In a landmark moment for India’s armed forces, the heroes of Operation Sindoor were honoured on the eve of the nation’s 79th Independence Day, marking one of the rarest recognitions in modern military history.
Seven senior officers received the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) — a wartime equivalent of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, awarded for exceptional strategic leadership. This year’s recipients:
Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of Air Staff
Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, AOC-in-C, Western Air Command
Air Marshal Awadhesh Bharti, Director General Air Operations
Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, AOC-in-C, South Western Air Command
Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, GOC-in-C, Northern Command
Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, Director General Military Operations
Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, former FOC-in-C, Western Naval Command
The Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime gallantry award, was conferred on nine Indian Air Force pilots for their daring precision strikes inside Pakistani territory:
Group Capt Ranjeet Singh Sidhu
Group Capt Manish Arora
Group Capt Animesh Patni
Group Capt Kunal Kalra
Wing Cmdr Joy Chandra
Sqn Ldr Sarthak Kumar
Sqn Ldr Siddhant Singh
Sqn Ldr Rizwan Malik
Flt Lt Aarshveer Singh Thakur
These aviators destroyed terror hubs and key Pakistani military assets, with support from India’s S-400 and Akash missile systems, effectively neutralising enemy retaliation.
Beyond the Air Force, six more Vir Chakras went to brave personnel from the Army (4) and Central Armed Police Forces (2). The day also saw 127 gallantry awards and 40 distinguished service medals across all forces, including Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal, Nao Sena Medal, and Vayu Sena Medal recipients.
This year’s Red Fort celebrations place Operation Sindoor at the heart of the nation’s Independence Day theme. A Mi-17 helicopter will fly its emblem over the ceremony, reminding every citizen of the bravery, sacrifice, and precision that safeguarded India in one of the most high-stakes confrontations of the decade.
