Ashok Chakra Award Winners and Their Benefits: What Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Receives from the Central and State Governments

Ashok Chakra Award: India’s Highest Peacetime Gallantry Honour
The Ashok Chakra is India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, given for acts of extraordinary bravery, high-risk missions, rescue operations, and other exemplary courage. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer who became an astronaut, has been awarded this prestigious honour.

Recognition by the President of India
President Droupadi Murmu presented the Ashok Chakra to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on the eve of Republic Day 2026. The award recognizes his outstanding courage and exemplary valor during the private NASA spaceflight, Axiom Mission 4, where he visited the International Space Station (ISS), becoming the first Indian civilian to do so.

Why Shubhanshu Shukla Received the Ashok Chakra
The 41-year-old IAF officer was honoured for his exceptional bravery and presence of mind while piloting the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and successfully executing the high-stakes Axiom Mission 4. Though he is the second Indian astronaut to receive the Ashok Chakra, after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, Shukla’s mission involved significant risk, showcasing commitment, courage, and professionalism.

Benefits of the Ashok Chakra Award

Central Government Benefits:

• Monetary Allowance: Recipients receive a monthly allowance of ₹12,000 (previously ₹6,000). If awarded posthumously, the allowance is given to the widow or eligible family members until remarriage or death.
• Rail Travel: Awardees or their widows are entitled to lifetime first-class/second AC complimentary railway passes, valid on most trains including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Jan Shatabdi Express.
• Air Travel: Air India offers a 75% discount on domestic economy class fares.
• Income Tax Exemption: The monthly allowance received is exempt from income tax.

State Government Benefits:

• Benefits vary by state, often including a one-time cash award or cash equivalent for land grants.
• Posthumous recipients’ families may receive additional financial assistance, including educational support for children.
• Several states and central agencies provide priority telephone connections and discounts on rentals.
• Awardees and their dependents may also receive special military or government healthcare facilities.

Significance of the Ashok Chakra
Instituted on 4 January 1952, the Ashok Chakra symbolizes bravery, courage, and self-sacrifice. Named after Emperor Ashoka’s wheel, which is also present in the Indian national flag, the award was originally categorized into Class I, II, and III, but in 1962, these were renamed as the Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra.