The Ashok Chakra is India’s highest peacetime gallantry award — given for the most conspicuous bravery, or self-sacrifice in situations not involving direct engagement with an enemy, and is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra.
The Ashok Chakra is awarded to armed forces personnel and civilians alike, recognising bravery in counter-terrorism operations, bomb disposal, rescue missions, and covert intelligence work. This topic is tested in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, NDA, CDS, and all Defence-focused competitive exams. This page gives you a complete, updated list of the most important Ashok Chakra recipients, along with the full gallantry awards hierarchy and key exam-facing facts.
⚡ Quick Facts
- Ashok Chakra = India’s highest peacetime gallantry award — the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra. Instituted 4 January 1952; originally called “Ashok Chakra, Class I.”
- Eligibility: All three armed forces, Territorial Army, Reserve Forces — AND civilians, police, and paramilitary personnel. Unlike PVC, the Ashok Chakra crosses service boundaries.
- Ribbon: Orange with green border. Medal: circular, gold-gilt, with Ashoka Chakra (wheel) on obverse, lotus flowers on reverse.
- Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan — killed during 26/11 Mumbai attacks (Hotel Taj, 28 Nov 2008); NSG 51 SAG; “Don’t come up — I’ll handle them”; Ashok Chakra posthumously 2009.
- Women Ashok Chakra recipients: Only two women have ever received the Ashok Chakra — Neerja Bhanot (1987, Pan Am Flight 73 hijack, posthumous) and Kamlesh Kumari (2001, Parliament attack, posthumous). Neither was a serving military officer. No woman IAF officer has received the AC as of 2026.
These names are frequently confused with Ashok Chakra recipients — they are NOT: Major Somnath Sharma → received Param Vir Chakra (1947 war, posthumous). Manoj Kumar Pandey → received Param Vir Chakra (Kargil 1999). Havildar Abdul Hamid → received Param Vir Chakra (1965 war). Colonel Santosh Babu → received Maha Vir Chakra (Galwan 2020, NOT Ashok Chakra — Galwan was classified as war-equivalent). Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja → received Vir Chakra (1999 Kargil).
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🏅 Ashok Chakra Awardees — Complete List
| # ↕ | Recipient ↕ | Rank / Unit | Year ↕ | Posthumous? | Action / Key Exam Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan Most Celebrated | Major, 51 SAG (NSG) | 2009 | Posthumous | Killed leading NSG hostage rescue in Taj Hotel during 26/11 Mumbai attacks (28 Nov 2008); “Don’t come up — I’ll handle them”; film Major (2022) |
| 2 | Hav Hangpan Dada | Havildar, 35 Rashtriya Rifles | 2016 | Posthumous | Killed 4 militants in Kumkadi Forest, Arunachal Pradesh (26 May 2016); Nocte tribe; killed by 5th militant; wife received medal from President Pranab Mukherjee |
| 3 | SI Mohan Chand Sharma | Sub-Inspector, Delhi Police Special Cell | 2009 | Posthumous | Killed in Batla House encounter (19 Sep 2008); tracked and eliminated Indian Mujahideen suspects linked to Delhi serial blasts |
| 4 | Cpl Jyoti Prakash Nirala IAF First AC | Corporal, IAF Garud Commando Force | 2018 | Posthumous | Counter-terrorism op, Chanderger village, Bandipora, J&K (18 Nov 2017); killed 2 LeT militants, injured 2 others before succumbing; first IAF personnel to receive AC for ground combat; awarded 26 Jan 2018 |
| 5 | Women AC recipients (exam note) | — | 1987 / 2001 | Posthumous | Only two women have ever received the Ashok Chakra: Neerja Bhanot (flight attendant, Pan Am hijack, 1987 — posthumous) and Kamlesh Kumari (constable, 2001 Parliament attack — posthumous). No woman IAF officer has received the AC as of 2026. |
| 6 | L/Nk Mohan Nath Goswami | Lance Naik, 4 Para (SF) | 2014 | Posthumous | Laid down life fighting militants in Shopian, J&K (August 2013); counter-terrorism operation by 4 Para Special Forces |
| 7 | Rfn Jaswant Singh Rawat | Rifleman, 4 Garhwal Rifles | 1968 | Posthumous | Held Chinese post at Nuranang, Arunachal Pradesh (1962) alone for 72 hours; folklore holds he still “guards” the post; AC awarded posthumously; memorial and shrine maintained at Nuranang |
| 8 | Nb Sub Tapeshwar Yadav | Naib Subedar, Assam Rifles | 1994 | Living | Counter-terrorism in Northeast India; captured militant leader; survived action; rare living Ashok Chakra recipient from Army |
| 9 | Constable Ghanshyam | Constable, BSF | 2008 | Living | Disarmed a live bomb during the Jaipur serial blasts (2008); prevented mass casualties; extraordinary bomb disposal under pressure |
| 10 | Rfn Uday Singh | Rifleman, 1 Para (SF) | 2001 | Posthumous | Killed in action in counter-terrorism operation in Kupwara, J&K; 1 Para Special Forces |
| 11 | Insp P. Ravindranath | Inspector, CRPF | 2002 | Posthumous | Counter-terrorism operation in J&K; killed in action; CRPF; demonstrates civilian/paramilitary eligibility for Ashok Chakra |
| 12 | Hav Munna Lal | Havildar, 8 Rashtriya Rifles | 2003 | Posthumous | Counter-terrorism operation in J&K; 8 Rashtriya Rifles; killed in action |
| 13 | Naik Deepak Singh | Naik, 11 SIKH LI | 2018 | Posthumous | Counter-terrorism in Kupwara, J&K; eliminated multiple militants before giving his life; 11 Sikh Light Infantry |
| 14 | Capt Tushar Mahajan | Captain, 5 Para (SF) | 2018 | Posthumous | Counter-terrorism operation in Kupwara, J&K; 5 Para Special Forces; killed in action |
| 15 | Rfn (Pioneer) Lalak Jan | Rifleman, Northern Light Infantry (Pakistan) | 1999 | Posthumous | Note: Pakistan’s highest peacetime gallantry equivalent; often appears in cross-comparative exam questions — not an Indian recipient |
🎖️ India’s Gallantry Awards Hierarchy
India’s six major gallantry awards come in three matched pairs: the higher-ranking wartime award is paired with its peacetime equivalent. Both awards in each pair carry equal social prestige; the wartime versions rank slightly higher in official precedence. All six can be awarded posthumously.
| Precedence | Award | Type | Wartime / Peacetime | Eligible Recipients | Key Exam Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Param Vir Chakra (PVC) | Wartime | Wartime (direct enemy engagement) | Military only | Highest military honour; 21 recipients (most posthumous); Kargil = 4 PVC |
| 2nd | Ashok Chakra (AC) | Peacetime | Peacetime (no direct enemy engagement) | Military + Civilians + Police | Highest PEACETIME award; PVC equivalent for peacetime; civilians eligible |
| 3rd | Mahavir Chakra (MVC) | Wartime | Wartime | Military only | Second-highest wartime award; Col Santosh Babu (Galwan 2020) received MVC |
| 4th | Kirti Chakra (KC) | Peacetime | Peacetime | Military + Civilians + Police | Peacetime equivalent of MVC; second-tier peacetime award |
| 5th | Vir Chakra (VC) | Wartime | Wartime | Military only | Third-tier wartime award; Sq Ldr Ajay Ahuja (Kargil 1999) received VC |
| 6th | Shaurya Chakra (ShC) | Peacetime | Peacetime | Military + Civilians + Police | Third-tier peacetime award; most commonly awarded peacetime gallantry medal |
📋 Key Ashok Chakra Recipients — Exam Quick Reference
| Recipient | Year of Award | Service / Unit | Notable Action / Context | Exam Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan | 2009 | NSG (51 SAG) | 26/11 Mumbai attacks; Taj Hotel rescue; killed 28 Nov 2008 | “Don’t come up — I’ll handle them”; film Major (2022); parents refused compensation |
| Hav Hangpan Dada | 2016 | 35 Rashtriya Rifles | Kumkadi Forest, Arunachal Pradesh; killed 4 militants (May 2016) | Nocte tribe; wife received medal from President Pranab Mukherjee; Arunachal Pradesh — NOT J&K |
| SI Mohan Chand Sharma | 2009 | Delhi Police Special Cell | Batla House encounter (19 Sep 2008); killed tracking Indian Mujahideen | Delhi Police officer = civilian/police eligible for AC; Batla House = high-profile 2008 encounter |
| Cpl Jyoti Prakash Nirala | 2018 | IAF Garud Commando Force | Chanderger village, Bandipora, J&K (18 Nov 2017); killed 2 LeT militants before succumbing | First IAF personnel to receive Ashok Chakra (for ground combat); Garud commando attached to 13 RR; AC awarded 26 Jan 2018 |
| Neerja Bhanot | 1987 | Air India (civilian flight attendant) | Pan Am Flight 73 hijack (Karachi, 1986); shielded passengers from gunfire; killed aged 23 | Only woman civilian to receive AC; also youngest recipient of that era; posthumous. Kamlesh Kumari (constable, 2001 Parliament attack) is the other woman AC recipient. |
| Rfn Jaswant Singh Rawat | 1968 | 4 Garhwal Rifles | Nuranang, Arunachal (1962 war); held post alone 72 hours | Folklore: “still guards” the post; shrine maintained; Jang War Memorial named after him |
| Const Ghanshyam | 2008 | BSF | Defused live bomb during Jaipur blasts (2008) | BSF constable = paramilitary civilian eligible; bomb disposal category |
⚖️ Compare Two Recipients
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
Full name: Ashok Chakra. Instituted: 4 January 1952 (originally “Ashok Chakra, Class I”). Precedence: highest peacetime gallantry award — second only to PVC (which is wartime only). Eligible: Members of all three armed forces, Territorial Army, Reserve Forces — and civilians, police, and paramilitary. Design: circular, gold-gilt medal with Ashoka Chakra (wheel) on obverse; lotus flowers on reverse. Ribbon: orange with green border. Awards are typically announced on Republic Day (26 January) or Independence Day (15 August) by the President of India.
Born: 15 March 1977, Bengaluru. Unit: 51 SAG (Special Action Group), NSG. On 26–28 November 2008, 10 Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists attacked Mumbai, killing 166. Sandeep led his NSG team up the stairs of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to rescue hostages. When encountering terrorists in a narrow corridor, he shouted his famous last words to colleagues: “Don’t come up — I’ll handle them,” before being fatally shot. Ashok Chakra: posthumously, January 2009. His parents refused government compensation. A Bollywood film Major (2022) depicted his life. A street in Bengaluru is named “Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Road.”
India’s six major gallantry awards come in three matched pairs — wartime and peacetime at each level:
Pair 1 (Highest): Param Vir Chakra (wartime) ↔ Ashok Chakra (peacetime)
Pair 2 (Second): Mahavir Chakra (wartime) ↔ Kirti Chakra (peacetime)
Pair 3 (Third): Vir Chakra (wartime) ↔ Shaurya Chakra (peacetime)
Mnemonic: “PVC-AC | MVC-KC | VC-ShC” — each wartime medal has a peacetime counterpart. All three peacetime awards (Ashok, Kirti, Shaurya Chakra) can be given to civilians and paramilitary; wartime awards are military-only.
Unit: 35 Rashtriya Rifles. Action: 26 May 2016, Kumkadi Forest, East Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. Intelligence indicated a militant group infiltrating from Myanmar into India. Hangpan Dada single-handedly tracked and engaged 5 militants — killed 4 before being shot and killed by the 5th. He was from the Nocte tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. His wife Chasen Lowang received the medal from President Pranab Mukherjee — a widely covered, moving ceremony. Exam trap: the action was in Arunachal Pradesh, not J&K (most counter-terror AC awards are for J&K operations).
Unlike the Param Vir Chakra (strictly for military personnel in enemy combat), the Ashok Chakra crosses the military–civilian boundary. Notable civilian/police recipients: Sub-Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma (Delhi Police Special Cell) — killed in Batla House encounter (19 Sep 2008), was tracking Indian Mujahideen who carried out Delhi serial blasts. Constable Ghanshyam (BSF) — defused live bomb during Jaipur blasts (2008). Various CRPF and BSF personnel for counter-terror and anti-Naxal operations. This makes the Ashok Chakra the most democratic of India’s top gallantry awards.
Three pairs of gallantry awards: “PVC-Ashok | Mahavir-Kirti | Vir-Shaurya” — wartime on left, peacetime on right.
Key AC recipients (SHS mnemonic): S = Sandeep Unnikrishnan (Mumbai 26/11, 2009) | H = Hangpan Dada (Arunachal, 2016) | S = Sharma Mohan Chand (Batla House, 2009)
Firsts to remember: First IAF AC (ground combat) = Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala (2018, Bandipora J&K, 18 Nov 2017). First IAF AC overall = Flt Lt Suhas Biswas (1953). Only women AC recipients = Neerja Bhanot (1987) and Kamlesh Kumari (2001) — both civilians, both posthumous.
Ashok Chakra ribbon = Orange + Green (remember: India’s national bird peacock = orange + green colours).
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The Ashok Chakra is India’s highest peacetime gallantry award \u2014 awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or self-sacrifice in situations NOT involving direct engagement with an enemy. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra. It can be awarded to armed forces personnel and civilians, including police and paramilitary officers, for counter-terrorism, bomb disposal, hostage rescue, and similar operations.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan of the National Security Guard (NSG) was killed on 28 November 2008 while leading a rescue operation inside the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel during the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks. He was awarded the Ashok Chakra posthumously in January 2009. His famous last words to his colleagues were \u201cDon\u2019t come up \u2014 I\u2019ll handle them.\u201d
The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India’s highest wartime gallantry award \u2014 given for the most conspicuous bravery in the face of the enemy during armed conflict. The Ashok Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award \u2014 given for the most conspicuous bravery in situations not involving direct enemy engagement. In terms of precedence, PVC ranks highest overall, while Ashok Chakra is second-highest in India’s overall gallantry award hierarchy.
Havildar Hangpan Dada of the 35 Rashtriya Rifles performed his act of extraordinary bravery on 26 May 2016 in Kumkadi Forest in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. He single-handedly engaged a group of militants infiltrating from Myanmar, killing four before being fatally wounded by the fifth. He was from the Nocte tribe of Arunachal Pradesh and was awarded the Ashok Chakra posthumously on Republic Day 2016.
India’s gallantry awards are structured in three pairs \u2014 one wartime and one peacetime at each level. The Mahavir Chakra (wartime) and the Kirti Chakra (peacetime) form the second-tier pair. The highest pair is Param Vir Chakra (wartime) and Ashok Chakra (peacetime), and the third pair is Vir Chakra (wartime) and Shaurya Chakra (peacetime). All three peacetime awards can be given to civilians and paramilitary personnel in addition to military members.
✅ Key Takeaways
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The Ashok Chakra is India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, instituted on 4 January 1952. It is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, in circumstances not involving direct contact with the enemy. Unlike the Param Vir Chakra (which is exclusively for military personnel in direct enemy combat), the Ashok Chakra can be awarded to members of all three armed forces, Territorial Army, Reserve Forces, and importantly, also to civilians, police officers, and paramilitary personnel. Common categories of action recognised include counter-terrorism operations, bomb disposal, hostage rescue, covert intelligence missions, and exceptional bravery in disaster response. The medal features the Ashoka Chakra (wheel) on its face and is usually presented on Republic Day (26 January) or Independence Day (15 August) by the President of India.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan (15 March 1977 – 28 November 2008) was an officer of the National Security Guard’s 51 Special Action Group (SAG). On the night of 26–28 November 2008, 10 Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists launched coordinated attacks across Mumbai, killing 166 people. Sandeep led his NSG team up the staircase of the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to rescue hostages trapped inside. In a narrow corridor, he encountered two terrorists and was engaged in a firefight. To prevent his team from being caught in the crossfire, he shouted his famous last words: “Don’t come up — I’ll handle them,” before being fatally shot. He was awarded the Ashok Chakra posthumously in January 2009. His parents declined government compensation, saying their son had done his duty. A Bollywood film “Major” (2022) depicted his life and the 26/11 operation.
India’s gallantry awards are structured in three tiers, each with a wartime award and a peacetime equivalent. The highest tier includes the Param Vir Chakra (wartime — for the most conspicuous bravery in direct enemy engagement) and the Ashok Chakra (peacetime — for the most conspicuous bravery not in direct enemy engagement). The second tier includes the Mahavir Chakra (wartime) and Kirti Chakra (peacetime). The third tier includes the Vir Chakra (wartime) and Shaurya Chakra (peacetime). Wartime awards are exclusively for military personnel; peacetime awards can also be given to civilians and paramilitary. All six awards can be awarded posthumously. The awards are announced on Republic Day (26 January) and Independence Day (15 August).
The Ashok Chakra is tested in UPSC Prelims (Defence, Current Affairs, Indian Society), SSC CGL, NDA, CDS, and State PSC exams. Key tested facts include: the Ashok Chakra as India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, its institution date (4 January 1952), the distinction between PVC (wartime) and Ashok Chakra (peacetime), eligibility extending to civilians, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s 26/11 action (2009), Havildar Hangpan Dada’s Arunachal Pradesh action (2016), the three pairs of gallantry awards (PVC-AC, MVC-KC, VC-ShC), Sub-Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma’s Batla House action (2009), and the two women who have received the AC (Neerja Bhanot 1987 and Kamlesh Kumari 2001). The Ashok Chakra list contains several high-profile recent recipients that make it particularly relevant for current affairs sections.
