Indian honours system - wikipedia Indian honours system The Indian honours system is the system of awards given to individuals for a variety of services to the Republic of India. Contents 1 Civilian Awards 1.1 Bharat Ratna 1.2 Padma awards 1.2. 1 Selection process 2 Military Awards 2.1 Wartime gallantry awards 2.2 Peacetime gallantry awards 2.3 Wartime / Peacetime service awards 2.4 Wartime Distinguished Service 2.5 Peacetime Distinguished Service 3 National awards 3.1 Women 3.2 Children 4 Literature awards 5 Particular awards 5.1 National sports awards 5.2 Police awards 5.3 Bravery awards 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Civilian awards Bharat Ratna The Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country, was instituted in the year 1954. Any person without distinction of race, occupation, position, or gender is eligible for this award. It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service / performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour. On conferment of the award, the recipient receives a Sanad ( certificate ) signed by the President and a medallion. It is not mandatory that this award is given every year. Padma awards Padma Awards were instituted in the year 1954. Except for brief interruptions during the years 1977 to 1980 and 1993 to 1997, these awards have been announced every year on Republic Day. The award is given in three categories, viz. Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, in the decreasing order of importance. Padma Vibhushan for `` exceptional and distinguished service ''. Padma Vibhushan is second highest civilian award in India. Padma Bhushan for `` distinguished service of a high order ''. Padma Bhushan is third highest civilian award in India. Padma Shri is awarded for `` distinguished service ''. Padma Shri is last and fourth highest civilian award in India. The Padma award is just an honour. No cash allowance or any facility / benefit in terms of concession etc. in rail / air travel is attached to these awards. The award does not amount to a title and can not be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardee 's name on letterheads, invitation cards, posters, books etc. In the case of any misuse, the awardee will forfeit the award. The decoration comprises a Sanad ( Certificate ) issued under the hand and seal of the President and a Medallion. The recipients are also given a replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial / State functions etc., if they desire. A commemorative brochure giving out brief details in respect of each award winner is also released on the day of the investiture ceremony. Selection process These awards seek to recognize work of any distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements / service in all fields of activities / disciplines, such as art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, civil service, trade and industry, etc. All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. In 2018, the BJP government decided to end the practice of ministers recommending names for Padma awards and replaced it with any Indian citizen recommending a person for Padma awards online. The government said that this was done with the belief that every citizen has something to contribute to the nation and that contribution should be integrated with the country 's growth. Accordingly, several hitherto unknown citizens were awarded Padma awards in 2017. The role of the state governments was also minimised. Military awards Main article : Indian military decorations Wartime gallantry awards Param Vir Chakra -- Highest military award for, equivalent to the Victoria Cross ( which was replaced once India gained its independence ). Maha Vir Chakra -- Maha Vir Chakra is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. Vir Chakra -- Third in precedence in the awards for wartime gallantry Peacetime gallantry awards Ashok Chakra Award -- An Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self - sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra. Kirti Chakra -- Second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards. Shaurya Chakra -- Third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards. Wartime / Peacetime service awards Sena Medal / Nao Sena Medal / Vayusena Medal Wartime Distinguished Service Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal Uttam Yudh Seva Medal Yudh Seva Medal Peacetime Distinguished Service Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal National awards Women Stree Shakti Puraskar Children National Bravery Award given for BTS Literature awards Jnanpith Award is the highest literary honour Award in Literature of India Sahitya Akademi Award Sahitya Akademi Fellowship Saraswati samman Bhasha Samman Translation Awards Anand Coomarswamy Fellowships Premchand Fellowship Particular awards National sports awards Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Dronacharya award Arjuna award Dhyan Chand Award C.K. Nayudu Award Police awards President 's Police Medal for Gallantry President 's Fire Services Medal for Gallantry President 's Correctional Service Medal for Gallantry President 's Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Gallantry Police Medal for Gallantry Fire Services Medal for Gallantry Correctional Service Medal for Gallantry Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Gallantry President 's Police Medal for Distinguished Service President 's Fire Services Medal for Distinguished Service President 's Correctional Service Medal for Distinguished Service President 's Home Guards and Civil Defence for Distinguished Service Police Medal for Meritorious Service Fire Services Medal for Meritorious Service Correction Service Medal for Meritorious Service Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Meritorious Service President Tat Rakshak Medal Bravery awards National Bravery Award Bharat Award Sanjay Chopra Award Geeta Chopra Award Kritin Bhardwaj Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak Jeevan Raksha Padak See also List of people who have declined or renounced Indian honours and decorations Indian military decorations National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement References Jump up ^ Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, Samarth Ratna Archived November 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ http://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/Scheme-PadmaAwards-050514.pdf Jump up ^ `` Padma Awards this time only on merit, no lobbying : Modi government ''. Retrieved 23 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` Underdogs stunned to get Padma awards, as PM reforms nomination process ''. Retrieved 23 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` Now, anyone can recommend a person for Padma awards online : PM Narendra Modi ''. Retrieved 23 August 2017. External links Current orders, decorations and medals of India Genius Indian Achiver 's Award hide Indian honours and decorations Civilian National Bharat Ratna Padma Vibhushan Padma Bhushan Padma Shri Children National Bravery Award National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement National Bal Shree Honour Women Stree Shakti Puraskar Police President 's Police Medal for Gallantry Police Medal for Gallantry Central Ganga Sharan Award George Grierson Award Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan Award Moturi Satyanarayan Award National Award for Child Welfare Subramanya Bharathi Award By field Literature Sahitya Akademi Fellowship Sahitya Akademi Award Cinema Dadasaheb Phalke Award National Film Awards Other arts Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship Sports Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Arjuna Award Dronacharya Award Dhyan Chand Award Science & Technology Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize Kalinga Prize Aryabhata Award Gallantry Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak Jeevan Raksha Padak Medical Dr. B.C. Roy Award International Gandhi Peace Prize Indira Gandhi Peace Prize Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony Military Wartime Param Vir Chakra Maha Vir Chakra Vir Chakra Peacetime Ashoka Chakra Kirti Chakra Shaurya Chakra Distinguished Service & Gallantry Sena Medal Army Nao Sena Medal Navy Vayu Sena Medal Air Force Wartime Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal Uttam Yudh Seva Medal Yudh Seva Medal Peacetime Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal Service and campaign medals Wound Medal General Service Medal 1947 Samanya Seva Medal Special Service Medal Samar Seva Star Poorvi Star Paschimi Star Operation Vijay Star Siachen Glacier Medal Raksha Medal Sangram Medal Operation Vijay Medal Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Service Medal Videsh Seva Medal Long service awards Meritorious Service Medal Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal Territorial Army Decoration Territorial Army Medal Independence Awards Indian Independence Medal 50th Independence Anniversary Medal 25th Independence Anniversary Medal Other Awards Mention in Dispatches Commendation Card hide Orders, decorations, and medals by country Africa Botswana Burundi Ethiopia Egypt Kenya Mozambique Namibia Nigeria Rwanda Senegal South Africa Swaziland Tanzania Uganda Zimbabwe Former Rhodesia Americas Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Barbados Bolivia Brazil Canada Provinces Chile Colombia Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Jamaica Mexico Peru Trinidad and Tobago United States Civil Military Police Uruguay Venezuela Asia Bangladesh Burma Cambodia China Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Israel Japan Self - Defense Force Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Macau Malaysia North Korea Pakistan Civil Military Palestine Philippines Singapore South Korea Sri Lanka Civil Military Police Taiwan ( Republic of China ) Tajikistan Thailand Vietnam Former South Vietnam British Raj Europe Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Civil Military Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Military Greece Holy See Hungary Ireland Military Italy Kosovo Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sovereign Military Order of Malta Sweden Switzerland Military Turkey Military Ukraine Military United Kingdom Military Former Austria - Hungary Czechoslovakia Germany Empire Nazi East Independent State of Croatia Yugoslavia Kingdom SFR FR Soviet Union Republics Oceania Australia Kiribati Fiji New Zealand Papua New Guinea Samoa Tonga Former Hawaii Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_honours_system&oldid=846474880 '' Categories : Orders, decorations, and medals of India Honours systems Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Talk Contents About Wikipedia অসমীয়া বাংলা Deutsch Français हिन्दी Bahasa Indonesia Edit links This page was last edited on 19 June 2018, at 00 : 28 ( UTC ). 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Question: which is the highest civilian honour in india
Answer: The Bharat Ratna