Ashoka Chakra (military decoration) Ashoka Chakra (military decoration) The Ashoka Chakra (alternative spelling: Ashok Chakra) is India's highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. 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" other than in the face of the enemy. The decoration may be awarded either to military or civilian personnel. Ashok Chakra is equivalent to US Army's peacetime Medal of Honor and the British George Cross. Flt. Lt. Suhas Biswas was the first Indian Air Force officer
Military Decoration for gallantry or exceptional devotion As it was created with the same Royal Decree and carries the same jewel (only the ribbon differs) as the military decoration for Long service, it used to be known as an 'Article 4' award. On the ribbon an inverted gilt chevron is affixed when the first class of the medal is awarded. When the medal is awarded during wartime (which hasn't happened since the end of the Korean War), a silver palm bearing a Royal Monogram was attached to the ribbon. Nowadays, the criteria for exceptional devotion to duty are considered being met, and the second class of the