Explanations:India has a well-defined hierarchy of gallantry awards that are given to individuals for acts of bravery and valor. The highest gallantry award in India is the Param Vir Chakra, which is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valor in the face of the enemy. This award is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a soldier or a civilian in India.
The second highest gallantry award in India is the Mahaveer Chakra. This award is given for acts of bravery in the face of the enemy, but it is not as high in precedence as the Param Vir Chakra. The Mahaveer Chakra is awarded to individuals who have shown exceptional courage and valor in the face of the enemy, but their actions may not have been as outstanding as those that warrant the Param Vir Chakra.
The Ashok Chakra is another important gallantry award in India, but it is not awarded for acts of bravery in the face of the enemy. Instead, the Ashok Chakra is given for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valor, but not necessarily in the face of the enemy. This award can be given to civilians as well as military personnel.
It is important to understand the hierarchy and the specific criteria for each gallantry award in India. The Param Vir Chakra is the highest, followed by the Mahaveer Chakra, and then the Ashok Chakra. Each of these awards has its own specific criteria and is given for different types of acts of bravery and valor.
Understanding the hierarchy of gallantry awards is crucial for students preparing for competitive exams such as the UPSC, SSC, Banking, and Railway exams, where questions on general knowledge and current affairs often include details about these awards. The correct answer to the question is the Mahaveer Chakra, which is the second highest gallantry award in India.