President Droupadi Murmu (File photo)

President Murmu approves 78 gallantry awards, 13 posthumous, on Independence Day eve

President Droupadi Murmu approved 78 gallantry awards and 89 Mention-in-Despatches on the eve of Independence Day. The honours span the armed forces and forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs, including several posthumous recognitions.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Nine Kirti Chakras included seven posthumous awards for peacetime bravery
  • Major Aditya Pratap Singh received the Bar to Shaurya Chakra
  • Thirty six Sena Medals were approved, with five awarded posthumously

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumous honours, for personnel of the Defence Forces and Central Armed Police Forces on the eve of the 80th Independence Day.

The awards recognise acts of exceptional bravery across the Army, Navy, Air Force and forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The President also approved 89 Mention-in-Despatches for distinguished service.

The 78 gallantry awards comprise:

  • 9 Kirti Chakras, including 7 posthumous
  • 1 Bar to Shaurya Chakra
  • 19 Shaurya Chakras, including 1 posthumous
  • 5 Bars to Sena Medal (Gallantry)
  • 36 Sena Medals (Gallantry), including 5 posthumous
  • 3 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry)
  • 5 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry)

KIRTI CHAKRA FOR NINE PERSONNEL

The Kirti Chakra, India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award, has been conferred on nine personnel, including seven posthumously.

The awardees are:

  • Lt Col Manoj Francis, 21 Para (Special Forces)
  • Major Jitendra Rathee, 2 Para (Special Forces)
  • Havildar Gajendra Singh, 2 Para (Special Forces) — posthumous
  • Head Constable Jagbir Singh — posthumous
  • Head Constable Bashir Ahmad — posthumous
  • Special Grade Constable Jaswant Singh — posthumous
  • Special Grade Constable Balvinder Singh — posthumous
  • Special Grade Constable Tariq Hussain — posthumous
  • Inspector Sunil Kumar, STF — posthumous

SHAURYA CHAKRA AND BAR

Major Aditya Pratap Singh of 44 Assam Rifles has been awarded the Bar to Shaurya Chakra.

The 19 Shaurya Chakra awardees include:

  • Major Paramveer, 36 Rashtriya Rifles
  • Major Tarun Vasudevan, 57 Rashtriya Rifles
  • Major Keshav Kumar, 12 Dogra Regiment
  • Major Gaurav Singh Brijwal, 21 Grenadiers
  • Major Vipeen Kumar, 11 Rashtriya Rifles
  • Naib Subedar Shankar Ram, 3 Assam Rifles
  • Naib Subedar Dabbal Singh Bisht, 21 Para (Special Forces)
  • Havildar Jagattar Singh, 4 Para (Special Forces)
  • Lance Naik Narender Sindhu, 9 Rashtriya Rifles — posthumous
  • Lance Naik Kapil Dev, 11 Rashtriya Rifles
  • Sepoy Jaswinder Singh, 7 Sikh Light Infantry
  • Lieutenant Commander Shivam Kumar, Indian Navy
  • Squadron Leader Sudhir Kumar, Indian Air Force
  • The remaining six recipients are from forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs:
  • Deputy Superintendent Dheeraj Singh Katoch
  • Inspector Ajay Singh Chib
  • Deputy Superintendent Sukhvir Singh
  • Assistant Sub-Inspector Niyaz Ahmad
  • Deputy Commandant Anjani Kumar
  • Constable Deepak Sah

SENA MEDALS, NAVY AND AIR FORCE HONOURS

Five officers have been awarded the Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), including:

  • Major DS Paosho, 7 Madras
  • Major Krishan Kant, 21 Para (Special Forces)

The President has also approved 36 Sena Medals (Gallantry), including five posthumous awards.

Among the recipients are:

  • Lt Col Pushkar Vijay Chaudhary, 27 (I) R&O Flight
  • Major Mohit Podia, 37 Assam Rifles
  • Captain Karan Singh Cheema, 59 Rashtriya Rifles
  • Captain Anshumaan Singh, 11 Para (Special Forces)
  • Subedar Pawan Kumar, 11 Para (Special Forces)

The posthumous Sena Medal recipients include Subedar Perbhat Gaur of 9 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Havildar Palash Ghosh of 19 Rashtriya Rifles and Sepoy Harminder Singh of 19 Rashtriya Rifles.

Three Navy personnel have been awarded the Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry):

  • Commander Vineet Sharma
  • Commander Yuvraj Kumar
  • POA (FD) Avinash Annaso

The five Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) recipients are:

  • Group Captain Rahul Jagotta
  • Group Captain Rahul Rawat
  • Wing Commander Ashish Rajpoot
  • Flight Lieutenant Yash
  • Master Warrant Officer Ravinderjit Singh, Parachute Jump Instructor

89 MENTION-IN-DESPATCHES

The President has also approved 89 Mention-in-Despatches for distinguished service. These include:

  • 75 Army personnel
  • 4 Navy personnel
  • 10 Air Force personnel

Army personnel associated with operations including Rakshak, Hifazat, Orchid, Meghdoot, Snow Leopard and Chakravyuh have been recognised.

Among the notable recipients are:

  • Col Ranveer Singh, 207 Army Aviation
  • Lt Col Abhishek Joshi, SM, 666 Army Aviation
  • DSP Sultan Mahmood, Jammu and Kashmir Police
  • Army dog Tyson, 2 Para (Special Forces)

From the Navy, Commander Nikhil Chugh and Lieutenant Ajay Jose N Joseph are among the four recipients.

Among the 10 Air Force personnel recognised are Wing Commander Raja Reddy Lalita Nagesh Kumar, Wing Commander Ammar Haider Naqvi and Squadron Leader Koushik Kundarapu.

The awards will be presented by President Murmu at a ceremonial investiture later this year.

- Ends