- Rashtrapati Bhavan resonates with pride as distinguished personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard receive the nation’s highest service decorations
- Seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals, 30 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 12 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 56 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals recognise extraordinary leadership, operational excellence and unwavering devotion to duty
- Gallantry in command, strategic vision, technological excellence and decades of distinguished service celebrated at the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-II)
- Awards reaffirm the Armed Forces’ commitment to safeguarding India’s sovereignty, strengthening national security and advancing operational preparedness across land, sea and air
- Decorations honour serving and retired officers, medical professionals and Coast Guard personnel whose exemplary service has fortified India’s defence capabilities
- The investiture ceremony reflects the nation’s enduring gratitude to its military fraternity whose professionalism, sacrifice and selfless service inspire generations of Indians
NE DEFENCE BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JUNE 29
In a stirring tribute to courage, leadership and unwavering service to the nation, President Droupadi Murmu on Monday conferred 105 Distinguished Service Decorations upon personnel of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard during the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-II) held at the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan.
LIVE: President Droupadi Murmu presents Distinguished Service Awards in Defence Investiture Ceremony-2026 (Phase-2) at Rashtrapati Bhavan https://t.co/xTTRKXCuEA
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 29, 2026
President Smt Droupadi Murmu conferred 56 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals upon distinguished Armed Forces personnel during the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-II) at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on June 29, 2026.
The awards recognise distinguished service of an exceptional… pic.twitter.com/yPgvrIkJti
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) June 29, 2026
The solemn ceremony celebrated military professionals whose exceptional leadership, operational brilliance, administrative excellence and lifelong dedication have significantly strengthened India’s national security architecture and combat preparedness.
The President presented seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals, 30 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 12 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 56 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals for distinguished service of an exceptional order.
The honours recognised commanders, operational planners, combat aviators, naval leaders, military engineers, medical specialists, Coast Guard officers and senior administrators whose outstanding contributions have enhanced the operational capability and strategic readiness of the Armed Forces.
Among the recipients of the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, India’s highest wartime distinguished service decoration, were Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh (Retired), Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari (Retired) and Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra (Retired).
The prestigious Param Vishisht Seva Medal was conferred upon 30 distinguished officers, including Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, Air Marshal Seethepalli Shrinivas, Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin and several senior commanders from the three Services.
The Uttam Yudh Seva Medal recognised 12 senior military leaders for distinguished operational service, while the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal honoured 56 officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard for exceptional devotion to duty across diverse operational, technical, medical and administrative domains.
The ceremony reflected India’s enduring tradition of recognising excellence in military leadership and reinforced the nation’s deep respect for the men and women who safeguard its sovereignty across every frontier.
From commanding strategic formations and leading complex operational missions to advancing defence technology, logistics, medical services and maritime security, the awardees embody the highest ideals of professionalism, integrity and selfless service.
Their achievements continue to inspire the next generation of soldiers, sailors, air warriors and Coast Guard personnel as India steadily strengthens its defence capabilities under the vision of a technologically advanced, combat-ready and self-reliant military.
