Ashok Chakra Award The Ashok Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor , courageous action or self - sacrifice away from the battlefield . It is the peace time 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 and may be awarded posthumously . It replaced the British George Cross . Subsequent awards of the Ashoka Chakra are recognized by a bar to the medal ribbon ( Flt Lt Suhas Biswas was the first Indian Air Force officer to be awarded with Ashoka Chakra ) . It is possible for a recipient to be awarded the Kirti Chakra or Shaurya Chakra in addition for separate acts of gallantry . History . The medal was originally established on 4 January 1952 as the " Ashoka Chakra , Class I " as the first step of a three - class sequence of non - combatant bravery decorations . In 1967 , these decorations were removed from the " class - based " system and renamed as the Ashoka Charkra , Kirti Chakra , and Shaurya Chakra . This is an important point in understanding the independent Indian view of decorations . It would also lead to changes in the Padma Vibhushan series , the distinguished service medal series , the life saving medal series , and the Defence Security Corps medal series . From 1 February 1999 , the central government instituted a monthly stipend for Ashoka Chakra recipients of Rs . 1400 . Jammu and Kashmir awarded a cash award of Rs . 1500 ( ca . 1960 ) for recipients of this award . Overview . Obverse : Circular gold gilt , 1 - 3 / 8 inches in diameter . In the center , the chakra ( wheel ) of Ashoka , surrounded by a lotus wreath and with an ornate edge . Suspended by a straight bar suspender . The medal is named on the edge . Reverse : Blank in the center , with " Ashoka Chakra " in Hindi along the upper edge on the medal and the same name in English along the lower rim , " ASHOKA CHAKRA " . On either side is a lotus design . The center is blank , perhaps with the intent that details of the award be engraved there . There is no indication of the class on the pre - 1967 awards , and , in fact , there is no difference between these medals and the post - 1967 awards . Ribbon : 32 mm , dark green with a 2 mm central saffron stripe . Dark green 15 mm , saffron 2 mm , dark green 15 mm . 57 members were awarded with the " Ashoka Chakra " till 2012 . Ashok Chakra Awardees List . 1 . 2012 – Lt . Navdeep Singh of 15 Maratha Light Infantry – LT Navdeep Singh , commander of Ghatak platoon , was posted on line of control of high altitude area . On 20 August 2011 00 . 30 Hrs , he got the information of terrorist infiltration and decided to attack on them . In the middle of gunfire , he himself killed 3 terrorists from close range . He was shot in head , but he fearlessly carried on and killed the 4th terrorist also . He showed great valor and brotherhood while saving his fellow soldier . Despite being injured , he kept on firing till he fainted . He sacrificed his life while carrying out this operation . 2 . 2011 – Major Laishram Jyotin Singh who was posted at Kabul Embassy during 26 January Suicide Attack at the Indian Embassy in Kabul . When a terrorist killed 3 perimeter guards and entered the compound , firing wildly , he attacked the terrorist with his bare hands and caused the bomb vest worn by the terrorist to explode outside and cause less damage than intended . He was awarded the Ashok Chakra for extreme bravery in the face of danger . 3 . 2010 - Havildar Rajesh Kumar of 11 Rajputana Rifles – Havildar Rajesh Kumar , who belonged to the Ghatak team was on a search mission in the dense forest of Kupwara district of J & K and during operations killed three terrorists . On 1 August 2009 , a Section of Ghatak team searching the dense forest in Kupwara district of Jammu & Kashmir was subject to intense and indiscriminate firing by terrorists . Havildar Rajesh Kumar , who was leading the Section , returned the fire and scrambled into the undergrowth to outflank the terrorist . With dogged determination he closed - in around the flank and killed the terrorist . While continuing the search , the team was again engaged by two terrorists positioned upslope . Realizing the danger to the lives of his teammates , Havildar Rajesh Kumar moved to outflank one of the terrorists through a veritable hail of bullets . While closing in , he sustained gunshot wounds in the abdomen . Disregarding gunshot wounds , he shot and killed the second terrorist . Bleeding profusely , he moved to outflank the third terrorist from his blind side and engaged him in fierce hand to hand combat killing the terrorist with the burst of fire , before succumbing to his injuries . Havildar Rajesh Kumar showed unparalleled feat of most conspicuous gallantry , fortitude and the rare spirit of self - sacrifice in fighting the terrorists . 4 . 2010 - Major Mohit Sharma , born in Rohtak , Haryana , brought up in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and commissioned in 5 Madras Regiment in Dec 1999 who later moved to elite 1 Para ( Special Forces ) was killed in a battle with terrorists in the Hafruda forest in Jammu and Kashmir in March , 2009 . 5 . 2010 - Major D Sreeram Kumar , serving with 39 Assam Rifles since March 2007 , had eliminated 12 terrorists in counter insurgency operations in the northeast . 6 . 2009 - Hemant Karkare Maharashtra ATS chief , died during a battle with terrorists in 2008 Mumbai Terrorist Attack . 7 . 2009 - Vijay Salaskar Maharashtra Police Inspector , died during a battle with terrorists in 2008 Mumbai Terrorist Attack . 8 . 2009 – Ashok Kamte Maharashtra Additional Commissioner , died during a battle with terrorists in 2008 Mumbai Terrorist Attack . He fired the bullet hit the terrorist Ajmal Kasab on his arm , causing his AK - 47 fall down . Kasab was the lone terrorist captured alive later . 9 . 2009 – Tukaram Ombale ( Maharashtra Police assistant sub - inspector ) – Around midnight , a wireless message was flashed that two terrorists were moving towards Marine Drive in a car and Ombale immediately positioned barricades to block its passage . As soon the car stopped , one of the terrorists inside the car opened fire and Ombale rushed to the left side of the car and pounced on the second terrorist , Ajmal Kasab , to snatch his AK - 47 rifle , holding on to the gun despite being shot , until other officers overpowered the terrorist . In the process , he got seriously injured and later succumbed to injuries . 10 . 2009 – Havaldar Gajender Singh – Led his squad in the operation to rescue hostages from the terrorists holed up at Nariman House . After clearing the top floor of the terrorists , he reached the place where the ultras had taken position . As he closed in , the terrorists hurled a grenade injuring him . Undeterred , Gajender Singh kept firing and closing in on the terrorists by exposing himself to the hostile fire . In the act , he injured one of the terrorists and forced others to retreat inside a room . He continued the encounter till he succumbed to injuries . 11 . 2009 - NSG ' s Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan – A NSG commando with the 51 Special Action Group , led the commando operation launched on 27 November to flush out terrorists from Taj Mahal hotel in which he rescued 14 hostages but died fighting 12 . 2009 - Delhi cop Mohan Chand Sharma – Led an anti - terror operation at Batla House in the national capital in September 2008 . On 19 September 2008 , Sharma received specific information that a suspected person wanted in connection with the serial bomb blasts in Delhi was hiding in a flat in Batla House area of Jamia Nagar . Leading a seven - member team , he quickly reached the identified flat and as soon as he entered the flat , he received the first burst of fire from the terrorists holed up inside . Undaunted , he returned the fire and in the ensuing exchange of fire , two terrorists were killed and one captured , but Sharma succumbed to injuries later . 13 . 2009 - Col Jojan Thomas - Col Jojan Thomas of Army ' s Jat Regiment was serving in Jammu and Kashmir as the Commanding Officer of 45 Rastriya Rifles when on 22 August 2008 , at around 3 : 30 hours , he was informed of terrorists ' movement . The officer immediately rushed to the area with available troops and soon a fierce firefight ensued . The Colonel eliminated two terrorists from close quarters . In the process , he sustained severe gunshot wounds . In spite of this , he engaged the third terrorist in a fierce hand - to - hand fight before eliminating him . But he later succumbed to bullet injuries 14 . 2009 - Army commando Bahadur Singh Bohra - In another counter - insurgency operation in Jammu and Kashmir in September last , Army Special Forces commando Havildar Bahadur Singh Bohra of 10 Parachute Regiment was the squad commander of an assault team deployed in the Lawanz area . Bohra observed a group of terrorists at around 6 . 15 hours and moved quickly to intercept them . In the process , he came under heavy hostile fire . Undaunted , he charged at the terrorists and killed one of them . However , he suffered severe gunshot wounds . Refusing evacuation , he continued with the assault and killed two more terrorists at extremely close range . However , he later succumbed to injuries . 15 . 2009 - Meghalaya cop R P Diengdoh - Cop R P Diengdoh was conferred the medal posthumously for his acts of bravery in November 2007 , when he joined an operation to neutralise 10 armed militants holed up in the state ' s jungles . Diengdoh volunteered to lead the police party in the operations against the militants and reached the site the next day just before dawn . The assault team charged into the camp to flush out the militants , who opened heavy fire . Diengdoh boldly returned the fire and shot dead one militant . However , he was hit by a bullet . Unmindful of the grave injury , he continued to lead the team and managed to capture two dreaded militants . 16 . 2009 – Orissa SOG Assistant Commandant PR Satapathy – On 15 February 2008 , about 500 heavily armed Naxalites carried out simultaneous attacks on police at various locations in and around Bhubaneswar looting many weapons and killing several police personnel . Thereafter , they hid in nearby jungles . Satapathy , who was training in - charge for SOG , along with a mere 20 police personnel reached the elevated position taken by the Naxalites inside the jungle and immediately mounted an assault on them . The Naxalites retaliated with heavy fire on the police team and in a fierce encounter lasting for about two hours , Satapathy led the operations , but fell to bullet injuries . 17 . 2008 – Major Dinesh Raghu Raman - Major Raman was commissioned into 19 battalion of the Jat Regiment . He was awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card in Drass during the Kargil conflict . Posted to 34 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion , he conducted a successful operation “ OP Narawar ” in June last year , leading to the elimination of three terrorists . On 2 October , Major Raman deployed his company in a village in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir , where an encounter with terrorists had begun . While closing in on suspected houses , Major Raman heard shouts of a fellow officer ( Major K . P . Vinay , awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously ) who had been seriously injured . He crawled towards the injured officer under heavy fire and shifted him and two others to safety . He then took on two terrorists who had caused heavy casualties to the troops and shot both of them dead . The other terrorists fired at Major Raman from another house , causing him injuries that proved fatal . 18 . 2007 – Capt . Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan of 2 Parachute Regiment , Special Forces 19 . 2007 – Naib Subedar Chuni Lal , VrC , SM of 8 J & K Light Infantry 20 . 2007 – Col Vasanth Venugopal of 9 Maratha Light Infantry 21 . 2004 – Lt . Triveni Singh – the young officer who lost his life while gunning down two terrorists who had entered the Jammu railway station to commit a massacre . Lt . Triveni Singh headed the army ' s Quick Reaction Team posted at the station , spotted the two heavily armed Lashkar - e - Tayyiba terrorists forcing their way into the station in battle fatigues . Singh and his ' Ghatak Commandos ' reached the spot within 10 minutes and cordoned off the station . Triven Singh took on the terrorists in a gunfight at close quarters . He faced indiscriminate firing . He succeeded in killing one of them . The second terrorist lobbed a grenade at Singh , who was seriously injured . But even in an injured condition he killed the terrorist . Lt Singh succumbed to his injuries later . 22 . 2003 – Special Forces Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri – Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri of 9 PARA ( SF ) was part of a team tasked for carrying out operations on terrorist location at " Hill Kaka " ( J & K ) on 22 April 2003 . The commandos while approaching the terrorist hide out drew heavy automatic fire . Sensing danger for his comrades Sanjog assaulted the hideout and killed one terrorist . In spite of being wounded and bleeding profusely the young commando kept on assaulting till he shot and killed one more terrorist . By his gallant action , Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri provided chance for his comrades to engage the remaining terrorists effectively , but he succumbed to his injuries . The team of commandos in retaliation killed all the remaining thirteen terrorists . For his brave action Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri was awarded the highest peace time gallantry award of ASHOK CHAKRA posthumously . 23 . 2002 – Surinder Singh 24 . 2002 – Naik Rambeer Singh Tomar 25 . 2000 – Major Sudhir Kumar Walia – On 29 August , Major Sudhir Kumar Walia with a squad of five commandos was on a " Search and Destroy " mission in the dense jungle of " Hafruda Forest " in Kupwara district , J & K . The squad suddenly chanced upon a well camouflaged hide out having twenty terrorists . Maj Sudhir Kumar surged ahead of his squad and taking advantage of the element of surprise , neutralised the sentries and single handedly killed four militants . In spite of the grave injuries during this gallant action , which were to prove fatal , the brave officer kept directing his men with his radio set and ultimately ensured that the terrorists were eliminated . This gallant officer went beyond the call of duty and in the highest tradition of the Army sacrificed his life for the country , for which he was awarded the highest peace time gallantry award of ASHOK CHAKRA posthumously . 26 . 1997 – Sec Lt . Puneet Nath Dutt 27 . 1997 – Lt Col Shanti Swaroop Rana 28 . 1996 – Captain AS Jasrotia – On 15 September 1995 Captainj Jasrotia , SM of 9 PARA ( SF ) while leading his team in Lolab Valley , J & K came under heavy rocket and small arm fire . In order to extricate his men , this brave officer crawled forward and in spite of being injured gravely killed one terrorist with his commando knife and neutralized the other terrorist by lobbing grenades . His brave and gallant action gave opportunity for his comrades to take cover and engage the remaining terrorists effectively . In the ensuing firefight the brave officer succumbed to his injuries . However in retaliation the commandos eliminated all remaining terrorists . For his gallant action Captain Arun Jasrotia was awarded with the highest peace time gallantry award of ASHOK CHAKRA posthumously . 29 . 1995 – Major Rajiv Kumar Joon 30 . 1995 – Sujjan Singh 31 . 1995 – Harsh Uday Singh Gaur 32 . 1994 – N Jaychandran Nair 33 . 1993 – Rakesh Singh 34 . 1992 – Sandeep Sankhla 35 . 1991 – Randhir Prasad Verma - Randhir Prasad Verma was an Indian police officer who died while trying to resist a robbery attempt in a bank in Dhanbad . He was posthumously awarded the gallantry award Ashok Chakra on 26 January 1991 . The Government of India also issued a Commemorative postage stamp in his honor in 2004 . Randhir Prasad Verma , who joined the Indian Police Service in 1974 , had the pride of eliminating the notorious ‘ Matka Gamblers ’ gang . On the fateful day of 3 January 1991 , immediately on coming to know about an attempt by dacoits to rob the Hirapur Branch of Bank of India , Dhanbad , he rushed to the spot accompanied by his bodyguard and armed only with a service revolver between the two of them . Preferring not to wait for reinforcements to arrive which may have given time to the dacoits to escape he opted to confront them asking them to surrender . The dacoits opened fire on him with their sophisticated weapons and fatally wounded him by two gun shots . Despite being seriously wounded , he fired back and killed one and injured another of the three dacoits . Faced with his assault , the third dacoit tried to escape , but was caught by the stunned spectators and was subsequently handed over to the police . However , Randhir Prasad Verma succumbed to his injuries . Randhir Prasad Verma set an example for the society by his act of gallantry . He was not intimidated despite being outnumbered by the robbers who were armed with superior weapons . He is survived by his widow , Prof . ( Mrs . ) Rita Verma and two sons . Mrs . Verma , subsequently joined politics and was elected as Member of Parliament from Dhanbad for four consecutive terms . 36 . 1987 – Neerja Bhanot – Neerja Bhanot was the senior flight purser on the ill - fated Pan Am Flight 73 , hijacked as it headed out of Mumbai and landed at Karachi en route to Frankfurt and onward to New York City by four armed terrorists . Despite being tackled , she helped the three - member cockpit crew of pilot , co - pilot and the flight engineer escape . In the following 17 - hour ordeal , she hid the passports of the passengers on the flight so that the hijackers could not differentiate between American and Non - American citizens . Eventually , she opened the emergency door , flung a chute and assisted a number of passengers escape from the flight , while she laid down her life shielding three children from bullets fired by theterrorists 37 . 1985 – Chhering Mutup 38 . 1985 – Nirbhay Singh 39 . 1985 – Bhawani Datt Joshi 40 . 1985 – Lt . Ram prakash Roperia 41 . 1985 – Captain Jasbir Singh Raina 42 . 1985 – Major Bhukant Misra 43 . 1985 – Sq Ldr Rakesh Sharma 44 . b . 1984 – Gennadi Strekalov 44 . a . 1984 – Yury Vasilyevich Malyshev 44 . 1981 Brigadier Cyrus Addie Pithawala 45 . 1974 – Gurunam Singh 46 . 1972 – Ummed Singh Mahra – In one of the most difficult counter - insurgency operation in Nagaland , an insurgent revealed the location of self - styled Brigadier Pavizo and his HQ . A raiding party led by A raiding party led by Captain Umed Singh Mahra of 19 Raj Rif made a night long march negotiating slippery slopes and fast flowing nullahs in the festering Nagaland jungles to surprise the hostiles in the early hours of 6 July 1971 . In the ensuing firefight Capt . Mahra was wounded in the stomach . The officer continued to lead what turned out to be one of the most successful raids in Nagaland resulting in the capture of large cache of arms , ammunition and important documents . He then uncomplainingly endured the long journey back before succumbing to his wounds . For his intense display of leadership , endurance and bravery he was awarded the Ashok Chakra 47 . 1969 – Jas Ram Singh – On 31 October 1968 at 0430 hrs , his patrol was fired upon by hostiles in Mizoram . This Lion hearted officer assaulted the hostiles ’ position and killed two and wounded six hostiles . Three hostiles surrendered . By his courageous deed of leading his men who were trapped in a difficult situation he set a fine example to his patrol and men 48 . 1962 – Kharka Bahadur Linibu 49 . 1962 – Captain Mani Bahadur Rai – for his gallant action against insurgents in Nagaland , where he led a platoon through two hostile positions into the heart of their stronghold and dislodged them . 50 . 1958 – Eric James Tucker - was in command of ' B ' Company , 2nd Battalion , The Maratha Light Infantry , operating in the Naga Hills . He was assigned the task of opening the line of communication from Chakabama to Phek , a distance of 42 miles , and thereafter to Meluri , a further distance of 20 miles , to destroy the hostile concentrations en route and to establish a post at Meluri This he successfully achieved on 9 October 1956 . He was killed in an ambush laid by the hostiles on 2 August 1957 , while proceeding from Khazarni to Kivkhu with a platoon . 51 . 1957 – J R Chitnis 52 . 1957 – P M Raman 53 . 1957 – Joginder Singh 54 . 1956 – Sundar Singh 55 1952 – Flt Lt Suhas Biswas – On 3 February 1952 , The U . P . Area command of the Indian Army was holding a tactical Exercise in Lucknow . To Witness this Exercise , High ranking Army Officials decided to fly down to the Exercise to observe . The Then GOC - in - C Western Command Lt Gen S . M Shrinagesh ( Later COAS ) , The Quarter Master General Maj - Gen K . S . Thimayya ( later COAS ) , The Chief of General Staff Maj Gen S . P . P . Thorat ( later GOC - inC East ) , The Military Secretary Maj Gen Sarda Nand , Maj Gen Mohinder Singh Chopra and Brig Ajaib Singh boarded the IAF HQ and Communications Flight De Havilland Devon ( HW 516 ) which was being flown by Flt Lt Suhas Biswas . The Devon reached Lucknow and after the exercises were completed , the Officers returned for the return flight to Delhi . The Devon took off at 1800 Hrs and moments after the aircraft took off , the Crew observed the port engine was spewing smoke and soon a fire broke out . The Devon became difficult to control and as the fire kept creeping towards the main fuselage , Biswas , the pilot put the Devon in a dive in an attempt to reduce altitude and attempt a crash landing before the aircraft fuel reserves caught fire and blew up . As the Devon was put into the dive , The Aircraft shuddered in the airflow and The Engine mounting broke away , resulting in the Burning Engine separating from the wing and falling off . Biswas levelled the Aircraft and belly landed successfully at a village near the Sandilla Railway Station . All the occupants walked out of the crashed aircraft unhurt with the pilot being the last to leave . Flt Lt Suhas Biswas awarded the First Ashoka Chakra to the Indian Air Force for the presence of mind , Skill and cool courage in maintaining the Stricken aircraft and saving the lives of many Senior Army Officers . Which included Two Future Army Chiefs and an Army Commander . The Air Force Chief , Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee , had had the passenger chairs removed from the wrecked Devon and presented it individually to each of the survivors of the crash with a Brass Plate mentioning the circumstances of the crash . Flt Lt Biswas died Two Years later when his Dakota crashed in the Niligiri Hills . 56 . 1952 – Havildar Bachittar Singh – Sikh Regiment – 13 September 1948 – Naldrug , Hyderabad , Andhra Pradesh , India – In 1948 battalions of the Sikh Regiment were involved in the Hyderabad police action . 2 Sikh were in the Naldurg fort area . Hav . Bachitter Singh leading a platoon saw two vehicles coming from Naldurg and in spite of heavy fire , he ran forward and captured the vehicles and its escorts . Later in the day a well - entrenched Hyderabdi position opened fire with Bren guns on the Sikhs . Hav . Bachittar Singh charged the position and about 20 yards from it was hit in the thigh . He crawled forward and silenced the post by lobbying grenades . Even though wounded he kept on encouraging his men to go forward and destroy other positions . He was p osthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra , becoming the first Indian to receive this gallantry award . 57 . 1952 – Naik Nar Bahadur Thapa On 15 September 1948 , No 2 platoon of A Company , 5th Battalion the 5th Gorkha Rifles was held up on left flank of the Tungabhadra Railway Bridge in Hyderabad by automatic fire from two enemy positions . No sooner the hostile positions were engaged by fire by his section , Naik Bahadur Thapa dashed across 100 yards of open ground under intense enemy fire . He silenced the machine gun post crew with his khukri . In doing so Naik Nar Bahadur Thapa acted with great courage , in complete disregard for his personal safety . By his gallant action , his platoon was able to advance and secure the vital Tungabhadra bridge . In Recognition of his iniative , persoanl bravery , superior leadership and outsatanding devotion to duty in the highest tradition of the Battalion , Naik Nar Bahadur Thapa was awarded India ' s first Ashok Chakra .