Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his martyrdom in which of the following wars?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of India's highest wartime gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra, and the conflict in which Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey displayed exceptional bravery. Such questions often appear in general knowledge and defence-related sections of competitive exams. Remembering which heroes are associated with which war helps you connect individual sacrifice to key events in India's military history.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey is named as a recipient of the Param Vir Chakra.
- Four major wars involving India are listed: 1965, 1971, the Kargil War of 1999 and the 1962 Indo-China War.
- You must identify in which of these conflicts he was martyred and honoured with this award.

Concept / Approach:
The Kargil conflict of 1999, fought in the high mountains of Ladakh, saw several acts of extraordinary bravery by Indian soldiers and officers. Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey of the 1/11 Gorkha Rifles is remembered for leading repeated assaults on well-entrenched enemy positions despite being grievously wounded. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for his role in this war. The earlier wars of 1962, 1965 and 1971 involved other famous Param Vir Chakra awardees, but not Captain Pandey.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Kargil War took place in 1999 between India and Pakistan in the Kargil–Dras sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Step 2: Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey is widely known as one of the Param Vir Chakra awardees from the Kargil War, honoured for his leadership in capturing enemy positions. Step 3: The Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971 and the Indo-China War of 1962 occurred long before Captain Pandey's service, so they cannot be associated with his martyrdom. Step 4: Therefore, the correct answer must be the Kargil War of 1999, corresponding to option C.

Verification / Alternative check:
As a quick check, you can list a few Param Vir Chakra awardees by conflict: Major Shaitan Singh for 1962, Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid for 1965, Lance Naik Albert Ekka for 1971, and Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar for the Kargil War of 1999. This mapping confirms that Captain Pandey's award is specifically linked to the Kargil conflict.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (1965) refers to a different Indo-Pakistani war in which other soldiers, not Captain Pandey, received the Param Vir Chakra. Option B (1971) also corresponds to a separate war where other heroes were honoured. Option D (1962) is associated with the Sino-Indian conflict and awardees like Major Shaitan Singh. None of these wars fits the timeline of Captain Pandey's life and service. Only the Kargil War of 1999 matches his period of service and his famous actions.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up Param Vir Chakra awardees across wars because many names are similar in style and all are highly honoured. Another mistake is to focus only on the year, such as “1999”, without linking it firmly to the Kargil War. Creating a mental table that associates a few key heroes with each major conflict helps avoid such confusion and improves retention for multiple related questions.

Final Answer:
Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for his extraordinary bravery during the Kargil War of 1999.