President Droupadi Murmu conferred 51 gallantry awards, including seven Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras and 29 Shaurya Chakras, during Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 8.
The awards were presented to personnel of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and State and Union Territory Police forces in recognition of acts of exceptional courage, conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty while facing grave danger in the line of service.
Among the decorations awarded were seven Kirti Chakras, including two posthumous awards, 15 Vir Chakras, including three posthumous awards, and 29 Shaurya Chakras, including one posthumous award.
Kirti Chakra Awardees
The prestigious Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, was conferred upon:
- Lance Naik Meenatchi Sundaram A of 34 Rashtriya Rifles
- Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba of 2 Para (Special Forces)
- Major Arshdeep Singh of 1 Assam Rifles
- Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair of the Indian Air Force
- Captain Lalrinawma Sailo of 4 Para (Special Forces)
Posthumous Kirti Chakras were awarded to:
- Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar of 1 Rashtriya Rifles
- Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari of 1 Sikkim Scouts
Vir Chakras for Operation Sindoor Heroes
Several Army and Air Force personnel who played key roles during Operation Sindoor were awarded the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime gallantry award.
Recipients included:
- Colonel Koshank Lamba
- Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu
- Group Captain Manish Arora
- Group Captain Animesh Patni
- Group Captain Kunal Kalra
- Group Captain Joy Chandra
- Lieutenant Colonel Sushil Bisht
- Squadron Leader Sarthak Kumar
- Squadron Leader Siddhant Singh
- Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik
- Squadron Leader Aarshveer Singh Thakur
- Naib Subedar Satish Kumar
Posthumous Vir Chakras were awarded to:
- Sub-Inspector Mohd Imteyaj
- Constable Deepak Chingakham
- Rifleman Sunil Kumar of 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry
Shaurya Chakra Recipients
The Shaurya Chakra, awarded for gallantry other than in the face of the enemy, was conferred upon 29 personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Assam Rifles, CRPF and police forces.
Among the notable recipients were:
- Lieutenant Colonel Neetesh Bharti Shukla, 19 Sikh
- Major Aditya Pratap Singh, Rajputana Rifles/44 Assam Rifles
- Major Ashish Kumar, 7 Para (Special Forces)
- Deputy Commandant Mohd Shafiq, Assam Rifles
- Lieutenant Commander Suraj Prashar
- Leading Seaman Ram Goyal
- Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhimanyu Singh
- Major Bhargav Kalita, 50 Rashtriya Rifles
- Major Leishangthem Deepak Singh, 11 Para (SF)
- Major Anshul Baltoo
- Major Shivkant Yadav, 5 Para (SF)
- Lieutenant Commander Dilna K
- Lieutenant Commander Roopa A
A posthumous Shaurya Chakra was awarded to Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand of 4 Rashtriya Rifles.
Honouring Courage and Sacrifice
The gallantry award recipients were recognised for displaying extraordinary bravery during counter-terrorism operations, anti-insurgency missions, combat engagements, special operations, rescue missions and other acts of exceptional courage under extremely challenging conditions.
The Defence Investiture Ceremony remains one of the nation’s highest platforms for honouring members of the Armed Forces and security forces who have demonstrated outstanding valour and selfless devotion to duty in service of the country.
The ceremony paid tribute not only to the awardees but also to the enduring spirit of sacrifice, courage and professionalism that continues to define India’s military and security forces.
