In a major decision, the government on Wednesday hiked the monetary allowance to gallantry award winners of the Armed Forces by over 100 per cent.
The recipients of the Param Vir Chakra, the nation's highest gallantry award for bravery, will now receive Rs 3,000 per month as against Rs 1,500 at present.
There are 21 army personnel who have won this rare honour in the five wars that the country has faced since independence.
Similarly, the winners of the Ashok Chakra, the nation's highest peace time gallantry award, will now receive an allowance of Rs 2,800 per month as against the present amount of Rs 1,400.
For Mahavir Chakra -- the allowance has been raised to Rs 2,400 from Rs 1,200 and for the Kirti Chakra -- the hike has been put at Rs 2,100 instead of Rs 1,050.
The allowance for Vir Chakra has been raised to Rs 1,700 from Rs 850 and for Shaurya Chakra, it has been increased to Rs 1,500 from Rs 750.
As many bravehearts have won the Gallantry awards twice, the government notification said that each bar to the decoration would carry double the amount.