78 Gallantry Awards announced, including 19 Shaurya Chakras:13 posthumous honours; 1 gets Shaurya Chakra, 5 receive Sena Medal

President Droupadi Murmu has approved 78 gallantry awards for personnel of the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) on the eve of Independence Day 2026. The awards include 13 honours announced posthumously for personnel who displayed exceptional courage and valour in the line of duty. List of gallantry awards The 78 awards include: 9 Kirti Chakras, including 7 posthumous awards 1 Bar to Shaurya Chakra 19 Shaurya Chakras, including 1 posthumous award 36 Sena Medals (Gallantry), including 5 posthumous awards and 5 Bars 3 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) 5 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry) The awards recognise acts of exceptional bravery and courage by personnel serving in the Armed Forces and CAPFs. What does ‘Bar’ mean in gallantry awards? A Bar is awarded when a person who has already received a particular gallantry award performs another act of bravery that makes them eligible for the same award again. Instead of awarding the same medal separately for the second act of gallantry, a Bar is attached to the original medal to signify the recipient’s repeated act of exceptional courage. For example, if an officer has already been awarded the Shaurya Chakra and later performs another act of exceptional bravery warranting the same honour, they may receive a Bar to the Shaurya Chakra. The Bar therefore recognises repeated acts of gallantry by the same individual while retaining the original award. ​