View source for Param Vir Chakra

{{Infobox military award
| name             =Param Vir Chakra
| image            =[[File:Param-vir-chakra-medal.png|300px]] <br><br>[[File:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg|150px]]
| caption          =Param Vir Chakra and its ribbon, the highest military decoration of India
| awarded_by       ={{flag|India}}
| country          ={{flag|India}}
| status           =Currently awarded
| type             =Medal
| eligibility      =Officers, men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army Militia and of any other lawfully constituted Armed Forces.<ref name="PARAM VIR CHAKRA">{{cite web|title=PARAM VIR CHAKRA|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=dADW2FA04TfsAb9aBOtcOQ==&ParentID=e2LXKjo8OUz8+sOi/VjzeQ==|publisher=Indian Army|access-date=6 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="HONOURS & AWARDS">{{cite web|title=HONOURS & AWARDS|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_page.php?pg_id=126|publisher=Indian Air Force|access-date=6 July 2016|archive-date=31 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731061733/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_page.php?pg_id=126|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="(PVC)">{{cite web|title=Param Vir Chakra|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/node/409|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=6 July 2016}}</ref>
| for              =Most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.<ref name="PARAM VIR CHAKRA"/><ref name="HONOURS & AWARDS"/><ref name="(PVC)"/>
|  established      =26 January 1950<ref name="Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle">{{cite book| last = Cardozo| first = (Major General) Ian| title = Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=D9ymBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA19| access-date = 6 July 2016| year = 2003| publisher = Roli Books Private Limited| isbn = 9789351940296 }}</ref>
| first_award      =3 November 1947
| last_award       =6 July 1999
| total            =21<ref name="Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle"/><ref name="21 Param Vir Chakra awardees">{{cite web|title=Amar Chitra Katha's new comic honours 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/amar-chitra-kathas-new-comic-honours-21-param-vir-chakra-awardees/|publisher=The Indian Express|access-date=6 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="11 Facts You Need To Know About The Param Vir Chakra">{{cite web|title=11 Facts You Need To Know About The Param Vir Chakra|url=http://m.indiatimes.com/culture/who-we-are/11-facts-you-need-to-know-about-the-param-vir-chakra-231518.html|publisher=India Times|access-date=8 July 2016}}</ref>
| post-nominals    = PVC<ref name="11 Facts You Need To Know About The Param Vir Chakra"/>
| posthumous       =14<ref name="Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle"/><ref name="11 Facts You Need To Know About The Param Vir Chakra"/>
| recipients       =21<ref name="Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle"/><ref name="11 Facts You Need To Know About The Param Vir Chakra"/>
| higher           =[[Bharat Ratna]]<ref name="Precedence Of Medals">{{cite web|title=Precedence Of Medals|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=BXcX5hxppEZqCOXb6hqedA==&ParentID=4KygHdsq1A/bXA7u5dbrJQ==|publisher=Indian Army|access-date=6 July 2016}}</ref>
| lower            =[[Ashoka Chakra Award|Ashoka Chakra]]<ref name="Precedence Of Medals"/>
| image2           =[[File:Bana Singh, Yoginder, Sanjay Kumar (PVC Recipients).jpg|300px]]
| caption2         =The three living recipients of the Param Vir Chakra Award:<ref name="21 Param Vir Chakra awardees"/> [[Yogendra Singh Yadav]], [[Bana Singh]] and [[Sanjay Kumar (soldier)|Sanjay Kumar]]
}}
The '''Param Vir Chakra''' ('''PVC''') is [[India]]'s highest [[Military orders, awards and decorations|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.<ref name="Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle"/><ref name="1971 Indo Pakistan War">{{cite web|title=Param Vir Chakra|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Awards/Gallantry/301-PVC.html|publisher=BHARAT RAKSHAK|access-date=7 July 2016|archive-date=16 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216031622/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Awards/Gallantry/301-PVC.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="11 Facts You Need To Know About The Param Vir Chakra"/>

Literally Param Vir Chakra means "Wheel (or Cross) of the Ultimate Brave", it is equal to the [[Medal of Honor]] in the [[United States]] and the [[Victoria Cross]] in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name="Param Vir Chakra (PVC)">{{cite web|title=Param Vir Chakra (PVC)|url=http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=13|publisher=National Portal of India|access-date=6 July 2016|archive-date=14 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814213528/http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=13|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Instituted on 26 January 1950, by the [[President of India]],<ref name="Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle"/><ref name="11 Facts You Need To Know About The Param Vir Chakra"/> with effect from 15 August 1947,<ref name="11 Facts You Need To Know About The Param Vir Chakra"/> this award can also be awarded posthumously.<ref name="Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle"/> Officers or enlisted personnel from all branches of the [[Indian Armed Forces]] are eligible for the award.<ref name="Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle"/> Recipients of the decoration have the right to use PVC as a postnominal abbreviation.<ref name="11 Facts You Need To Know About The Param Vir Chakra"/>

There is a provision for the award of a bar for a second (or subsequent) awards of the Param Vir Chakra, with a replica of the [[Vajra]], the weapon of [[Indra]], the god of heaven. However, no one has received it to date.<ref name="11 Facts You Need To Know About The Param Vir Chakra"/>

== Param Vir Chakra Media ==
<gallery widths='160px' heights='100%' mode='traditional' caption=''>
File:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|Ribbon of Ashoka Chakra

File:Bharat Ratna Ribbon.svg|Bharat Ratna Ribbon

File:Padma Vibhushan Ribbon.svg|Padma Vibhushan Ribbon

File:Stamp of India - 1976 - Colnect 327422 - Param Vir Chakra Medal Commemoration.jpeg|PVC medal on 1976 stamp of India

File:Major Somnath Sharma statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi.jpg|Major Somnath Sharma statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi

File:Naik Jadunath Singh statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi.jpg|Naik Jadunath Singh statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi

File:Second Lieutenant R R Rane statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi.jpg|Second Lieutenant R R Rane statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi
</gallery>
== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of India]]
[[Category:Military honors]]
[[Category:Military of India]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in India]]