President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) on Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai (Retd.), SM, VSM, during the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-II) held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 29 June 2026, in recognition of her distinguished service of an exceptional order.
Surgeon Vice Admiral Sahai retired as the Director General Medical Services (Navy), one of the highest appointments in the Armed Forces Medical Services. During her distinguished career, she became the eighth woman officer in the Indian Armed Forces to attain the three-star rank and the fourth woman to hold the rank of Surgeon Vice Admiral in the Indian Navy.
Commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1986 after graduating from the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, she specialised in Pathology and later super-specialised in Oncopathology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
Over a military career spanning nearly four decades, Surgeon Vice Admiral Sahai held several prestigious academic, clinical and leadership appointments. She served as Professor and Head of the Department of Laboratory Sciences at the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, Base Hospital Delhi Cantonment, and as a Professor at the Department of Pathology, AFMC, Pune, making significant contributions to military medical education and pathology.
Before assuming charge as Director General Medical Services (Navy), she created history as the first woman Commandant of the Army Medical Corps Centre & College, Lucknow, and also served as the Officer-in-Charge, Army Medical Corps Records. She was also the first woman officer elected as the Colonel Commandant of the Army Medical Corps, marking another milestone in the history of the Armed Forces Medical Services.
A passionate advocate of medical education, she was awarded the prestigious Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) Fellowship in Philadelphia, USA, during 2013–14 for her contributions to advancing medical education.
Prior to receiving the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Surgeon Vice Admiral Sahai had been awarded the Sena Medal (SM), the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), two Chief of the Army Staff Commendation Cards, and a General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Western Command) Commendation for her exemplary professional service.
The conferment of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal recognises Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai’s exceptional leadership, pioneering achievements and enduring contribution to strengthening military healthcare, medical education and the Armed Forces Medical Services.
