Gallantry Awards Our Gratitude to Bravehearts: President Murmu
President Honours Armed Forces, CAPF and Police Personnel for Exceptional Bravery and Sacrifice
- President confers 7 Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras and 29 Shaurya Chakras
- Six gallantry awards presented posthumously
- Honours recognise exceptional courage in anti-terror and military operations
- Personnel from Army, Air Force, Navy, CAPFs and Police among recipients
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th June: President Droupadi Murmu on Monday conferred 51 gallantry awards, including six posthumous honours, during Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The awards included seven Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras and 29 Shaurya Chakras presented to personnel of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and State and Union Territory Police for displaying exceptional courage, bravery and devotion to duty in challenging operations.
Among the awards, two Kirti Chakras, three Vir Chakras and one Shaurya Chakra were conferred posthumously in recognition of supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
The Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, was presented to distinguished personnel including Lance Naik Meenatchi Sundaram A of the Army, Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba of 2 PARA (SF), Major Arshdeep Singh of Assam Rifles, Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair of the Indian Air Force and Captain Lalrinawma Sailo of 4 PARA (SF).
Posthumous Kirti Chakras were awarded to Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar of the Mahar Regiment and Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari of the Army Service Corps for acts of exceptional bravery.
The President also awarded 15 Vir Chakras, India’s wartime gallantry decoration, to Army and Air Force personnel for outstanding courage during military operations. Several recipients were fighter pilots and military commanders who participated in operations conducted in May 2025.
Among the Vir Chakra awardees were Colonel Koshank Lamba, Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Group Captain Manish Arora, Group Captain Animesh Patni, Group Captain Kunal Kalra and several other Air Force officers.
Three Vir Chakras were awarded posthumously to Sub-Inspector Mohd Imteyaj, Constable Deepak Chingakham and Rifleman Sunil Kumar.
The Shaurya Chakra recipients included personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, CRPF, Assam Rifles and police forces who demonstrated extraordinary courage during counter-insurgency, anti-terror and security operations between 2024 and 2026.
Notable awardees included Lieutenant Colonel Neetesh Bharti Shukla, Major Aditya Pratap Singh, Major Ashish Kumar, Assistant Commandant Mohd Shafiq, Lieutenant Commander Suraj Prashar, Wing Commander Abhimanyu Singh and several Special Forces personnel.
A posthumous Shaurya Chakra was awarded to Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand of the Army for displaying exceptional bravery during an operation in September 2025.
The Defence Investiture Ceremony honours military personnel, police officers and security forces for acts of conspicuous gallantry, selfless service and dedication to protecting the nation.
Officials said the awardees represented the highest traditions of courage and sacrifice, serving as an inspiration to the armed forces and the nation.
