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Current Affairs

President Droupadi Murmu Confers Kirti Chakra and Other Gallantry Awards in 2026 Defence Investiture Ceremony

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On 8 June 2026, President Droupadi Murmu conferred seven Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, and 29 Shaurya Chakras at the Defence Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The awards recognized acts of courage, devotion to duty, and distinguished service by personnel from the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces, and State or Union Territory Police. Among the Kirti Chakra awardees was Indian Air Force Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, a Gaganyaan astronaut-designate and backup astronaut for the Axiom-4 mission. Two Kirti Chakras were awarded posthumously to Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar and Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari. The Kirti Chakra is India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, ranked below the Ashoka Chakra. The Defence Investiture Ceremony is held annually in phases at Rashtrapati Bhavan to confer military honors announced typically on Republic Day and Independence Day.

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Key Facts

  • Date: 8 June 2026
  • Venue: Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi
  • Awards Conferred: 7 Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, 29 Shaurya Chakras
  • Notable Recipient: Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Gaganyaan astronaut-designate and Axiom-4 backup astronaut)
  • Posthumous Kirti Chakra Awards: Two (Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar and Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari)
  • Recipients: Personnel from Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces, and State/Union Territory Police

Background & Context

The Kirti Chakra, instituted in 1952, is India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award, given for conspicuous courage and self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It ranks just below the Ashoka Chakra. The Vir Chakra is a wartime gallantry award, awarded for acts of bravery on the battlefield, while the Shaurya Chakra is a peacetime gallantry award similar in level to the Kirti Chakra but ranked below it.

The Defence Investiture Ceremony is an annual event hosted at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where gallantry and other distinguished service awards are conferred to defense and police personnel, usually announced publicly on Republic and Independence Days.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

Understanding the distinctions and hierarchy of India’s gallantry awards is vital for general studies and current affairs sections of competitive exams. Recent conferrals illustrate contemporary examples of valor and contribute to knowledge about India’s defence and space programmes. Familiarity with award recipients connects historical facts with ongoing national achievements, especially regarding the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, highlighting the integration of defence and scientific progress.

Points to Remember

  • The Kirti Chakra is awarded for bravery during peacetime, second only to the Ashoka Chakra.
  • In 2026, seven Kirti Chakras were awarded, including two posthumously.
  • Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, a Gaganyaan astronaut-designate and backup for the Axiom-4 ISS mission, was a Kirti Chakra recipient.
  • The Vir Chakra is awarded for wartime gallantry.
  • The Shaurya Chakra is a peacetime gallantry award ranked below the Kirti Chakra.
  • The Defence Investiture Ceremony is held annually at Rashtrapati Bhavan to present gallantry and military honors.
  • Gallantry awards are announced on Republic Day and Independence Day each year.
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