The central government has released a gazette notification listing gallantry award citations for defence personnel who demonstrated extraordinary courage and devotion to duty during various operations, including Operation Sindoor. The list, featuring primarily Indian Army and Indian Air Force personnel, highlights acts of exceptional bravery under fire and leadership in critical combat situations.
Among the awardees is Colonel Koshank Lamba, who has been conferred the Vir Chakra for displaying exemplary valour and presence of mind in the face of heavy enemy fire. According to the notification, Colonel Lamba’s actions reflected the highest traditions of the Indian Army’s martial ethos and proved decisive in achieving mission objectives.
Another Vir Chakra recipient, Lieutenant Colonel Sushil Bisht, was honoured for his outstanding leadership during a key phase of Operation Sindoor. As the Officer Commanding, he led his unit with tactical brilliance and determination, resulting in the complete destruction of multiple terrorist camps and the neutralisation of hostile elements. His operational success was achieved with minimal own casualties, the citation noted.
From the Indian Air Force, Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu has also been awarded the Vir Chakra for his exceptional command of strike missions against strategic enemy targets. Under his leadership, all assigned operational tasks were completed with precision and effectiveness.
Another IAF officer, Group Captain Animesh Patni, has been awarded the Vir Chakra for his exceptional leadership while commanding a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) squadron from a forward airbase. His decisive actions and accurate direction inflicted significant damage on enemy assets while ensuring zero losses to Indian forces.
As Deputy Mission Leader, Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik undertook one of the most dangerous assignments — an unescorted midnight strike against heavily fortified enemy targets protected by advanced air defence systems. Despite overwhelming odds, he fired his first weapon on target, prioritising mission objectives over personal safety.
During the attack, Malik came under multiple aerial and ground-based launches but stayed on course, ensuring the complete destruction of his assigned target. Demonstrating remarkable composure under fire, he went on to conduct a second strike in the same mission, destroying another high-value target while operating in a high-risk engagement zone.
His citation noted that he “led multiple missions amidst an escalated hostile flying environment and rendered several enemy assets inoperable,” underscoring his exceptional leadership and courage in combat.
Squadron Leader Siddhant Singh was similarly recognised for his bravery while leading a three-aircraft formation for a stand-off precision strike on a critical enemy structure. The mission demanded exact targeting using a weapon system with limited stand-off capability and required precise control until impact. Despite a hostile and heavily networked air and ground defence environment, Singh displayed exceptional courage, heightened situational awareness, and decisive leadership to ensure the successful delivery and guidance of the weapon to its target.
Earlier this year, President Droupadi Murmu had approved 127 Gallantry Awards and 40 Distinguished Service Awards for personnel of the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces, recognising their exemplary service and acts of bravery across multiple theatres of operation.
Operation Sindoor, carried out by joint forces of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, was a coordinated counter-terror operation aimed at dismantling well-fortified terrorist networks along strategic border sectors. The mission involved precision air strikes, coordinated ground assaults, and high-risk infiltration operations. The operation’s success not only neutralised key threats but also reinforced India’s deterrent capability in the region.
The gallantry citations published in the Gazette serve as formal recognition of the heroism displayed by these officers in combat. The awards underscore the Armed Forces’ enduring commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and honour, even in the face of grave danger.
The government’s notification reflects the continued tradition of acknowledging extraordinary courage and leadership in military service, with the Vir Chakra standing among India’s highest wartime gallantry honours, awarded for acts of conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy.
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