The Ministry of Defence has launched a redesigned digital platform dedicated to India’s gallantry award recipients, military operations and the country’s defence heritage. Minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth launched the revamped gallantryawards.gov.in portal on 12 November 2026.
The upgraded website is intended to preserve information about the courage and sacrifices of armed forces personnel while making it easier for citizens to access the material. The Centre said the platform includes improved accessibility, a more user-friendly interface and interactive features that allow visitors to explore India’s military history since Independence.
A wider digital record of military history
The portal brings several areas of content together in one location. Its sections cover gallantry awardees, wars and military operations, memorials, museums, events and media resources. An interactive tribute section has also been added, enabling citizens to pay homage to India’s war heroes through the digital platform.
- Gallantry awardees: information on recipients of India’s gallantry honours.
- Military heritage: records relating to wars and military operations since Independence.
- Memorials and museums: dedicated material on places associated with the country’s military history.
- Interactive tributes: a digital space for citizens to pay homage to war heroes.
- Events and media: resources connected with the portal’s historical and commemorative content.
The Ministry of Defence said the portal was designed to create an authentic digital archive of India’s military heritage. Its stated objective is also to increase awareness among young people about the service and sacrifices of armed forces personnel.
Veer Gatha programme included on the platform
The revamped website hosts the Veer Gatha initiative, which introduces students to the experiences of gallantry award recipients through educational and creative activities. Separate information is available for each edition, including its themes, timelines, evaluation criteria, awards, results, learning resources and student activities.
The programme’s reach has expanded substantially. It grew from eight lakh students in 4,788 schools during its first edition to more than 1.92 crore students from 1.9 lakh schools in its fifth edition. The fifth edition also included 28,005 students from 91 CBSE-affiliated schools across 18 countries.
| Veer Gatha participation | Figures given by the Ministry of Defence |
|---|---|
| First edition | Eight lakh students; 4,788 schools |
| Fifth edition | More than 1.92 crore students; 1.9 lakh schools |
| International participation in the fifth edition | 28,005 students; 91 CBSE-affiliated schools in 18 countries |
The ministry said the portal and the student programme are aimed at connecting younger generations with the stories of gallantry award recipients. Alongside historical records, the platform provides material on the programme’s introduction, assessment process, rewards, felicitation ceremonies and media galleries.
By combining awardee information, military history, memorial resources and student activities, the redesigned portal places the official record of India’s gallantry awards in a single public digital repository. The Ministry of Defence said the initiative would help preserve the legacy of award recipients and promote greater awareness of the country’s military heritage.
