UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 77th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry awards to 70 Armed Forces personnel, including six posthumous

Q1. In the context of India's gallantry decorations, the term 'Bar' (as in the 'Bar to the Sena Medal' conferred in the 77th Republic Day list) is best defined as which one of the following?

  • A. A second or subsequent award of the same decoration to a recipient who has already been conferred that medal
  • B. A posthumous conferment of a gallantry decoration on a fallen soldier
  • C. A downgraded gallantry award given when the recommending authority reduces the proposed decoration by one rank
  • D. A distinctive ribbon worn to indicate that the decoration was earned in the face of the enemy

Q2. Consider the following statements comparing India's wartime and peacetime gallantry awards: 1. The Ashoka Chakra is the peacetime counterpart of the Param Vir Chakra. 2. In the combined order of precedence, the Kirti Chakra ranks above the Maha Vir Chakra. 3. The Shaurya Chakra is awarded for gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy, whereas the Vir Chakra is a wartime decoration. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Ashoka Chakra is the peacetime counterpart of the Param Vir Chakra.
  2. In the combined order of precedence, the Kirti Chakra ranks above the Maha Vir Chakra.
  3. The Shaurya Chakra is awarded for gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy, whereas the Vir Chakra is a wartime decoration.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The three peacetime gallantry decorations originally instituted in 1952 as the Ashoka Chakra Class I, Class II and Class III were renamed as the Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra in which year?

  • A. 1950
  • B. 1960
  • C. 1967
  • D. 1972

Q4. With reference to the year of institution of India's military decorations, consider the following: 1. Ashok Chakra (as a class of the Ashoka Chakra series) — 1952 2. Param Vir Chakra — 1952 3. Kirti Chakra (as a class of the Ashoka Chakra series) — 1952 4. Sena Medal — 1952 Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Ashok Chakra (as a class of the Ashoka Chakra series) — 1952
  2. Param Vir Chakra — 1952
  3. Kirti Chakra (as a class of the Ashoka Chakra series) — 1952
  4. Sena Medal — 1952
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q5. The gallantry awards approved on the eve of the 77th Republic Day were announced and administered by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Defence
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's Secretariat)
  • D. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Q6. The President of India confers gallantry awards in the capacity of Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. This supreme command of the Defence Forces of the Union is vested in the President by which one of the following provisions of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 53(2)
  • B. Article 18
  • C. Article 72
  • D. Article 74

Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the numbers of the various gallantry decorations in the 77th Republic Day (2026) list: 1. Sena Medals (Gallantry) were more numerous than Shaurya Chakras. 2. Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) outnumbered Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). 3. Kirti Chakras exceeded Shaurya Chakras in number. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Sena Medals (Gallantry) were more numerous than Shaurya Chakras.
  2. Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) outnumbered Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
  3. Kirti Chakras exceeded Shaurya Chakras in number.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Among the gallantry decorations approved on the eve of the 77th Republic Day (2026), which one stood highest in the order of precedence and was headlined by its conferment on Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla?

  • A. Ashok Chakra
  • B. Kirti Chakra
  • C. Shaurya Chakra
  • D. Sena Medal (Gallantry)

Q9. Considering the three service-specific gallantry medals of the Indian Armed Forces — the Sena Medal, the Nao Sena Medal and the Vayu Sena Medal — how many of them were instituted in the year 1960?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. None

Q10. In the roster of India's military decorations, the Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) is most precisely described as which one of the following?

  • A. A gallantry award conferred on personnel of the Indian Navy
  • B. A gallantry award conferred on personnel of the Indian Coast Guard
  • C. A wartime-only naval decoration ranking immediately above the Vir Chakra
  • D. A purely distinguished-service (non-gallantry) decoration of the Indian Navy

Q11. The Ashoka Chakra is regarded as the peacetime equivalent of which one of the following — the highest wartime gallantry award of India?

  • A. Param Vir Chakra
  • B. Maha Vir Chakra
  • C. Vir Chakra
  • D. Kirti Chakra

Q12. With reference to the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission that carried Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station, consider the following statements: 1. He travelled to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon crew module. 2. The mission was launched in June 2025. 3. He spent about 18 days aboard the ISS, completing roughly 282 orbits. 4. The mission was launched aboard an ISRO-built launch vehicle from Sriharikota. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. He travelled to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon crew module.
  2. The mission was launched in June 2025.
  3. He spent about 18 days aboard the ISS, completing roughly 282 orbits.
  4. The mission was launched aboard an ISRO-built launch vehicle from Sriharikota.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 4 only