President Droupadi Murmu marked the 79th Independence Day by paying homage to the fallen soldiers of independent India at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. Despite heavy rain, the solemn wreath-laying ceremony was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi. Two women officers of the Indian Air Force carried the ceremonial wreath, joined by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth.
On the eve of Independence Day, President Murmu approved 127 gallantry awards and 40 distinguished service awards for personnel of the armed forces and central armed police forces. These included:
- 4 Kirti Chakras
- 15 Vir Chakras
- 16 Shaurya Chakras
- 2 Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry)
- 58 Sena Medals (Gallantry)
- 6 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry)
- 26 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry)
- 7 Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals
- 9 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals
- 24 Yudh Seva Medals
In addition, 290 Mention-in-Despatches were approved for distinguished service in various military operations. The honours went to 115 Army personnel, five from the Navy, 167 from the Air Force, and three from the Border Roads Development Board.
A highlight of this year’s awards was the Vir Chakra recognition for nine Indian Air Force officers for their bravery during Operation Sindoor. These fighter pilots—Group Captains Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Manish Arora, Animesh Patni, Kunal Kalra; Wing Commander Joy Chandra; Squadron Leaders Sarthak Kumar, Siddhant Singh, Rizwan Malik; and Flight Lieutenant Aarshveer Singh Thakur—were lauded for precision strikes on terrorist headquarters in Pakistan’s Muridke and Bahawalpur, as well as enemy military assets. The operation also saw the IAF neutralise at least six Pakistani aircraft.
The National War Memorial, inaugurated on February 25, 2019, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, honours the memory of soldiers who have laid down their lives in conflicts since independence, including the 1999 Kargil War, the 1961 Goa Liberation, and operations like Pawan and Rakshak. Spread over 40 acres, it stands as a symbol of the nation’s gratitude to its armed forces.
