Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, an IAF pilot and a Gaganyatri, can be among the many recipients of the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award.
IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu confers the Vir Chakra to Naib Subedar Satish Kumar, 4th Battalion The Dogra Regiment, in the course of the Defence Investiture Ceremony–2026 (Part I) for Gallantry Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, June 8, 2026. {Photograph}: @rashtrapatibhvn X/ANI Picture
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday conferred seven Kirti Chakras, together with two posthumously, to personnel of the armed forces displaying uncooked braveness, unparalleled bravery and complete disregard for private security within the line of responsibility.
Key Factors
- The President offered the gallantry award to them for his or her exemplary endurance, bravery and devotion to responsibility in Navika Sagar Parikrama II.
- Lt Commander Dilna Ok and Lt Commander Roopa A of the Navy are among the many Shaurya Chakras recipients.
- Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar of the Mahar Regiment of Rashtriya Rifles and Lt Shashank Tiwari of the Sikkim Scouts have been conferred the Kirti Chakra posthumously.
Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, an IAF pilot and a Gaganyatri, can be among the many recipients of the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award.
Murmu conferred seven Kirti Chakras, together with two posthumously; 15 Vir Chakras, together with three posthumously; and 29 Shaurya Chakras, together with one posthumously, to the personnel of the defence forces, Central Armed Police Forces and state or Union Territory police forces throughout phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony hosted on the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the defence ministry mentioned. Lt Commander Dilna Ok and Lt Commander Roopa A of the Navy are among the many Shaurya Chakras recipients.
The President offered the gallantry award to them for his or her exemplary endurance, bravery and devotion to responsibility in Navika Sagar Parikrama II. Lt Commander Roopa A, together with Lt Commander Dilna Ok, sailed over 25,600 nautical miles via the Indian, Pacific, Atlantic and Southern Oceans.
“Whereas navigating via the perilous Drake Passage in stormy circumstances that precipitated the boat to heel severely, regaining management required distinctive ability and extraordinary braveness. Throughout the expedition, additionally they grew to become the primary Indians to succeed in Level Nemo, the oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, by sailboat,” reads the quotation in a publish on X by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Lance Naik Meenatchi Sundarama of Rashtriya Rifles, Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba of Para (Particular Forces), Main Arshdeep Singh of Assam Rifles and Captain Lalrinawma Sailo of Para (Particular Forces) have additionally been conferred the Kirti Chakra, in line with the listing of awardees shared by the federal government.
Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar of the Mahar Regiment of Rashtriya Rifles and Lt Shashank Tiwari of the Sikkim Scouts have been conferred the Kirti Chakra posthumously.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan, in a sequence of posts on X, additionally shared some images of the ceremony together with citations.
“President Droupadi Murmu presents the Shaurya Chakra to Main Anshul Baltoo, The Jammu and Kashmir Gentle Infantry, 32 Assam Rifles, for displaying bravery within the line of responsibility. In April 2025, throughout a combing and search operation in Dima Hasao, South Assam, he confronted an armed cadre at shut quarters and single-handedly neutralised him. The operation resulted within the elimination of three armed cadres and the restoration of weapons and war-like shops,” it mentioned.
One other publish mentioned the President presents the Shaurya Chakra to Main Leishangthem Deepak Singh, 11 Para (Particular Forces), for his distinctive bravery.
“Appearing on intelligence relating to the kidnapping of two harmless civilians, he neutralised a terrorist at very shut vary and shielded a kidnapped civilian along with his personal physique. This resulted within the neutralisation of two hardcore cadres and the rescue of an harmless civilian,” it mentioned.
“President Droupadi Murmu presents Shaurya Chakra to Lieutenant Colonel Neetesh Bharti Shukla, nineteenth Battalion, The Sikh Regiment, for planning and executing a medical operation with out personal casualty. On receipt of particular enter relating to infiltration by a gaggle of terrorists, Lieutenant Colonel Shukla laid an ambush alongside the Line of Management in July 2024. The operation eradicated three closely armed overseas terrorists,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan posted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi additionally attended the ceremony.
In a publish on X, he mentioned, “We’re happy with their extraordinary braveness, dedication and selfless service to the nation.”
