Rashtrapati Bhavan displays portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees are now displayed at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• The portraits replaced those of 96 British Aide-de-Camps (ADCs).
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the ‘Param Vir Dirgha’ on Vijay Divas.
• The initiative aims to honour soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
• The government is working to restore pride in India’s "sanatan values" by dismantling colonial legacies.

Detailed Insights:

• The Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military honour, awarded for exceptional acts of valour during wartime.
• The initiative aims to educate visitors about national heroes and promote India’s culture and heritage.
• Other changes include renaming Rajpath to Kartavya Path and redesigning the Indian Navy’s ensign.
• Colonial nomenclature has been replaced across India, including in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• In 2018, Ross Island was renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep, Neil Island became Shaheed Dweep, and Havelock Island was renamed Swaraj Dweep.
• In 2024, Port Blair was renamed Sri Vijaya Puram, and 21 islands were named after Param Vir Chakra awardees.
• The Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Mughal Garden was renamed Amrit Udyan.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Param Vir Chakra: India’s highest military decoration, awarded for acts of valour during wartime.
• Vijay Divas: Celebrated on December 16th in India, marking the victory in the 1971 war.
• Sanatan Values: Refers to the eternal and intrinsic values that are considered to be at the heart of Indian culture and spirituality.