Kirti Chakra is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards which comes after Ashoka Chakra and before Shaurya Chakra. Before 1967 this award was known as Ashok Chakra class II which was later on renamed as Kirti Chakra. Like Ashoka Chakra with the Kirti chakra will also have an additional bar attached with every courageous act. From1999 the central government set a monthly amount of Rs. 1050 pm for the recipients of the award; Jammu and Kashmir awards a token of Rs. 1000 for her recipients of Kirti awards.

Kirti Chakra which was initially developed as Ashoka Chakra Class II looks much similar to Ashoka chakra where it too bears a symbol of Ashoka wheel in the centre, surrounded with lotus wreath and ornate edge. Suspended by the straight bars the medal is named at the edge. On the reverse side medal is blank at the centre which beared the writing of Ashoka Chakra written in Hindi along with the upper rim and in English in the lower rim. This was changed after 1967 and was renamed as Kirti chakra written in both Hindi and english. Regarding appearance it consists of 30mmlong ribbon with 8.5mm dark green strip in the left, two 2mm saffron stripes in the middle and 8.5 mm strip in the right.Till now Kirti Chakra along with Ashok Chakra has been awarded to only one man who is considered to be most decorated soldier of Indian army. Col N J Nair is the only soldier who has been honoured with both the awards.

Thus, Kirti Chakra along with other gallantry awards forms the fourth gallantry award of the nation which holds the pride of India.

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