On Vijay Diwas, December 16, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the ‘Param Vir Dirgha’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The new display features portraits of all 21 recipients of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honour.
Honoring Valor
The installation of these portraits replaces the previous display of 96 portraits of British Aide-de-Camps (ADCs). The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for acts of exceptional valour, courage, and self-sacrifice during wartime. This initiative aims to honour the memory of soldiers who have served the nation.
A release from Rashtrapati Bhavan stated that the move will educate visitors about India’s national heroes and assist in “shedding the colonial mindset.” The initiative is intended to embrace India’s culture, heritage, and traditions.
A Broader Shift
This change is part of a larger effort by the government to restore pride in India’s “sanatan values.” Other recent changes include renaming Rajpath to Kartavya Path and redesigning the Indian Navy’s ensign to replace the Saint George’s Cross with a design featuring the National Flag and an octagon dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The 2022 Republic Day Beating Retreat ceremony, as part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, also featured Indian instruments like the sitar, santoor, and tabla. Colonial nomenclature has been replaced across India, including in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with Ross Island becoming Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep, Neil Island becoming Shaheed Dweep, and Havelock Island becoming Swaraj Dweep in 2018.
Further demonstrating this shift, the Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Mughal Garden was renamed Amrit Udyan, and Race Course Road, the location of the Prime Minister’s residence, is now known as Lok Kalyan Marg.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Param Vir Chakra?
The Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military honour, awarded for displaying the most exceptional acts of valour, courage and self-sacrifice during war.
When was the ‘Param Vir Dirgha’ inaugurated?
The ‘Param Vir Dirgha’ was inaugurated by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on December 16, 2025, on the occasion of ‘Vijay Diwas’.
What was displayed at Rashtrapati Bhavan before the portraits of Param Vir Chakra awardees?
Previously, portraits of 96 British Aide-de-Camps (ADCs) were displayed at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
As India continues to reassess its historical symbols and narratives, what impact will these changes have on future generations’ understanding of the nation’s identity?
