Which is the highest peacetime gallantry award of India?

The correct answer is B, Three. The series runs as the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak and the Jeevan Raksha Padak, in descending order, the class depending on how great the danger to the rescuer's own life was. Option A is wrong because two classes would leave out the middle grade, Uttam, which is a real and separately notified award. Option C is wrong because no fourth class exists, although candidates sometimes count the Kabir Puraskar as a fourth; that is a different award for courage during communal violence, and it too has three classes. Option D is wrong because five is the number of classes in no award of this family. The three-class pattern is worth noting as a habit of Indian awards: the wartime and peacetime gallantry Chakras also come in threes.

The correct answer is C, Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, given for conspicuous courage where the danger to the rescuer's own life was very great. Option A is wrong because the plain Jeevan Raksha Padak is the third and lowest class, given where the rescuer risked grave bodily injury. Option B is wrong because the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak is the middle class, for a rescue where the danger to life was great but not of the highest degree. Option D is wrong because no award called Param Jeevan Raksha Padak exists; the word Param belongs to the Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry award, and it is placed here precisely to tempt a candidate who remembers that series instead. The order to memorise is Sarvottam, then Uttam, then the plain Padak.

The correct answer is C, 1961. The series was instituted that year to recognise acts of a humane nature in saving life from drowning, fire, electrocution, mine accidents and similar danger, and it is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Option A is wrong because 1950 is the year the wartime gallantry awards, the Param Vir Chakra, the Maha Vir Chakra and the Vir Chakra, were instituted, with effect from 26 January 1950. Option B is wrong because 1954 is the year the Bharat Ratna and the Padma awards were instituted, a date often swapped with this one. Option D is wrong because 1972 belongs to no award of this family. The dates worth holding together in this topic are 1950 for the Chakras, 1954 for the civilian honours, 1951 for the police medals, 1957 for the children's bravery award and 1961 for the Jeevan Raksha Padak.

The correct answer is B, Ministry of Home Affairs, which administers the Jeevan Raksha Padak series along with the police, fire service, home guard and correctional service medals and the Kabir Puraskar. Option A is wrong because the Ministry of Defence deals with the gallantry Chakras and the distinguished service decorations of the armed forces, not with the civilian life-saving awards. Option C is wrong because the Ministry of Women and Child Development runs the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, under which bravery by children is now recognised, which makes it the most plausible wrong answer here. Option D is wrong because the Ministry of Culture handles cultural honours and institutions rather than awards for courage. Grouping the awards by ministry is the quickest way to answer a whole set of questions on this topic.

The correct answer is A, Saving lives of members of another community during communal violence. The Kabir Puraskar, administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs and named after the poet who stood outside sectarian division, is given for conspicuous courage and humanity in saving the lives and property of members of another community during communal riots, and it too has three classes. Option B is wrong because literary honours are given by the Sahitya Akademi and the Jnanpith, and no literary award carries this name and purpose. Option C is wrong because handloom and craft work are recognised by the Sant Kabir Award and similar awards of the textile ministry, a genuinely confusing neighbour since the names are close; read the stem for the field. Option D is wrong because children's bravery is recognised under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.