The Ashoka Chakra (lit.'Wheel of Ashoka') is India's highest peacetime military decoration. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice". The decoration may be awarded either to military personnel or civilians by the Government of India.
The circular medal consists of Ashoka Chakra surrounded by a lotus wreath on the front. The obverse consists of "Ashoka Chakra" written in Devanagari along the upper edge on the medal and in English along the lower rim. It is suspended by a straight bar suspender from a green ribbon with a central saffron stripe.
The medal was originally established on 4 January 1952 as the "Ashoka Chakra, Class I" by the President of India deemed to have been in effect from 15 August 1947.[2] It was the highest class of the three gallantry awards established at the time.[3] In January 1967, the award was renamed as Ashok Chakra with the other two classes renamed as Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra respectively.[2][3] The awards are given out twice a year– during the Republic Day and Independence Day.[3] Though the Ashok Chakra is placed below the Param Vir Chakra in the order of precedence,[3] it is considered to be the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra.[2] The award includes a medal, and a monthly stipend of ₹2,800 (US$30).[2][4]
The medal is circular with a diameter of 1.375in (34.9mm). It has prominent rims and is made of goldgilding. On the front side, it has a replica of the Ashok Chakra surrounded by a wreath of sacred lotus. In the reverse, the words "Ashok Chakra" are embossed in Devanagri on the top and English towards the bottom edge. These are separated by a lotus flowers on either side. The medal is suspended by a straight bar suspender from a green ribbon with a central saffron stripe. If a recipient receives subsequent such awards, more bars are added to the ribbon by which the medal is suspended.[4]
