https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Independence Day 2025: Seven Top Officers Honoured with Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal for Operation Sindoor; Nine IAF Pilots Receive Vir Chakra

Seven senior officers receive SYSM and nine IAF pilots awarded Vir Chakra for Operation Sindoor during May India-Pak confrontation.
Indian Masterminds Stories

New Delhi: In a historic recognition of their role in Operation Sindoor, seven senior armed forces officers, including four from the Indian Air Force, were awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) on the eve of India’s 79th Independence Day. The rare honour acknowledges their exceptional leadership and strategic planning during the intense India-Pakistan confrontation in May 2025.

Vir Chakra Awards for IAF Heroes

President Droupadi Murmu also conferred Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime gallantry award, on nine Indian Air Force pilots for their role in precision strikes targeting terror infrastructure and Pakistani military establishments.

The awardees include:

  • Group Captains: Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Manish Arora, Animesh Patni, Kunal Kalra
  • Wing Commander: Joy Chandra
  • Squadron Leaders: Sarthak Kumar, Siddhant Singh, Rizwan Malik
  • Flight Lieutenant: Aarshveer Singh Thakur

These pilots played a key role in strikes against LeT and JeM headquarters deep inside Pakistan. Their efforts, supported by India’s air defence systems including S-400 and Akash missiles, helped thwart subsequent enemy attacks.

Six additional Vir Chakras were approved for brave personnel from the Indian Army (4) and Central Armed Police Forces (2), highlighting the joint valor across services.

SYSM Honours for Strategic Leadership

The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, the wartime equivalent of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, is an exceptionally rare award. This year, recipients were recognised for planning and supervising Operation Sindoor, which involved high-risk cross-border operations.

IAF SYSM Recipients:

  • Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of IAF
  • 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

Army and Navy SYSM Recipients:

  • 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 SYSM has been awarded only three times previously, to leaders from the Sri Lanka peacekeeping mission and the Kargil War, underscoring its prestige.

Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra Awards

In addition, four Kirti Chakra (second-highest peacetime gallantry awards) and 16 Shaurya Chakra awards were conferred. All Kirti Chakra winners were from the Army.

Across the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces, 127 gallantry awards and 40 distinguished service awards were announced, including:

  • Two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry)
  • 58 Sena Medals (Gallantry)
  • Six Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry)
  • 26 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry)
  • Nine Uttam Yudh Seva Medals

Operation Sindoor to Feature in Independence Day Celebrations

Operation Sindoor will form the theme of India’s 79th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort. A Mi-17 helicopter will carry the operation flag, while invitation cards, floral décor, and viewing arrangements will feature the operation’s emblem. The homage highlights India’s military preparedness and the bravery of its armed forces in safeguarding national security.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor: IAF Chief Confirms S-400 Downed Five Pakistani Fighter Jets, AWACS & Destroyed F-16s on Ground


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT