is broadly classified into five types: Civilian Patriotic Literary Leadership and Particular

Introduction

CIVILIAN AWARDS

The Bharat Ratna, highest civilian Award of the

country, was instituted in the year 1954. Any person without distinction of race, occupation,

position or sex is eligible for these awards. It is awarded in recognition of exceptional

service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.

The recommendations for Bharat Ratna is made by the Prime Minister himself to the President.

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.

BHARAT RATNA

Bharat Ratna Medal

First Recipients of Bharat Ratna 1954

1.C.Rajagopalachari 2. Dr.S. Radhakrishnan 3. Sir C.V.Raman

In 1997, Kalam received India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, for his contribution to the scientific research and modernisation of defence technology in India.

Bharat Ratna Awardees 2014

Madan Mohan Malaviya

An Indian educationist and politician and Independence activist. He was

the founder of Banaras Hindu University.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

An Independence activist, Former Prime Minister of India (1996), (1998), (1999-

2004) and a poet.

PADMA AWARDS Padma Awards were instituted in the year

1954. These awards are announced every year on Republic day.

The award is given in three categories, namely:

#Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India is awarded for ‘distinguished service’. #Padma Bhushan, third highest civilian award in the Republic of India is for ‘distinguished service of a high order’. #Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India is for ‘exceptional and distinguished service'.

The award seeks to recognise 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.

The usual practice is to invite recommendations every year from all State/UT Governments, Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan awardees and Institutes of Excellence by 1 October. Recommendations received from them and also from other sources like Ministers, Chief Ministers/Governors of State, Members of Parliament, as also private individuals, bodies etc., are placed before the Padma Awards Committee. The Awards Committee is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.

The recommendations made by the Awards Committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President for their approval. No award is conferred except on the recommendation of the Awards Committee.

The names of the award winners are published in the Gazette of India. The President may cancel and annul the award of the decoration to any person.

The Awards are announced on 26 January every year and are presented by the President of India in an Awards presentation Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The ceremony is generally held in the month of March/April.

The decoration comprises a Sanad (Certificate) issued under the hand and seal of the President and a Medallion. A commemorative brochure giving out brief details in respect of each award winner is also released on the day of the investiture ceremony.

The recipients are also given a replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial/State functions etc., if they so desire.

The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the award winner’s name on letterheads, invitation cards, posters, books etc. In the case of any misuse, the defaulter will forfeit the award.

No cash allowance or any facility/benefit in terms of concession etc. in rail/air travel is attached to these awards

PATRIOTIC AWARDS

1. Param Vir Chakra : Highest military award, equivalent to the Victoria Cross (which was replaced once India gained its independence). The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India’s highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. The medal has been awarded 21 times, 14 of which were posthumous awards. Literally meaning ‘Wheel (or Cross) of the Ultimate Brave, it is similar to the Medal of Honor in the United States and the Victoria Cross in the United Kingdom. The PVC was established on 26 January 1950 (Republic Day of India), by the President of India, with effect from 15 August 1947 (Independence Day of India). It can be awarded to officers or enlisted personnel from all branches of the Indian military.

Wartime Gallantry Awards

2. Maha Vir Chakra: The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) (literally great warrior medal) replaced the British Distinguished Service Order (DSO). The medal may be awarded posthumously.3. Vir Chakra: Third in precedence in the awards for wartime gallantry. Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. It replaced the British Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Military Cross (MC) and Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Award of the decoration carries with it the right to use Vr.C. as a postnominal abbreviation.

1. 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.It is India’s highest peacetime military decoration 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 and may be awarded posthumously. It replaced the British George Cross.

Peacetime Gallantry Awards

2. Kirti Chakra: Second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards. The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra.

3. Shaurya Chakra: Third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry award. The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously. 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.

1. Sena Medal: The Sena Medal is awarded to members of the Indian army, of all ranks, “for such individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage as have special significance for the Army.” Awards may be made posthumously and a bar is authorized for subsequent awards of the Sena Medal.2. Nao Sena Medal: It is a gallantry award for servicemen in the Indian Navy. It was established by the President of India, 17 June 1960.3. Vayusena Medal: The Vayusena Medal is an Indian military decoration, usually awarded in peacetime for a job well done. However it has been granted during times of conflict for acts of gallantry in the face of enemy, though not in the same number as the Vir Chakra.

Wartime/ Peacetime service and gallantry

awards

LITERARY AWARDS

Literature awards are given in the field of Literature, Books, Poems and other outstanding Literary works. There are: Sahitya Akademi Award Sahitya Akademi Fellowship Bhasha Samman Translation Awards Anand Coomarswamy Fellowships Premchand Fellowship

The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India, which

the Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters, annually confers.

This award is confered to the writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian languages recognised by the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.

It was Established in 1954, the award comprises a plaque and a cash prize of Rs. 100,000.

The award’s purpose is to recognize and promote excellence in Indian writing and also acknowledge new trends.

The annual process of selecting awardees run for the preceding twelve months.

The plaque awarded by the Sahitya Akademi was designed by the Indian film-maker Satyajit Ray.

Sahitya Akademi Award

Sahitya Akademy gives this special award to writers for significant contribution to Indian languages other than the 24 major ones and also for contribution to classical & medieval literature.

Like the Sahitya Akademi Awards, Bhasha Samman too comprise a plaque and a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000(from 2009).

The Sahitya Akademi instituted Bhasha Samman in 1996 to be given to writers, scholars, editors, collectors, performers or translators who have made considerable contribution to the propagation, modernization or enrichment of the languages concerned.

The cash prize was Rs.25,000 at the time of inception, increased to Rs.40,000 from 2001, Rs.50,000 from 2003 and to Rs. 1,00,000 from 2009.

Bhasha Samman

The Sammans are given to 3-4 persons every year in different languages on the basis of recommendation of experts’ committees constituted for the purpose.

The first Bhasha Sammans was awarded to Sri Dharikshan Mishra for Bhojpuri, Sri Bansi Ram Sharma and Sri M.R. Thakur for Pahari (Himachali), Sri K. Jathappa Rai and Sri Mandara Keshava Bhat for Tulu and Sri Chandra Kanta Mura Singh for Kokborok; for their contribution to the development of their respective languages.

LEADERSHIP AWARDS

There are 2 awards in this category: Gandhi Peace Prize awards and Indira Gandhi Prize

The International Gandhi Peace Prize, named after Mahatma Gandhi, is awarded annually by the Government of India. As a tribute to the ideals espoused by Gandhi, the Government of

India launched the International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mohandas Gandhi.

This is an annual award given to individuals and institutions for their contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods.

The award carries Rs. 1 Crore (10 million) in cash, convertible in any currency in the world, a plaque and a citation.

It is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, creed or sex. A jury consisting of the Prime Minister of India, the Leader of the

Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India and two other eminent persons decides the awardee each year.

Gandhi Peace Prize

Julius Kambarage Nyerere (13 April 1922 – 14 October 1999)

A Tanzanian statesman who served as

the leader of Tanzania, from 1960 until his retirement in 1985.

INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

Space agency of the Indian Govt. Objective is to advance space

technology and deliver the applications of it

First Awardee 1995 Recent Awardee 2014

The Indira Gandhi Prize or the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize or the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is the prestigious award accorded annually by India. It is conferred to individuals or organizations in recognition of creative efforts

toward promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order; ensuring that scientific discoveries are used for the larger good of humanity, and enlarging the scope of freedom.

The prize carries a cash award of 2.5 million Indian rupees and a citation.

A written work, in order to be eligible for consideration, should have been published.

The panel constituted by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust consists of prominent national and international personalities including previous recipients.

The recipients are chosen from a pool of national and international nominees.

Indira Gandhi Prize

First Recipient 1986 Recent Recipient

2015

Parliamentarians for Global Action (1978)

International Organisation of Parliamentarians.

UNHCR(1950)

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

PARTICULAR AWARD

Awards given for achievement in a particular field, like sports, cinema, medicine etc. falls under this category.

• The major awards given in the field of sports is as follows:

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award- The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is the highest sporting honour of the Republic of India. The first recipient of the award was Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, who was honoured for the performance in the year 1991–92.

Dronacharya Award- Dronacharya Award is an award presented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, government of India for excellence in sports coaching. The award comprises a bronze statuette of Dronacharya, a scroll of honour and a cash component of Rs.7,00,000. The award was instituted in 1985. O. M. Nambiar is the first Indian athletics coach who was awarded Dronacharya award in 1985.

The Arjuna Award- The Arjuna Award was instituted in 1961 as a national recognition for outstanding performance in Sports and Games in the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cup, World Championship disciplines and Cricket. 

Dhyan Chand- Dhyan Chand award is India's award for lifetime achievement in sports and games, given by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The award is named after the legendary Indian hockey player Dhyan Chand. The award was initiated in 2002 and carries a cash prize of 5 lakh rupees, a plaque and a scroll of honour.

The major awards given in the field of cinema is as follows:

National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremonies in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.

Every year, a national panel appointed by the government selects the winning entry, and the award ceremony is held in New Delhi, where the President of India presents the awards. This is followed by the inauguration of the National Film Festival, where the award-winning films are screened for the public. Declared for films produced in the previous year across the country, they hold the distinction of awarding merit to the best of Indian cinema overall, as well as presenting awards for the best films in each region and language of the country. Due to the national scale of the National Film Awards, it is considered the Indian equivalent of the American Academy Awards

Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema. It is presented annually at the National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals, an organisation set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The recipient is honoured for their "outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema" and is selected by a committee consisting of eminent personalities from the Indian film industry. As of 2014, the award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of ₹1,000,000