Major General Sandeep S. Sharda, Additional Director General (ADG) of Strategic Communication, has been conferred the prestigious Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) for his exceptional leadership during Operation Sindoor, a landmark military campaign combining precision strikes with cutting-edge information warfare.
The Yudh Seva Medal is India’s third-highest wartime distinguished service decoration, awarded for high-order service in operational contexts during war, conflict, or hostilities. Maj Gen Sharda’s recognition underscores the rising importance of narrative dominance in modern warfare.
A Veteran Officer with an Illustrious Career
Commissioned into the Dogra Regiment, Maj Gen Sharda (IC-50744F) has served the Indian Army for decades with distinction. His service record includes:
- Vishisht Seva Medal – Republic Day 2020
- Sena Medal (Distinguished) – Republic Day 2022
- Former Dean of Faculty of Study and Leadership at the Army War College
- Commander of Pathankot Sub-Area during Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations marking the 1971 war victory
His experience across field commands, training institutions, and strategic-level appointments made him uniquely suited to lead the Army’s information warfare initiatives.
Operation Sindoor: Blending Kinetic Strikes with Information Dominance
Launched on May 7, 2025, Operation Sindoor was India’s swift and decisive response to the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 civilian lives. The operation combined tri-service precision strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with an unprecedented information warfare campaign.
Maj Gen Sharda’s team:
- Released verified updates faster than misinformation could spread
- Neutralized enemy propaganda in real time
- Coordinated multi-platform messaging for maximum reach and credibility
A defining moment came with the unveiling of the Operation Sindoor logo—created by Lt Col Harsh Gupta and Havildar Surinder Singh—featuring the first “o” as a vermilion bowl, symbolizing sacrifice and commitment. Posted in the early hours of May 7 with the tagline “Justice is served. Jai Hind!”, it became the campaign’s visual signature.
Strategic Significance of the Yudh Seva Medal
Awarded in wartime or conflict situations, the Yudh Seva Medal is rarely bestowed for information warfare roles, highlighting how digital-era military success hinges as much on perception as on battlefield outcomes.
Operation Sindoor’s scale was historic:
- 7 officers awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal
- 9 Indian Air Force pilots decorated with the Vir Chakra
- Terror infrastructure of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen dismantled
Modernizing India’s Military Communication Doctrine
As ADG Strategic Communication, Maj Gen Sharda also serves as the Army’s nodal officer for monitoring and countering hostile online content—a post created amid the increasing weaponization of social media.
His work reflects the 2018 Land Warfare Doctrine vision to develop full-spectrum information warfare capabilities and aligns with India’s Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations (2025), which prioritizes threat-informed planning and real-time intelligence integration.
Leadership Under Pressure
During a post-operation briefing alongside key Operation Sindoor architects—Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai (DGMO), Air Marshal AK Bharti (DGAO), and Vice Admiral AN Pramod (DGNO)—Maj Gen Sharda set the tone with trademark military humor, quipping about starting with the left foot, a nod to drill tradition. It showcased confidence and composure under high scrutiny.
Setting a Benchmark for Future Warfare
The Yudh Seva Medal awarded to Maj Gen SS Sharda is more than an individual honour—it’s an institutional recognition that bytes can be as decisive as bullets. His leadership during Operation Sindoor has:
- Set a new benchmark for military strategic communication
- Demonstrated the operational impact of integrated information warfare
- Influenced adversary military planning, as seen in Pakistan’s move to form an Army Rocket Force
With hybrid warfare now the norm, Sharda’s success reinforces a critical truth: in modern conflict, winning the story is winning the war.
