NEW DELHI — In a solemn ceremony reflecting the pinnacle of national gratitude, President Smt Droupadi Murmu conferred 51 gallantry awards during Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The honors presented included 07 Kirti Chakras (02 posthumous), 15 Vir Chakras (03 posthumous), and 29 Shaurya Chakras (01 posthumous). The decorations recognize personnel from the Indian Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and State/Union Territory Police forces for displaying raw courage, unparalleled bravery, and total disregard for personal safety in the line of duty.
🎖️ Executive Summary of Awards
| Award Type | Total Conferred | Living Recipients | Posthumous Honors |
| Kirti Chakra | 07 | 05 | 02 |
| Vir Chakra | 15 | 12 | 03 |
| Shaurya Chakra | 29 | 28 | 01 |
| Total | 51 | 45 | 06 |
🏛️ The Supreme Sacrifice: Posthumous Honors
Six bravehearts were honored posthumously for making the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
Kirti Chakra (Posthumous)
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Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar (The Mahar Regiment, 1 Rashtriya Rifles, Army): Honored for extraordinary bravery during operations on July 6, 2024.
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Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari (The Army Service Corps, 1 Sikkim Scouts, Army): Awarded for conspicuous gallantry displayed on May 22, 2025.
Vir Chakra (Posthumous)
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Sub Inspector (GD) Mohd Imteyaj & CT/GD Deepak Chingakham (MHA): Both personnel were posthumously decorated for exceptional bravery during a coordinated action on May 7, 2025.
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Rifleman Sunil Kumar (4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, Army): Honored for supreme courage in action on May 10, 2025.
Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous)
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L/Dfr Baldev Chand (Armoured, 4 Rashtriya Rifles, Army): Posthumously decorated for exceptional valor during operations on September 19, 2025.
⚡ Key Highlights & Significant Operational Dates
Analysis of the official investiture sequence reveals concentrated periods of high-stakes military and counter-insurgency operations:
1. The Strategic Surge of May 7, 2025
A staggering number of Vir Chakras were awarded for an intensive operational window on May 7, 2025, primarily dominating the Indian Air Force and Army Artillery listings. Recipients include:
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Indian Air Force (Flying Branch): Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Group Captain Manish Arora (SC), Group Captain Animesh Patni, Group Captain Kunal Kalra, Wing Commander Joy Chandra, Squadron Leader Sarthak Kumar, Squadron Leader Siddhant Singh, Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik, and Squadron Leader Aarshveer Singh Thakur.
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Indian Army: Colonel Koshank Lamba (302 Medium Regiment) and Lieutenant Colonel Sushil Bisht (1988 Independent Medium Battery).
2. Specialized & Elite Forces Recognition
The list features heavy representation from elite combat wings, highlighting the intense nature of modern asymmetric warfare:
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Para (Special Forces): Significant awards went to personnel from 2 Para (SF), 4 Para (SF), 5 Para (SF), 6 Para (SF), 7 Para (SF), 11 Para (SF), and 21 Para (SF). Notably, Captain Lalrinawma Sailo and Naib Subedari Doleshwar Subba received the Kirti Chakra for elite Para (SF) operations.
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Assam Rifles: Strong operational footprint visible with multiple Shaurya Chakras awarded across the 3, 26, 32, 33, and 44 Assam Rifles battalions.
3. Naval and Aviation Milestones
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Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Flying Pilot, IAF) was conferred the prestigious Kirti Chakra for extraordinary flying skill and leadership during an operation on June 25, 2025.
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Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A of the Indian Navy were both conferred the Shaurya Chakra for a joint operation conducted on Republic Day, January 26, 2026.
📋 Comprehensive List of Awardees (In Order of Presentation)
I. Shaurya Chakra
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Shri Laxman Kewat (Inspector, MHA) — 16.04.2024
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Shri Rameshwar Prasad Deshmukh (Inspector, MHA) — 16.04.2024
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Lt Colonel Neetesh Bharti Shukla (19 Sikh, Army) — 13.07.2024
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Major Aditya Pratap Singh, SM (The Rajputana Rifles, 44 Assam Rifles, Army) — 24.10.2024
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Major Ashish Kumar (7 Para (SF), Army) — 01.11.2024
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Constable/GD Sanjay Tiwari (MHA) — 02.11.2024
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Constable/GD Feda Hussain Dar (MHA) — 02.11.2024
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Deputy Commandant Mohd Shafiq (26 Assam Rifles, Army) — 05.11.2024
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Lieutenant Commander Suraj Prashar (Navy) — 05.11.2024
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Ram Goyal, LS (Navy) — 05.11.2024
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Constable/GD Saddam Hussain (CRPF, MHA) — 05.11.2024
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Assistant Commandant Vipin Wilson (20 Bn, CRPF, MHA) — 11.11.2024
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Rifleman Bhoj Ram Sahu (3 Assam Rifles, Army) — 15.11.2024
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Group Captain Abhimanyu Singh (Flying Pilot, Air Force) — 21.11.2024
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Major Bhargav Kalita (The Kumaon Regiment, 50 Rashtriya Rifles, Army) — 02.12.2024
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Major Leishangthem Deepak Singh (11 Para (SF), Army) — 25.04.2025
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Major Anshul Baltoo (JAK LI, 32 Assam Rifles, Army) — 29.04.2025
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Major Shivkant Yadav (5 Para (SF), Army) — 12.05.2025
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Subedar P H Moses (1 Assam Rifles, Army) — 14.05.2025
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Major Vivek (Mech Inf, 42 RR, Army) — 15.05.2025
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Rifleman Manglem Sang Vaiphei (3 Assam Rifles, Army) — 09.06.2025
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Lt Colonel Ghatage Aditya Shrikumar (21 Para (SF), Army) — 13.07.2025
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Captain Yogender Singh Thakur (6 Para (SF), Army) — 21.07.2025
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Subedar Shamsher Singh (4 Para (SF), Army) — 28.07.2025
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Naik Rahul Singh (4 Para (SF), Army) — 28.07.2025
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Rifleman Dhurba Jyoti Dutta (33 Assam Rifles, Army) — 19.09.2025
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Lieutenant Commander Dilna K (Navy) — 26.01.2026
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Lieutenant Commander Roopa A (Navy) — 26.01.2026
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L/Dfr Baldev Chand (Posthumous) (Armoured, 4 RR, Army) — 19.09.2025
II. Vir Chakra
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Colonel Koshank Lamba (302 Medium Regiment, Army) — 07.05.2025
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Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu (Flying Pilot, Air Force) — 07.05.2025
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Group Captain Manish Arora, SC (Flying Pilot, Air Force) — 07.05.2025
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Group Captain Animesh Patni (Flying Pilot, Air Force) — 07.05.2025
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Group Captain Kunal Kalra (Flying Pilot, Air Force) — 07.05.2025
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Group Captain Joy Chandra (Flying Pilot, Air Force) — 07.05.2025
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Lt Colonel Sushil Bisht (1988 Independent Medium Battery, Army) — 07.05.2025
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Wing Commander Sarthak Kumar (Flying Pilot, Air Force) — 07.05.2025
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Squadron Leader Siddhant Singh (Flying Pilot, Air Force) — 07.05.2025
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Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik (Flying Pilot, Air Force) — 07.05.2025
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Squadron Leader Aarshveer Singh Thakur (Flying Pilot, Air Force) — 07.05.2025
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Naib Subedar Satish Kumar (4 Dogra, Army) — 10.05.2025
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Sub Inspector (GD) Mohd Imteyaj (Posthumous) (MHA) — 07.05.2025
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CT/GD Deepak Chingakham (Posthumous) (MHA) — 07.05.2025
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Rifleman Sunil Kumar (Posthumous) (4 JAK LI, Army) — 10.05.2025
III. Kirti Chakra
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Lance Naik Meenatchi Sundaram A (The Regiment of Artillery, 34 RR, Army) — 19.12.2024
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Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba (2 Para (SF), Army) — 11.04.2025
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Major Arshdeep Singh (Armoured, 1 Assam Rifles, Army) — 14.05.2025
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Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Flying Pilot, Air Force) — 25.06.2025
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Captain Lalrinawma Sailo (4 Para (SF), Army) — 28.07.2025
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Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar (Posthumous) (The Mahar Regiment, 1 RR, Army) — 06.07.2024
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Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari (Posthumous) (The Army Service Corps, 1 Sikkim Scouts, Army) — 22.05.2025
