History · Defence

Param Vir Chakra Recipients

All 21 recipients of India’s highest wartime gallantry award, instituted on 26 January 1950.

Exam facts

• Total recipients21 (14 posthumous)
• FirstMaj Somnath Sharma (1947)
• Only Air Force recipientFg Offr Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (1971)
• Designed bySavitri Khanolankar
• Peacetime equivalentAshoka Chakra

1. 1
   Maj Somnath Sharma1947, Kashmir (Badgam)First recipient; posthumous
2. 2
   Naik Jadunath Singh1948, Kashmir (Naushera)Posthumous
3. 3
   2nd Lt Rama Raghoba Rane1948, Kashmir
4. 4
   CHM Piru Singh1948, Kashmir (Tithwal)Posthumous
5. 5
   Lance Naik Karam Singh1948, Kashmir (Tithwal)
6. 6
   Capt G. S. Salaria1961, Congo (UN mission)Only PVC for a UN operation; posthumous
7. 7
   Maj Dhan Singh Thapa1962, Ladakh
8. 8
   Subedar Joginder Singh1962, NEFA (Tawang)Posthumous
9. 9
   Maj Shaitan Singh1962, Ladakh (Rezang La)Posthumous
10. 10
    CQMH Abdul Hamid1965, Khem Karan (Asal Uttar)Destroyed Patton tanks; posthumous
11. 11
    Lt Col A. B. Tarapore1965, Sialkot (Phillora)Posthumous
12. 12
    Lance Naik Albert Ekka1971, Gangasagar (east)Posthumous
13. 13
    Fg Offr Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon1971, SrinagarOnly Air Force PVC; posthumous
14. 14
    2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal1971, Basantar (Shakargarh)Posthumous
15. 15
    Maj Hoshiar Singh1971, Basantar (Shakargarh)
16. 16
    Naib Subedar Bana Singh1987, SiachenCaptured Quaid Post, renamed Bana Post
17. 17
    Maj R. Parameswaran1987, Sri Lanka (IPKF)Posthumous
18. 18
    Capt Manoj Kumar Pandey1999, Kargil (Khalubar)Posthumous
19. 19
    Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav1999, Kargil (Tiger Hill)Youngest recipient (19)
20. 20
    Rifleman Sanjay Kumar1999, Kargil
21. 21
    Capt Vikram Batra1999, Kargil (Point 4875)'Yeh Dil Maange More'; posthumous