President Approves 78 Gallantry Awards Ahead of Independence Day
President Droupadi Murmu has approved 78 gallantry awards to personnel from the defence forces and central armed police forces on the eve of the 80th Independence Day. The honours recognise the courage and service of military and police personnel, with 13 of the recognitions conferred posthumously.
What Happened
On Friday, President Droupadi Murmu officially cleared the honours list comprising 78 gallantry awards. The approved list features multiple categories of peacetime bravery decorations, including nine Kirti Chakras and 19 Shaurya Chakras, along with five Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry) and 36 Sena Medals (Gallantry).
India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry medal, the Kirti Chakra, comes directly after the Ashoka Chakra in order of precedence. The Shaurya Chakra represents the nation’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award.
Key Highlights
- Total Approvals: 78 gallantry honours were sanctioned by the President.
- Posthumous Honours: 13 awards are conferred posthumously across forces.
- Breakdown of Medals: The total list includes nine Kirti Chakras, 19 Shaurya Chakras, five Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), and 36 Sena Medals (Gallantry).
- Kirti Chakra Recipients: Awarded to Lt Col Manoj Francis of 21 Para (Special Forces) and Major Jitendra Rathee of 2 Para (Special Forces). Seven additional Kirti Chakras were granted posthumously to Havildar Gajendra Singh (2 Para Special Forces), Head Constables Jagbir Singh and Bashir Ahmad, Constables Jaswant Singh, Balvinder Singh, and Tariq Hussain, and Inspector Sunil Kumar.
- Shaurya Chakra Recipients: Conferred on 19 personnel from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and police services, including Major Paramveer (36 Rashtriya Rifles), Major Tarun Vasudevan (57 Rashtriya Rifles), Major Keshav Kumar (12 Dogra Regiment), Major Gaurav Singh Brijwal (21 Grenadiers), Major Vipeen Kumar (11 Rashtriya Rifles), Naib Subedar Shankar Ram (3 Assam Rifles), and Naib Subedar Dabbal Singh Bisht (21 Para Special Forces).
- Additional Shaurya Chakra Awardees: Havildar Jagattar Singh (4 Para Special Forces), Lance Naik Narender Sindhu (9 Rashtriya Rifles, posthumous), Lance Naik Kapil Dev (11 Rashtriya Rifles), Sepoy Jaswinder Singh (7 Sikh Light Infantry), Lieutenant Commander Shivam Kumar (Indian Navy), Squadron Leader Sudhir Kumar (Indian Air Force), Deputy Superintendent Dheeraj Singh Katoch, Inspector Ajay Singh Chib, Deputy Superintendent Sukhvir Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector Niyaz Ahmad, Deputy Commandant Anjani Kumar, and Constable Deepak Sah.
Why This Matters
Gallantry awards officially honour members of the armed forces and central armed police forces for acts of courage during peacetime. With the approval granted on the eve of the 80th Independence Day, the awards formally acknowledge the sacrifices of active and fallen personnel across services, from infantry regiments and special operations units to maritime, air, and police formations.
What to Watch Next
Official ceremonies and institutional recognitions following the presidential approval typically proceed as part of the formal conferment protocols for the honoured personnel and their families.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many gallantry awards were approved by the President?
President Droupadi Murmu approved a total of 78 gallantry awards on the eve of the 80th Independence Day.
How many awards were conferred posthumously?
A total of 13 gallantry awards were approved posthumously.
What are the primary peacetime awards included in the list?
The list includes nine Kirti Chakras, which is the second-highest peacetime gallantry award, and 19 Shaurya Chakras, which is the third-highest peacetime gallantry honour, alongside Sena Medals.
Source: Business Standard