India on Thursday (August 14, 2025) honoured the valour of soldiers who took part in Operation Sindoor, a mission that struck terror and military targets deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir three months ago. President Droupadi Murmu approved a slew of wartime honours, including 127 gallantry medals, for these heroes on the eve of the 79th Independence Day.
Four Army personnel have been awarded the Kirti Chakra, which is the second highest peacetime gallantry award. Captain Lalrinawma Sailo from 4 Para (Special Forces), Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari from the Army Service Corps, Lance Naik Meenatchi Sundaram A and Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar of 34 and 1 Rashtriya Rifles have been awarded for their role in counter-terrorist operations.
The third-highest wartime gallantry award, the Vir Chakra, has been given to 15 individuals for their involvement in Operation Sindoor: nine from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and four from the Army.
The third-highest wartime gallantry award, the Vir Chakra, has been given to 15 individuals for their involvement in Operation Sindoor: nine from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and four from the Army
The Vir Chakra awardees are Colonel Koshank Lamba, Lieutenant Colonel Sushil Bisht, Naib Subedar Satish Kumar, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, 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, Flight Lieutenant Aarshveer Singh, BSF Sub Inspector Mohd Imteyaz (Posthumous) and Constable Deeapk Chingakham (Posthumous).
Eight from the Army, one from the IAF and two from the Navy have also been awarded the Shaurya Chakra.
According to the defence ministry, the list of awards includes 40 distinguished service decorations and 127 gallantry medals, including four Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras, two Bars to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 58 Sena Medals (Gallantry), six Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), 26 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry), seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals, nine Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, and 24 Yudh Seva Medals.
The President has also authorised 290 Mention-in-Despatches, including three from the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB), 167 from the IAF, 5 from the Navy, and 115 from the Army
Seven top military officers have also been awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal – a rare honour given for exceptional operational planning, coordination, and execution – for their role in Operation Sindoor. They include Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma; former Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai; former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh; Vice Chief of IAF 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 DG Air (Ops) Air Marshal AK Bharti.
In total, the President approved 4 Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras, 2 Bar to Sena Medals, 58 Sena Medals, six Nao Sena Medals, 26 Vayu Sena Medals; seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals; nine Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 24 Yudh Seva Medals.
The President has also authorised 290 Mention-in-Despatches, including three from the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB), 167 from the IAF, 5 from the Navy, and 115 from the Army.
The gallantry awards are usually conferred on both the Independence Day and the Republic Day, every year.
