Indian honours system

The Indian Honour System is primarily
recognized by India Government. The Indian
honour system is broadly classified in five
types - Leadership, Literature, Civilian,
Patriotic, and Particular. No cash award is
allocated for these awards.
Leadership awards
Gandhi Peace Prize
Indira Gandhi Prize
Literature awards
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
Bhasha Samman
Translation Awards
Anand Coomarswamy Fellowships
Premchand Fellowship
Jnanpith Award
Civilian awards
Bharat Ratna
The Bharat Ratna [1] — ‘Bharat Ratna’, the
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 are made by the Prime Minister himself
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
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.
Padma Vibhushan — Second degree honour.
Padma Bhushan — Third degree honour.
Padma Shri — Fourth degree honour.
Patriotic Awards
Main article: Indian military decorations
Wartime gallantry awards
Param Vir Chakra — Highest military award
for valour, 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 -It is third in precedence in the
war time 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 peace time equivalent of
the Param Vir Chakra.
Kirti Chakra -It is second in order of
precedence of peacetime gallantry awards.
Shaurya Chakra -It happens to be third in
order of precedence of peacetime gallantry
awards.
Wartime/Peacetime service and gallantry
awards
Sena Medal
Nao Sena Medal
Vayusena Medal
Wartime Distinguished Service
Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal
Uttam Yudh Seva Medal
Yudh Seva Medal
Peacetime Distinguished Service
Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal
Particular awards
National sports awards
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna .
Dronacharya award .
Arjuna award .
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
National Bravery Award
Bharat Award
Sanjay Chopra Award
Geeta Chopra Award
Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards
Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak
Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak
Jeevan Raksha Padak
See also
Indian military decorations
Rashtrapati Award
British Raj honours system