President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) on Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, SYSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM & Bar, during the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-II) held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 29 June 2026, in recognition of his distinguished service of the most exceptional order during military operations.
At the time of receiving the honour, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai was serving as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy), an appointment he assumed on 10 June 2025. He also serves as the Military Adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), having taken over the responsibility in June 2026.
Commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment on 16 December 1989 from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Lt Gen Ghai is an alumnus of Fergusson College, Pune, the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Army War College, Mhow, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.
During a distinguished military career spanning more than three decades, he has held numerous command, staff and instructional appointments. His command assignments include 56 Infantry Division and the prestigious XV Corps (Chinar Corps) in Kashmir. He has extensive operational experience in conventional warfare as well as counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in Jammu & Kashmir and the North East.
Lt Gen Ghai has also served in key staff appointments, including the Military Operations Directorate, Integrated Defence Staff, Northern Command, and as an instructor at both the Infantry School, Mhow, and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He also served with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as a staff officer.
As the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lt Gen Ghai played a pivotal role in planning and executing Operation Sindoor, overseeing the Indian Army’s operational strategy during the campaign.
The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, the Armed Forces’ highest wartime distinguished service decoration, recognises Lt Gen Ghai’s exceptional operational leadership and outstanding contribution to national security.
Prior to this honour, he had been awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM), the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), and the Sena Medal with two Bars, reflecting a career marked by sustained operational excellence and distinguished service.
The conferment of the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal marks another significant milestone in Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai’s illustrious military career and acknowledges his outstanding leadership in strengthening India’s defence preparedness and operational capabilities.
