Which one of the following Indian gallantry awards is specifically classified as a peacetime gallantry award?

Introduction / Context:
India has a structured system of gallantry awards, some of which are associated with wartime operations and others with acts of bravery during peacetime. Competitive exams frequently ask you to distinguish between peacetime and wartime honours. This question focuses on identifying which award among the options is recognised as a peacetime gallantry award.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The context is Indian gallantry awards.
• You must identify a peacetime gallantry award.
• Options include Shaurya Chakra, Vir Chakra, Yudh Seva Medal, and Param Vir Chakra.
• Exactly one of these is purely a peacetime gallantry decoration.

Concept / Approach:
India recognises bravery through different sets of awards. Param Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra are primarily associated with wartime gallantry in the presence of the enemy. Yudh Seva Medal is related to distinguished service during war or conflict situations. In contrast, Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra are classified as peacetime gallantry awards, given for courageous acts away from the battlefield.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify Param Vir Chakra as the highest wartime gallantry award, conferred for the most conspicuous bravery in the face of the enemy. Step 2: Recognise Vir Chakra as a wartime decoration for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy, lower than Param Vir Chakra but still combat linked. Step 3: Understand that Yudh Seva Medal is awarded for distinguished service of a high order in war, conflict, or hostilities and is not primarily a gallantry award for peacetime acts. Step 4: Recall that Shaurya Chakra is a peacetime gallantry award, given for an act of gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy, often for counter insurgency operations or rescue acts in non war situations. Step 5: Therefore, Shaurya Chakra is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official descriptions from government publications and standard defence general knowledge books clearly group Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra together as peacetime gallantry awards. Param Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra are grouped under wartime honours, and Yudh Seva Medal is a distinguished service medal linked with operations. This classification confirms that only Shaurya Chakra in the given list is a peacetime gallantry award.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Vir Chakra is a wartime gallantry award for bravery in the presence of the enemy and is not categorised as a peacetime honour. Yudh Seva Medal is awarded for distinguished service during war and conflict situations, not specifically for peacetime gallantry. Param Vir Chakra is India's highest wartime gallantry award and therefore does not fit the requirement of a peacetime gallantry award.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error is to assume that any award with the word Chakra or with a military sounding name must be peacetime or wartime without checking the official classification. Another pitfall is mixing up Yudh Seva Medal, which focuses on distinguished service, with gallantry decorations. To avoid confusion, it helps to remember the two main groups clearly: Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra for wartime, and Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra for peacetime bravery.

Final Answer:
The gallantry award that is specifically a peacetime gallantry award is Shaurya Chakra.