Bank Exam » Bank Exam Study Materials » General Awareness » Different Types of Awards

Different Types of Awards

Are you interested to learn about the culture and heritage of India and also how the bravery and intellect of a person are rewarded in India?

What do you mean by Awards?

An award is also known by another name, known as distinction. It is given to a person as a token of recognition of excellence in a certain field. When the token received is a medal, ribbon, or something made for a wearing purpose, then it is known as a decoration.

What are the Different Types of Awards given in India?

The national awards of India are given by the Government of India for their explicit performance and their excellence in a particular field. The different types of national awards are:

  • Civilian Awards
  • Military Awards
  • National Sports Awards
  • Literary Awards

Civilian Awards

The civilian awards are further divided into the following categories:

  • Bharat Ratna: It is one of the most prestigious awards given to a civilian in India in the field of art, literature, science, and public services for their exceptional behaviour in a particular field.

No one has the authority to nominate the candidates for the Bharat Ratna Awards. Only the Prime Minister of the country has the authority to nominate the contestants. 

  • Padma Vibhushan: It is the second-highest civilian award in India. It was introduced on the 2nd of January in the year 1954. It is given to the people who have done extraordinary work in the field of art, science, and public service, including the services of the employees of the government sector.

The medal has a geometric pattern with the word “Padma” printed on the upper side and the word “Vibhushan” printed on the lower side. There is a lotus flower imprinted between the two words. On the opposite side, the national emblem is imprinted on which “Satyamev Jayate” is printed.

  • Padma Bhushan: Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award given to the people for their exceptional behaviour in any field. It is a circular-shaped award that is made up of bronze. 
  • Padma Shri: It is the fourth highest civilian award given by the government of India for excellent work in any field.

Military Award 

The military awards are also known as the gallantry awards. These awards belong to the Indian soldiers. The awards are given for bravery, valour, dignity, courage, and sacrifice. These military awards are categorised into the following types:

  • Param Vir Chakra: It is the most renowned award given to a soldier for their bravery and fighting skills. It was introduced on the 26th of January in the year 1950. The word “Param Vir Chakra” means the wheel of the ultimate battle.
  • Maha Vir Chakra: It is the second most prestigious award given to brave soldiers for their outstanding bravery.
  • Vir Chakra: It is the third most prestigious award given to Indian soldiers and officers for their bravery.

What are the Key Differences Between an Award and a Reward?

The key differences between an award and a reward are listed below in a tabular form:

An Award

Reward

  • An award is given to a person if they achieve excellence in a particular field.  
  • A reward is a recognition given to a person for his service, efforts, or any other thing.
  • An award can be in any form like a medal, a trophy, money, prize, or certificate.
  • A reward is basically given in the form of money or simply a word of praise. 
  • An award is given to a person for his hard work and excellence in a particular field or competition. 
  • A reward is given to a person for his loyal work and honesty towards his work. 
  • To give an award, a proper ceremony is conducted, and the person is being awarded in front of the huge masses.
  • A person is generally being rewarded in private and no ceremony is conducted for it. 
  • An award is given to a person by the final decision made out by a panel of judges.
  • The reward that is given to a person is decided by an individual, and it requires no judgment. 
  • An award is basically a formal process of recognition.
  • A reward is basically an informal process of recognition.
  • Nominations are done in order to award a deserving candidate. 
  • No nominations are required for rewarding a person. 

Conclusion

This article explains the different types of awards in India in detail. It explains the civilian awards and military awards, and other awards in detail. The key differences between an award and a reward are listed to avoid confusion between the two topics. 

By going through the article, one would be now familiar with the types of awards and their purpose. We hope this article proved to be helpful.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the BANK Examination Preparation.

What are the peacetime gallantry awards?

Ans. It is one of the most prestigious gallantry awards given to the Indian military soldiers for their courageous o...Read full

What is the National Sports Award in India?

Ans. This award is given to persons who have excelled in the field of sports. Some national sports awards include Ra...Read full