On the eve of India’s 80th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumous honours, for personnel of the Defence Forces and Central Armed Police Forces.
Among them are three Kirti Chakra recipients, one Bar to Shaurya Chakra recipient and eleven Army personnel awarded the Shaurya Chakra. Their citations reflect some of the most demanding counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations carried out in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and along India’s borders.
Behind every medal is a moment when an individual had to make a decision under extreme danger. These are the stories behind the 15 Army personnel featured in the official Indian Army posts.
1. Lt Col Maneo Francis PF
21 PARA (Special Forces) | Kirti Chakra
Lt Col Maneo Francis PF was honoured with the Kirti Chakra for his leadership during a prolonged operation against a heavily armed insurgent group in Manipur.
After extensive intelligence gathering and surveillance, his assault team moved against the insurgents. When the militants opened heavy automatic fire, the situation quickly became dangerous.
Francis led from the front. During the engagement, an insurgent managed to pin down his assault group. Rather than remaining in a safe position, Francis crawled forward under fire, outflanked the insurgent and eliminated him at close range.
He was credited with eliminating two heavily armed insurgents while displaying exceptional leadership and tactical ability.
His defining moment: When his men were pinned down, he moved towards the fire.
2. Maj Jitendra Rathee
2 PARA (Special Forces) | Kirti Chakra
Major Jitendra Rathee's operation in Kishtwar had an unusual element: an Army dog named Tyson.
During the operation against terrorists hiding in a jungle hideout, Rathee's team established a cordon and moved closer to the suspected position.
Tyson was deployed to help locate the terrorists. The move triggered intense firing.
Rathee responded by providing covering fire to protect his men and the canine. He then manoeuvred to a tactically advantageous position and continued the assault.
The operation ultimately resulted in the neutralisation of three foreign terrorists.
Tyson's role was significant enough to be separately recognised in the official Mention-in-Despatches list for Operation Rakshak.
His defining moment: Under fire, he protected both his men and the Army canine before continuing the assault.
3. Havildar Gajendra Singh
2 PARA (Special Forces) | Kirti Chakra, Posthumous
Havildar Gajendra Singh's story is one of sacrifice for his comrades.
During an operation in the difficult terrain of Kishtwar, at an altitude of more than 3,000 metres, his team came into contact with terrorists.
Two scouts accompanying him were wounded.
Gajendra Singh moved forward and evacuated the first wounded comrade, providing first aid. He then went back for the second.
During the rescue, he himself suffered multiple bullet wounds.
Despite his injuries and heavy bleeding, he returned to the fight and engaged the terrorists, critically injuring a wanted foreign terrorist before eventually succumbing to his wounds.
He was awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously.
His defining moment: He went back for his comrades even after being wounded himself.
4. Maj Aditya Pratap Singh, SC, SM
Rajputana Rifles / 44 Assam Rifles | Bar to Shaurya Chakra
Major Aditya Pratap Singh received a Bar to the Shaurya Chakra, recognising another act of exceptional gallantry after his earlier award.
During an operation along the Indo-Myanmar border, his patrol came under intense automatic and grenade fire.
He helped move a scout to safety before continuing towards the insurgent position.
Despite sustaining injuries from splinters, he crawled forward under fire, closed the distance and launched an assault on the insurgent stronghold.
He ultimately eliminated a senior operational commander of a major insurgent group.
His defining moment: Wounded under fire, he continued advancing instead of withdrawing.
The official Government list identifies him as serving with The Rajputana Rifles, 44 Assam Rifles.
5. Maj Paramveer
Garhwal Rifles / 36 Rashtriya Rifles | Shaurya Chakra
Major Paramveer was honoured for his actions during an ambush along the Line of Control.
His team positioned itself extremely close to the intended engagement area, maintaining concealment until the terrorists entered the ambush.
The distance was reportedly only around 15–20 metres.
Once the terrorists entered the killing zone, the ambush was initiated.
One wounded terrorist attempted to escape.
Paramveer left his cover and personally pursued the fleeing terrorist, eliminating him. The subsequent search located the remaining terrorists concealed in the surrounding terrain.
The operation was completed without casualties among his troops.
His defining moment: He left the safety of his position to ensure an escaping terrorist did not get away.
6. Maj Tarun Vasudevan
Corps of Engineers / 57 Rashtriya Rifles | Shaurya Chakra
Major Tarun Vasudevan was recognised for his role in a counter-infiltration operation.
Two heavily armed terrorists were detected during the operation.
Rather than engaging prematurely, the troops allowed the terrorists to approach the selected ambush position.
Once they entered the effective area, the engagement began.
When the terrorists attempted to flee, Vasudevan continued the close-quarter engagement and personally eliminated one of them, while maintaining pressure on the second.
The operation ultimately neutralised both terrorists.
His defining moment: Patience and tactical discipline turned the terrain into a trap for the infiltrators.
The official award list identifies Vasudevan as belonging to the Corps of Engineers, 57 Rashtriya Rifles.
7. Maj Keshav Kumar
12 Dogra | Shaurya Chakra
Major Keshav Kumar was the Mission Commander in an operation launched after intelligence indicated that terrorists were hiding in a forested area.
To maintain surprise, his troops approached through difficult and less expected routes.
The following morning, Kumar personally took part in the search and cleared four caves while the operation progressively narrowed down the terrorists' location.
When the terrorists opened fire, he maintained control of the operation and coordinated the response.
One terrorist was eliminated, while another was prevented from escaping and was subsequently neutralised.
The operation also established the identity of a Category A++ terrorist reportedly responsible for multiple killings of security personnel and civilians.
His defining moment: He personally entered and cleared four potentially occupied caves during the search.
The Other Shaurya Chakra Heroes
8. Maj Gaurav Singh Brijwal
21 Grenadiers | Shaurya Chakra
Major Gaurav Singh Brijwal led an ambush operation near the Line of Control.
After a prolonged wait, terrorists were detected approaching the ambush position.
The team held its fire until the correct moment, allowing the terrorists to enter the intended engagement area.
When the firing began, Brijwal engaged the lead terrorist. As the situation developed, he shifted his position under fire to maintain the tactical advantage and protect his men.
The operation resulted in the neutralisation of terrorists and the disruption of the infiltration attempt.
His defining moment: Moving under enemy fire to keep control of the engagement and protect his men.
9. Maj Vipeen Kumar
Corps of Signals / 11 Rashtriya Rifles | Shaurya Chakra
Major Vipeen Kumar was recognised for his role in a counter-terrorist operation in difficult mountainous terrain.
His team conducted a carefully coordinated operation to close in on terrorists while maintaining the cordon.
When the terrorists attempted to break contact, Kumar led from the front and became involved in a close-quarter engagement.
His actions helped prevent the terrorists from escaping and contributed to the successful neutralisation of the threat.
His defining moment: Continuing the advance and maintaining pressure when the terrorists attempted to break the cordon.
The official award list identifies him as Corps of Signals, 11 Rashtriya Rifles.
10. Naib Subedar Shankar Ram
3 Assam Rifles | Shaurya Chakra
Naib Subedar Shankar Ram displayed remarkable determination during an intense engagement with insurgents in Manipur.
His position came under heavy fire and he was seriously wounded in the hand.
But instead of accepting evacuation, he continued directing and encouraging his troops.
He switched to his personal weapon and continued engaging the attackers.
During the battle, he also identified a bomb-laden hostile drone, alerting his troops to the danger.
His actions contributed to the disruption of the attack and the recovery of weapons and other warlike stores.
His defining moment: Even after being seriously wounded, he refused to leave the fight.
11. Naib Subedar Dabbal Singh Bisht
21 PARA (Special Forces) | Shaurya Chakra
Naib Subedar Dabbal Singh Bisht was part of the operation in Manipur involving Lt Col Maneo Francis.
When armed insurgents attempted to breach the cordon, Bisht engaged them.
One insurgent attempted to manoeuvre around the position.
Bisht crawled to cover under heavy fire, repositioned himself and engaged the insurgent, preventing the attempted breach.
His actions helped maintain the cordon and contributed to the neutralisation of insurgents.
His defining moment: Under fire, he moved into position to stop the enemy from breaking through.
12. Havildar Jagattar Singh
4 PARA (Special Forces) | Shaurya Chakra
Havildar Jagattar Singh volunteered for a covert operation in rugged forest terrain after intelligence indicated the presence of hardcore terrorists.
He and his buddy moved stealthily through the area, tracking and confirming the terrorists.
During the subsequent operation, he helped establish a position covering the likely escape route from a cave complex.
When the terrorists opened fire and threw grenades, Jagattar Singh remained in position.
When one terrorist attempted to break the cordon, he engaged him at close range, eliminating him despite continuing enemy fire.
His defining moment: Holding the escape route while the enemy was firing and throwing grenades from the cave.
13. Lance Naik Narender Sindhu
Rajputana Rifles / 9 Rashtriya Rifles | Shaurya Chakra, Posthumous
Lance Naik Narender Sindhu was honoured posthumously for his actions during a search operation in Kulgam.
When terrorists opened fire and attempted to escape, Sindhu initially exercised restraint because other soldiers were positioned within the cordon. He did not want to endanger his comrades with indiscriminate fire.
When he identified a terrorist at close range, he engaged.
The terrorist returned fire and seriously wounded Sindhu.
Even after being wounded, Sindhu repositioned himself and returned accurate fire, killing the terrorist.
He was later evacuated but succumbed to his injuries.
His defining moment: Even under fire, his first concern was avoiding danger to his own comrades.
14. Lance Naik Kapil Dev
Dogra Regiment / 11 Rashtriya Rifles | Shaurya Chakra
Lance Naik Kapil Dev was serving as a scout during a follow-up counter-terror operation in Kishtwar.
While moving through dense forest, he detected a terrorist concealed behind trees.
Kapil Dev and his buddy moved closer.
As they approached, he came under fire from two directions.
Despite the danger, he engaged the terrorist and eliminated him.
The operation resulted in the recovery of weapons, ammunition and other warlike stores.
His defining moment: He continued the engagement even while facing fire from two directions.
15. Sepoy Jaswinder Singh
7 Sikh Light Infantry | Shaurya Chakra
Sepoy Jaswinder Singh was part of an operation against a foreign terrorist hiding in a remote village in Kathua.
The operation was conducted in difficult conditions, including heavy rain.
His assault team moved through dense foliage and approached the target house while maintaining surprise.
Once the team confirmed that there were no civilians inside, they entered to search the house.
Inside, Jaswinder identified an armed terrorist in the kitchen.
He immediately closed the distance and engaged the terrorist with his personal weapon, preventing him from responding effectively.
The terrorist was neutralised and weapons, including an M-4 assault rifle, were recovered.
His defining moment: At close quarters, he acted before the armed terrorist could react.
Beyond the Medals
The 15 stories are different, but there is a common thread running through them.
One officer crawled towards an insurgent who had pinned down his men.
Another protected his troops and an Army dog during heavy firing.
A Special Forces soldier returned to the battlefield after being wounded to rescue his comrades.
A commander continued an assault despite sustaining injuries.
Another soldier left his cover to pursue a fleeing terrorist.
Some held their positions while grenades and automatic fire came from caves. Others entered houses, forests and mountainous terrain knowing that the threat could be only metres away.
And some did not return.
The Kirti Chakra, Bar to Shaurya Chakra and Shaurya Chakra are ultimately symbols of those moments when duty demanded more than courage — it demanded sacrifice.
On the eve of the 80th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumous honours. The awards included nine Kirti Chakras, one Bar to Shaurya Chakra and 19 Shaurya Chakras.
For these 15 Army personnel, the medals represent much more than recognition.
They represent the moments when they chose to move towards danger so that others could live.
Their names are on the honours list. Their stories belong to the nation. 🇮🇳
Note on sources and photographs
All factual information in this article has been compiled and cross-checked from official Government of India sources, principally the Ministry of Defence/Press Information Bureau's Independence Day 2026 gallantry-award announcements and the official award lists. The award categories, names, ranks and units have been checked against the official Government list.
The photographs used with this article are from the official Instagram handle of the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI), Indian Army, as shown in the supplied posts.
The article is intended as a tribute and factual account of the gallantry recognised by the Government of India. Where operational details are summarised, they are presented from the published award/citation information and not from independent claims.
