Vir Chakra For Nine IAF, Four Army Personnel; Top Military Officers Honoured For Operation Sindoor

A total of thirteen military personnel, comprising nine from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and four from the Army, have been conferred with the Vir Chakra — India’s third-highest wartime gallantry award — in recognition of their role during Operation Sindoor, Indian Express reported.

The IAF awardees include Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Group Captain Manish Arora, Group Captain Animesh Patni, Group Captain Kunal Kalra, Wing Commander Joy Chandra, Squadron Leader Sarthak Kumar, Squadron Leader Siddhant Singh, Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik, and Flight Lieutenant Aarshveer Singh Thakur.

From the Army, the Vir Chakra has been awarded to Colonel Koshank Lamba of 302 Medium Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Sushil Bisht of 1988 Medium Battery, Naib Subedar Satish Kumar of 4 Dogra, and Rifleman Sunil Kumar of 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry.

According to an Indian Express report, though official citations remain undisclosed, the Vir Chakras were awarded for acts of gallantry during Operation Sindoor

The operation, initiated in May, targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a retaliatory measure following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Seven senior military leaders have also received the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, a rare honour awarded for exceptional operational planning, coordination, and execution, in connection with their role in Operation Sindoor.

The medal recipients are Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma; former Director General of Military Operations Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai; former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh; Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari; Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor; Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra; and Director General Air (Ops), Air Marshal AK Bharti.

These honours form part of the 127 gallantry awards and 40 distinguished service awards approved by President Droupadi Murmu for members of the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces, announced on Thursday, ahead of Independence Day.

Additionally, four Army personnel have been conferred with the Kirti Chakra — the nation’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award.

The Kirti Chakra recipients are Captain Lalrinawma Sailo of 4 Para (Special Forces), Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari of the Army Service Corps, Lance Naik Meenatchi Sundaram A, and Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar of the 34 and 1 Rashtriya Rifles, reportedly recognised for their role in counter-terrorism missions.

The Shaurya Chakra has been awarded to eight Army personnel, one officer from the IAF, and two from the Navy.

Overall, the President’s approvals include four Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras, 2 Bar to Sena Medals, 58 Sena Medals, 6 Nao Sena Medals, 26 Vayu Sena Medals, seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals, nine Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, and 24 Yudh Seva Medals.

In addition, 290 personnel have been recognised with Mention-in-Despatches, comprising 115 from the Army, five from the Navy, 167 from the IAF, and three from the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB).

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