January 15 every year is celebrated as Army Day in India. On this very day in 1949, Field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief.

Army day is devoted to the soldiers who fought to safeguard the country`s honour. Today, the country marks its 70th Army Day. Let`s take a look at the gallantry Awards of the Indian Army.

Gallantry awards of the Indian Army are categorized into two groups: Wartime gallantry awards and Peacetime gallantry awards.

The medals awarded by the President of India for gallantry displayed at the battlefield are:

1. Param Vir Chakra (PVC)

The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India`s highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. It is equivalent to the Medal of Honor in the United States and the Victoria Cross in the United Kingdom.

Param Vir Chakra translates as the "Wheel of the Ultimate Brave", and the award is granted for "most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy". As of now, the medal has been awarded 21 times, of which 14 were posthumous and 16 arose from actions in Indo-Pakistani conflicts.

2. Mahavir Chakra (MVC)

The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) translating literally to great warrior medal is the second highest military decoration in India, after the Param Vir Chakra. It is awarded for acts of noticeable courage in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It replaced the British Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

3. Vir Chakra

Vir Chakra is an Indian bravery award given for acts of courage in the battlefield. It replaced the British Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Military Cross (MC) and Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Award of the adornment carries with it the right to use Vr.C. as a post-nominal acronym (the recipient have to ensure that they distinguish this abbreviation from that of the Victoria Cross (V.C.). It is third in superiority in the war time gallantry awards and comes after the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra.

In the second category, the medals are awarded by the President of India for Wartime gallantry awards:

1. Ashok Chakra

The Ashoka Chakra is India`s highest peacetime military award given for valour, courage or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. In the peacetime it is equivalent to the Param Vir Chakra, and is given for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy. The honour can be given either to military or civilian personnel. Ashok Chakra is comparable to US Army`s peacetime Medal of Honor and the British George Cross. Flt. Lt. Suhas Biswas was the first Indian Air Force officer to be given the Ashoka Chakra.

2. Kirti Chakra

The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military honow awarded for courage, daring action or self-sacrifice done away from the field of battle. It can also be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra of wartime gallantry award. It is second in order for peacetime gallantry awards. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class II.

3. Shaurya Chakra

The Shaurya Chakra is awarded for an exemplary showcase of valour and bravery, while not engaged with the enemy on the battlefield.the award can be presented to the civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously. It is third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards and comes after the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra. Earlier, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class III.

This Army day as India marks its 70th anniversary, greetings to every soldier in olive greens who have been making us proud.