What did the Param Vir Chakra replace when India became a Republic?

The Param Vir Chakra translates to the "Wheel of the Ultimate Brave," and is India's highest military decoration, awarded to those who show extraordinary acts of valor in a time of war.

The PVC is India's equivalent to the United States' Medal of Honor and the United Kingdom's Victoria Cross, which it replaced when India gained its independence from the U.K. in 1947. Queen Victoria introduced the V.C. in 1856 to honor acts of valor shown during the Crimean War, and the award was available to Indian troops from 1857 to 1947.