Awards Honors Gallantry Competitive Exams
60 questions · Pakistan Studies
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Question 1 of 60
Which Nishan-e-Haider recipient earned the award for his actions in the Lahore sector during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, becoming closely associated with the defense of the BRB Canal?
ExplanationMajor Raja Aziz Bhatti's defense of the Lahore sector (particularly around the BRB Canal) during the 1965 war is among the most celebrated Nishan-e-Haider stories, and he is commemorated on Defence Day (6 September).
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Question 2 of 60
Which of the following wars/conflicts has produced the LARGEST number of Nishan-e-Haider recipients among Pakistan's various conflicts?
ExplanationThe 1971 war produced the largest single group of Nishan-e-Haider recipients among Pakistan's conflicts, reflecting the scale and intensity of that conflict.
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Question 3 of 60
Which Nishan-e-Haider recipient earned the award for actions during the 1958 Indo-Pakistan border skirmish in the Lahore sector (predating the larger 1965 war)?
ExplanationMajor Tufail Muhammad received the Nishan-e-Haider for actions in 1958, a lesser-known conferral occurring between the 1948 and 1965 conflicts.
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Question 4 of 60
Which of the following describes the general eligibility scope for the 'Pride of Performance' award, in terms of the diversity of fields it can recognize?
ExplanationThe broad scope of the Pride of Performance award, spanning numerous fields of achievement, reflects its role in recognizing diverse forms of excellence contributing to Pakistan's cultural and professional life.
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Question 5 of 60
Which award class specifically denotes distinguished service (rather than combat gallantry) and can be conferred in both civil and military contexts, differentiated by a 'Military' designation when applicable?
ExplanationThe Imtiaz series applies across both civil and military contexts, with the military class specifically denoting distinguished military service and leadership.
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Question 6 of 60
Which Nishan-e-Haider recipient is associated with the 1999 Kargil conflict, becoming the most recent recipient of the award (as commonly cited)?
ExplanationHavildar Lalak Jan received the Nishan-e-Haider for his gallantry during the 1999 Kargil conflict, representing the most recent conferral of the award.
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Question 7 of 60
Which of the following best describes the difference between 'Jurat' and 'Basalat' award series in terms of the combat context involved?
ExplanationThis distinction between combat-specific ('Jurat') and non-combat ('Basalat') gallantry contexts is a key structural feature of Pakistan's military honors system.
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Question 8 of 60
Which of the following best describes the general circumstances under which Nishan-e-Haider has typically been awarded?
ExplanationNishan-e-Haider has typically recognized extraordinary battlefield valor and sacrifice, with the majority of its recipients honored posthumously for actions during major wars.
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Question 9 of 60
Which Nishan-e-Haider recipient was a Naik (Corporal) rank soldier honored for gallantry during the 1971 war?
ExplanationNaik Saif Ali Janjua received the Nishan-e-Haider for his actions during the 1971 war, representing one of the award's non-commissioned officer recipients.
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Question 10 of 60
What does the term 'Nishan-e-Haider' literally translate to, reflecting the award's symbolic association with courage?
Explanation'Haider' (meaning 'lion') is an epithet traditionally associated with Hazrat Ali (RA), symbolically linking the award to supreme courage and valor.
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Question 11 of 60
Which of the following describes the general nomination and selection process for Pakistan's national civil and military awards?
ExplanationThe formal, structured nomination and review process (involving relevant government and military authorities before presidential approval) helps ensure that Pakistan's national honors reflect substantive achievement and service.
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Question 12 of 60
Which of the following best describes the general public/ceremonial recognition process for gallantry award recipients in Pakistan, particularly around national commemorative days?
ExplanationThe formal, public conferral of gallantry awards, often timed to significant national days, serves both to honor recipients and to publicly commemorate their sacrifice and service.
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Question 13 of 60
Which Nishan-e-Haider recipient, a Pakistan Air Force Pilot Officer, became the youngest recipient of the award for his actions during the 1971 war, preventing a hijacked aircraft from being flown to India?
ExplanationPilot Officer Rashid Minhas remains the youngest Nishan-e-Haider recipient, honored for his 1971 actions preventing his hijacked training aircraft from reaching India, at the cost of his own life.
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Question 14 of 60
Which civil award is traditionally given to individuals for outstanding contributions to arts, literature, sports, and other fields of public life, often conferred as part of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz or a related distinguished honor?
ExplanationThe Pride of Performance award recognizes excellence in fields such as arts, literature, sports, and other areas of public achievement, distinct from the primarily military-focused gallantry awards.
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Question 15 of 60
What is the correct descending order of Pakistan's four main tiers of civil and military honors (from highest to lowest)?
ExplanationThe four-tier hierarchy (Nishan > Hilal > Sitara > Tamgha) applies across most categories of Pakistani civil and military honors, similar to a general grading system.
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Question 16 of 60
Which of the following best summarizes the broader significance of Nishan-e-Haider recipients within Pakistan's national narrative and military tradition?
ExplanationThe enduring symbolic and commemorative significance of Nishan-e-Haider recipients reflects their central place in Pakistan's national narrative of sacrifice, courage, and service to the country.
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Question 17 of 60
Which Nishan-e-Haider recipient, an infantry officer, is associated with gallant actions in East Pakistan during the 1971 war before its fall?
ExplanationMajor Muhammad Akram's Nishan-e-Haider recognition relates to his defense actions in the eastern theatre during the 1971 war.
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Question 18 of 60
Which of the following best captures the connection between Pakistan's gallantry awards (discussed earlier) and its civil honors system (Imtiaz, Khidmat, Pride of Performance) as a unified national recognition framework?
ExplanationThe integration of both military gallantry and civil achievement recognition under a shared presidential conferral framework (typically announced around Pakistan Day) reflects a comprehensive approach to national honors.
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Question 19 of 60
Which Nishan-e-Haider recipient, a cavalry soldier (Sowar rank), was honored for gallantry during the 1971 war in the Chamb sector?
ExplanationSowar Muhammad Hussain, an armored corps soldier, was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his actions in the Chamb sector during the 1971 war.
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Question 20 of 60
Which award category, 'Khidmat' (Service), recognizes distinguished public service, with grades including Sitara-e-Khidmat and Tamgha-e-Khidmat?
ExplanationThe 'Khidmat' (Service) category honors distinguished service, generally in civil administrative or public service roles.
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Question 21 of 60
Which of the following best explains why the Nishan-e-Haider is often compared to Britain's Victoria Cross or the United States' Medal of Honor in international contexts?
ExplanationThe comparison reflects each award's status as its respective nation's paramount gallantry decoration, though the specific historical and cultural contexts of each award's development remain distinct.
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Question 22 of 60
Which is the highest military gallantry award in Pakistan, roughly equivalent to Britain's Victoria Cross or the US Medal of Honor?
ExplanationNishan-e-Haider is Pakistan's highest gallantry award, reserved for extraordinary acts of courage in the face of the enemy, and has been awarded only a small number of times.
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Question 23 of 60
Which of the following best describes the general purpose of Pakistan's civil awards system (Imtiaz, Khidmat, and related series) as distinct from its military gallantry awards?
ExplanationPakistan's broader civil awards system encompasses recognition across many professional and creative fields, complementing the more narrowly focused military gallantry award structure.
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Question 24 of 60
Which of the following best describes eligibility for Pakistan's Nishan-e-Pakistan award, regarding nationality of recipients?
ExplanationNishan-e-Pakistan has been awarded to both distinguished Pakistanis and foreign dignitaries (such as visiting heads of state), reflecting its role in both domestic and diplomatic recognition.
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Question 25 of 60
Which is the correct descending order of Pakistan's main military gallantry award series (in the face of the enemy)?
ExplanationThis descending hierarchy (Nishan > Hilal > Sitara > Tamgha, all within the 'Jurat'/courage series) represents Pakistan's primary wartime gallantry award structure.
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Question 26 of 60
Which of the following best describes the general timeline distribution of Nishan-e-Haider conferrals across Pakistan's history (from 1947 to the present)?
ExplanationThe sporadic, conflict-linked nature of Nishan-e-Haider conferrals (tied to specific major engagements rather than a regular schedule) reflects the award's basis in exceptional wartime circumstances.
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Question 27 of 60
Which Nishan-e-Haider recipient's story involves preventing a fellow trainee from potentially defecting with a T-33 jet trainer aircraft during the 1971 war?
ExplanationRashid Minhas's Nishan-e-Haider citation involves his actions preventing his hijacked T-33 trainer aircraft from being flown to India, at the ultimate cost of his life.
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Question 28 of 60
Which award, considered a lifetime achievement recognition in arts and literature, is sometimes conferred in addition to or alongside the Pride of Performance for especially distinguished long-term contributions?
ExplanationThe Kamal-e-Fun ('Excellence in Art') Award represents one of Pakistan's most prestigious lifetime achievement recognitions specifically for arts and literature.
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Question 29 of 60
Approximately how many Nishan-e-Haider awards have been conferred in Pakistan's history (as commonly cited in most references)?
ExplanationTen Nishan-e-Haider awards have been conferred throughout Pakistan's history, reflecting the award's extreme rarity and the exceptional standard required for its conferral.
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Question 30 of 60
Which award, sometimes conferred upon police personnel and other civilians for acts of bravery, includes grades like Sitara-e-Shujaat and Tamgha-e-Shujaat?
ExplanationThe 'Shujaat' (Bravery) series has historically recognized acts of courage by police and other civilian personnel, complementing the primarily military-focused Jurat and Basalat series.
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Question 31 of 60
Which of the following describes a notable feature of the annual civil awards list often observed in Pakistani media coverage around Pakistan Day (23 March)?
ExplanationThe diversity of the annual awards list, spanning multiple fields and including both living and posthumous recipients, reflects the comprehensive nature of Pakistan's national honors system.
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Question 32 of 60
Which of the following best describes how foreign nationals or dignitaries are typically recognized within Pakistan's civil honors framework?
ExplanationPakistan's civil honors system does provide for recognizing foreign dignitaries, typically through awards like Nishan-e-Pakistan or Hilal-e-Pakistan, reflecting diplomatic and bilateral considerations.
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Question 33 of 60
Which of the following best summarizes the overall structure connecting Pakistan's various gallantry and civil award series (Nishan-e-Haider, Jurat, Basalat, Imtiaz, Khidmat, Shujaat)?
ExplanationThis structured, multi-category system reflects Pakistan's effort to appropriately recognize the diverse contexts of exceptional service and sacrifice, from battlefield valor to civilian bravery to professional excellence.
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Question 34 of 60
Which of the following best describes how Nishan-e-Haider recipients' stories are typically incorporated into Pakistan's national education and cultural commemoration?
ExplanationNishan-e-Haider recipients' stories occupy a significant place in Pakistan's national commemorative culture, frequently referenced in educational contexts and popular media as symbols of heroism and sacrifice.
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Question 35 of 60
Which of the following is the highest grade within the 'Imtiaz' (Order of Excellence) civil award category?
ExplanationNishan-e-Imtiaz is the highest grade in the Imtiaz series, awarded for truly exceptional and distinguished contributions.
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Question 36 of 60
Which is the highest civil award/honor in Pakistan's national honors system?
ExplanationNishan-e-Pakistan is the highest civil award, awarded to both Pakistani and foreign dignitaries for exceptional service to the country.
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Question 37 of 60
Which of the following best describes the general profile of most Nishan-e-Haider recipients in terms of military rank at the time of their honored actions?
ExplanationThe diversity of ranks among Nishan-e-Haider recipients—from Sowar and Havildar to Captain and Major—reflects that the award recognizes the nature of the heroic act itself rather than being restricted by rank.
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Question 38 of 60
Which award series recognizes gallantry displayed NOT in the face of the enemy (e.g., during peacetime emergencies, natural disasters, or non-combat operations), including grades like Sitara-e-Basalat and Tamgha-e-Basalat?
ExplanationThe 'Basalat' (Gallantry) series specifically honors acts of bravery in situations not involving direct combat with an enemy force, distinguishing it from the 'Jurat' series.
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Question 39 of 60
Which of the following best describes the overall structure of Pakistan's complete honors system when considering ALL categories discussed (Nishan-e-Haider, Jurat, Basalat, Imtiaz, Khidmat, Shujaat, Pride of Performance, Kamal-e-Fun)?
ExplanationThis comprehensive, multi-category structure reflects Pakistan's effort to appropriately distinguish and recognize the diverse forms of exceptional service, sacrifice, and achievement across military, civil, and professional/artistic domains.
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Question 40 of 60
Which of the following best describes the educational or civic value often attributed to studying Pakistan's awards and honors system within the broader field of Pakistan Studies?
ExplanationExamining the awards and honors system provides meaningful insight into how the Pakistani state has formally recognized and commemorated various forms of achievement and sacrifice, reflecting broader themes of national identity and values.
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Question 41 of 60
Which of the following best explains why the majority of Nishan-e-Haider awards have been conferred posthumously?
ExplanationThe extreme and often fatal circumstances under which Nishan-e-Haider-qualifying acts of valor occur account for the predominantly posthumous nature of most conferrals, though this is not an absolute rule.
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Question 42 of 60
Which award series recognizes distinguished military service (rather than direct combat gallantry), including grades like Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military), Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), and Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)?
ExplanationThe military class of the Imtiaz series recognizes distinguished service and leadership, distinct from the direct combat gallantry recognized by the Jurat series.
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Question 43 of 60
On which national day are Pakistan's civil and military awards typically announced and formally conferred each year?
ExplanationPakistan's national honors are traditionally announced and conferred at ceremonies held around 23 March, Pakistan Day, commemorating the 1940 Lahore Resolution.
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Question 44 of 60
Which award category recognizes distinguished police service and bravery, sometimes distinct from the general military Jurat/Basalat series given the specific nature of police duties?
ExplanationPolice personnel can receive recognition through dedicated police medals and, where applicable, broader honors like Sitara-e-Shujaat for exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty.
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Question 45 of 60
Which highest-tier civil award, distinct from the general Nishan-e-Pakistan, is specifically named after the founder of Pakistan and reserved for extraordinarily rare recognition?
ExplanationThe Nishan-e-Quaid-e-Azam is an exceptionally rare and prestigious award, distinct from the more regularly conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan or Nishan-e-Imtiaz.
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Question 46 of 60
Which civil award category, 'Order of Excellence', recognizes distinguished merit in fields such as arts, literature, sports, medicine, and public service, with four grades (Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz)?
ExplanationThe 'Imtiaz' (Excellence) category, with its four grades, is one of the most commonly awarded civil honor series, recognizing achievement across diverse professional fields.
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Question 47 of 60
Which civil honors category recognizes good conduct/character (distinguished from meritorious achievement), including grades like Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam?
ExplanationThe Quaid-e-Azam category of awards represents another distinct honors series, separate from the more commonly conferred Imtiaz series.
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Question 48 of 60
Which of the following best describes the significance of posthumous awards within Pakistan's broader honors system, extending beyond just Nishan-e-Haider to other categories as well?
ExplanationPosthumous recognition, while most prominently associated with Nishan-e-Haider, extends across various award categories, reflecting the state's broader practice of honoring significant contributions or sacrifices after an individual's passing.
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Question 49 of 60
Who was the first recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider, honored for his actions during the 1948 Kashmir war?
ExplanationCaptain Muhammad Sarwar was the first Nishan-e-Haider recipient, honored posthumously for his bravery during the 1947-48 Kashmir war.
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Question 50 of 60
Which Nishan-e-Haider recipient was honored for actions during the 1971 war in the Sulemanki sector, having previously served with distinction in earlier conflicts as well?
ExplanationMajor Muhammad Akram was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his defense actions during the 1971 war.
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Question 51 of 60
Which of the following memorial or commemorative sites in Pakistan is specifically associated with honoring Nishan-e-Haider recipients and other military heroes?
ExplanationVarious Yadgar-e-Shuhada (martyrs' memorials) across Pakistan specifically commemorate military heroes, including Nishan-e-Haider recipients, distinct from other national monuments with different historical associations.
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Question 52 of 60
Which Nishan-e-Haider recipient, an army officer, was honored for gallantry during the 1971 war, having also seen action in the 1965 war (during which he was awarded other honors)?
ExplanationMajor Shabbir Sharif, who had also displayed gallantry in the 1965 war, was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider posthumously for his actions during the 1971 war.
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Question 53 of 60
Which day is specifically associated with commemorating Major Raja Aziz Bhatti's sacrifice, given his prominent role in the 1965 war's defense of Lahore?
ExplanationMajor Aziz Bhatti's defense of Lahore is closely commemorated on 6 September, Defence Day, marking the anniversary of the 1965 war's outbreak.
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Question 54 of 60
Which gallantry award ranks second in Pakistan's military honors hierarchy, below Nishan-e-Haider?
ExplanationThe 'Jurat' (Courage) series ranks below Nishan-e-Haider, with Hilal-e-Jurat as its highest grade, followed by Sitara-e-Jurat and Tamgha-e-Jurat.
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Question 55 of 60
Which of the following correctly identifies the war/conflict associated with EACH of these Nishan-e-Haider recipients: Muhammad Sarwar, Aziz Bhatti, and Lalak Jan, respectively?
ExplanationThis sequence (Sarwar-1948, Bhatti-1965, Lalak Jan-1999) traces Nishan-e-Haider recipients across three of Pakistan's major conflicts spanning half a century.
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Question 56 of 60
Which of the following best describes the relationship between Pakistan's civil honors system and comparable systems in other Commonwealth countries (e.g., the UK's honors system)?
ExplanationWhile drawing on some general structural concepts common to honors systems (including those in other Commonwealth nations), Pakistan's system incorporates its own distinct naming conventions and cultural/religious references.
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Question 57 of 60
Which authority formally confers Pakistan's national civil and military awards?
ExplanationAs head of state, the President of Pakistan formally confers the country's national civil and military honors, typically at ceremonies held around Pakistan Day.
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Question 58 of 60
Which branch of Pakistan's armed forces has historically received the most Nishan-e-Haider awards?
ExplanationThe majority of Nishan-e-Haider recipients have been from the Pakistan Army, reflecting the nature of the ground conflicts in which most recipients earned the award.
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Question 59 of 60
Which of the following best describes the general criticism or debate sometimes raised regarding national honors systems like Pakistan's, as discussed in broader academic or media commentary?
ExplanationAs with many national honors systems worldwide, Pakistan's awards process has periodically been subject to public discussion regarding transparency, criteria, and the adequacy of recognition across different fields and communities.
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Question 60 of 60
Which of the following best summarizes why understanding the distinctions between award categories (e.g., Jurat vs. Basalat, or Imtiaz vs. Khidmat) is often emphasized in Pakistan Studies examinations?
ExplanationPrecise understanding of these categorical distinctions reflects broader competency in Pakistan Studies, testing detailed knowledge of how the state's honors framework is structured to recognize different forms of service and achievement.
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