Overview
- President Droupadi Murmu approved 127 gallantry and 40 distinguished service awards, including 4 Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras, and 290 Mentions-in-Despatches, according to the PIB notification.
- Six Vir Chakra recipients are cited for roles in Operation Sindoor: Col Koshank Lamba, Lt Col Sushil Bisht, Group Capt Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Group Capt Animesh Patni, Sqn Ldr Rizwan Malik, and Sqn Ldr Siddhant Singh.
- Col Koshank Lamba’s citation credits the first-ever short-notice air mobilisation of a specialised equipment battery to enable covert induction for the operation.
- Lt Col Sushil Bisht’s citation states he led his unit with exceptional courage to achieve the complete destruction of terrorist camps.
- IAF citations describe Group Capt Ranjeet Singh Sidhu leading successful strike missions, Group Capt Animesh Patni directing a SAM squadron to inflict heavy enemy losses without own damage, Sqn Ldr Rizwan Malik flying an unescorted midnight low-level strike, and Sqn Ldr Siddhant Singh executing a stand-off precision attack through dense air defences.