In a rare peacetime recognition of wartime gallantry awards, President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday conferred 15 Vir Chakras on armed forces personnel for their valour in Operation Sindoor — launched to avenge the killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam.
The ceremony, held on the eve of India’s 79th Independence Day, honoured 127 Gallantry Awards and 40 Distinguished Service Awards for Armed Forces and CAPF personnel.
Operation Sindoor Awardees
Among the 15 Vir Chakra recipients, nine were from the Indian Air Force and four from the Army, alongside two Ministry of Home Affairs officers.
IAF Vir Chakra awardees:
- Gp Capt Ranjeet Singh Sidhu
- Gp Capt Manish Arora
- Gp Capt Animesh Patni
- Gp Capt Kunal Kalra
- Wg Cdr Joy Chandra
- Sqn Ldr Sarthak Kumar
- Sqn Ldr Siddhant Singh
- Sqn Ldr Rizwan Malik
- Flt Lt Aarshveer Singh Thakur
Army Vir Chakra awardees:
- Col Koshank Lamba (302 Medium Regiment)
- Lt Col Sushil Bisht (1988 Medium Battery)
- Nb Subedar Satish Kumar (4 Dogra)
- Rifleman Sunil Kumar (4 JAK Light Infantry)
MHA Vir Chakra awardees:
- Sub Inspector (GD) Mohd Imteyaj
- Constable Deepak Chingakham
Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (Exceptional Operational Planning & Execution)
- Lt Gen Pratik Sharma (Northern Army Commander)
- Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai (former DGMO)
- Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh (CiC, Western Naval Command)
- Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari
- Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor (CiC, South Western Air Command)
- Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra (CiC, Western Air Command)
- Air Marshal AK Bharti
Other Gallantry & Distinguished Awards
- 4 Kirti Chakras
- 16 Shaurya Chakras
- 2 Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry)
- 58 Sena Medals (Gallantry)
- 6 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry)
- 26 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry)
- 9 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals
- 24 Yudh Seva Medals
- 3 Tatrakshak Medals (Gallantry)
Police & Paramilitary Medals
The Ministry of Home Affairs also announced 1,090 medals for Police, Fire Services, Home Guards, Civil Defence, and Correctional Services.
- 233 Gallantry Medals
- 99 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service
- 758 Medals for Meritorious Service
J&K Police led with a record 127 Gallantry Medals, including a posthumous award to DSP Humayun Muzamil Bhat for his sacrifice during the Kokernag encounter.
Other forces: CRPF (20), UP Police (17), BSF (16), Chhattisgarh Police (14).
This year’s honours not only celebrated military heroism but also frontline police bravery, underscoring a unified national recognition of service and sacrifice.
