President Murmu approves 78 gallantry awards, 13 posthumous, on Independence Day eve

President Droupadi Murmu has approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumous honours, for personnel of the Defence Forces and Central Armed Police Forces on the eve of the 80th Independence Day. The awards include nine Kirti Chakras, 19 Shaurya Chakras, 36 Sena Medals and honours for Navy and Air Force personnel.President Droupadi Murmu (File photo)President Droupadi Murmu on Friday approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumous honours, for personnel of the Defence Forces and Central Armed Police Forces on the eve of the 80th Independence Day.The awards recognise acts of exceptional bravery across the Army, Navy, Air Force and forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The President also approved 89 Mention-in-Despatches for distinguished service.The 78 gallantry awards comprise:9 Kirti Chakras, including 7 posthumous1 Bar to Shaurya Chakra19 Shaurya Chakras, including 1 posthumous5 Bars to Sena Medal (Gallantry)36 Sena Medals (Gallantry), including 5 posthumous3 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry)5 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry)KIRTI CHAKRA FOR NINE PERSONNELThe Kirti Chakra, India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award, has been conferred on nine personnel, including seven posthumously. The awardees are:Lt Col Manoj Francis, 21 Para (Special Forces)Major Jitendra Rathee, 2 Para (Special Forces)Havildar Gajendra Singh, 2 Para (Special Forces) — posthumousHead Constable Jagbir Singh — posthumousHead Constable Bashir Ahmad — posthumousSpecial Grade Constable Jaswant Singh — posthumousSpecial Grade Constable Balvinder Singh — posthumousSpecial Grade Constable Tariq Hussain — posthumousInspector Sunil Kumar, STF — posthumousSHAURYA CHAKRA AND BARMajor Aditya Pratap Singh of 44 Assam Rifles has been awarded the Bar to Shaurya Chakra. The 19 Shaurya Chakra awardees include:Major Paramveer, 36 Rashtriya RiflesMajor Tarun Vasudevan, 57 Rashtriya RiflesMajor Keshav Kumar, 12 Dogra RegimentMajor Gaurav Singh Brijwal, 21 GrenadiersMajor Vipeen Kumar, 11 Rashtriya RiflesNaib Subedar Shankar Ram, 3 Assam RiflesNaib Subedar Dabbal Singh Bisht, 21 Para (Special Forces)Havildar Jagattar Singh, 4 Para (Special Forces)Lance Naik Narender Sindhu, 9 Rashtriya Rifles — posthumousLance Naik Kapil Dev, 11 Rashtriya RiflesSepoy Jaswinder Singh, 7 Sikh Light InfantryLieutenant Commander Shivam Kumar, Indian NavySquadron Leader Sudhir Kumar, Indian Air ForceThe remaining six recipients are from forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs:Deputy Superintendent Dheeraj Singh KatochInspector Ajay Singh ChibDeputy Superintendent Sukhvir SinghAssistant Sub-Inspector Niyaz AhmadDeputy Commandant Anjani KumarConstable Deepak SahSENA MEDALS, NAVY AND AIR FORCE HONOURSFive officers have been awarded the Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), including:Major DS Paosho, 7 MadrasMajor Krishan Kant, 21 Para (Special Forces)The President has also approved 36 Sena Medals (Gallantry), including five posthumous awards.Among the recipients are:Lt Col Pushkar Vijay Chaudhary, 27 (I) R&O FlightMajor Mohit Podia, 37 Assam RiflesCaptain Karan Singh Cheema, 59 Rashtriya RiflesCaptain Anshumaan Singh, 11 Para (Special Forces)Subedar Pawan Kumar, 11 Para (Special Forces)The posthumous Sena Medal recipients include Subedar Perbhat Gaur of 9 Rashtriya Rifles, Lance Havildar Palash Ghosh of 19 Rashtriya Rifles and Sepoy Harminder Singh of 19 Rashtriya Rifles.Three Navy personnel have been awarded the Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry):Commander Vineet SharmaCommander Yuvraj KumarPOA (FD) Avinash AnnasoThe five Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) recipients are:Group Captain Rahul JagottaGroup Captain Rahul RawatWing Commander Ashish RajpootFlight Lieutenant YashMaster Warrant Officer Ravinderjit Singh, Parachute Jump Instructor89 MENTION-IN-DESPATCHESThe President has also approved 89 Mention-in-Despatches for distinguished service. These include:75 Army personnel4 Navy personnel10 Air Force personnelArmy personnel associated with operations including Rakshak, Hifazat, Orchid, Meghdoot, Snow Leopard and Chakravyuh have been recognised.Among the notable recipients are:Col Ranveer Singh, 207 Army AviationLt Col Abhishek Joshi, SM, 666 Army AviationDSP Sultan Mahmood, Jammu and Kashmir PoliceArmy dog Tyson, 2 Para (Special Forces)From the Navy, Commander Nikhil Chugh and Lieutenant Ajay Jose N Joseph are among the four recipients.Among the 10 Air Force personnel recognised are Wing Commander Raja Reddy Lalita Nagesh Kumar, Wing Commander Ammar Haider Naqvi and Squadron Leader Koushik Kundarapu.The awards will be presented by President Murmu at a ceremonial investiture later this year.- EndsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Aug 14, 2026 21:26 IST