President Honors 13 Brave Jawans

President Honors 13 Brave Jawans

Why in News?

Recently, President Droupadi Murmu honored 13 brave officers, including 10 Army personnel with the Shaurya Chakra for exceptional courage in counter-terrorism and high-risk operations.

Complete List of 13 Shaurya Chakra Awardees 2026

• Lieutenant Colonel Ghatage Aditya Shrikumar (21 PARA (Special Forces), Indian Army: Lt Col Ghatage led a cross-border precision strike along the Indo–Myanmar border in July 2025.
  • His team targeted a heavily fortified camp of an anti-national insurgent group (ULFA-I). He personally carried out dangerous reconnaissance and used deception tactics to fool the enemy.
  • He personally led a precision kinetic strike that completely destroyed the terrorist base.
  • The mission successfully eliminated nine armed militants, including the group’s top leadership. 
• Major Bhargav Kalita (The Kumaon Regiment / 50th Battalion, Rashtriya Rifles): Major Kalita conducted multiple counter-terror operations in South Kashmir.
  • On 2 December 2024, he led a surgical ambush against a hardcore terrorist, blocked escape routes under fire, and ensured mission success. 
  • His operations neutralised terrorists and dismantled support networks. The neutralized militant was identified as an A++ category terrorist responsible for the deaths of seven innocent civilians.
• Major Anshul Baltoo (Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry / 32 Assam Rifles): On April 29, 2025, he led a combing and search operation in the Dima Hasao district of South Assam.
  • When heavily armed militants opened fire at close quarters and fled into the dense jungle, he relentlessly pursued them under immense hostile fire.
  • Displaying raw courage and raw tactical acumen, Major Baltoo single-handedly confronted and neutralized a militant. 
  • His relentless pursuit and close-quarter engagement ultimately led to total 3 militants eliminated and recovery of 3 AK-47 rifles along with war-like stores and ammunition.
• Major Shivkant Yadav  (5 PARA (Special Forces), Indian Army): In May 2025, he led his team through tough, jungle terrain in Shopian to track terrorists.
  • Despite coming under heavy fire, he swiftly redeployed his troops and initiated close-quarters combat.
  • Major Yadav personally neutralized a “Category A++” terrorist and, through superior tactical maneuvering, ensured the elimination of all threats in the area. 
• Major Vivek (Mechanised Infantry / 42nd Battalion, Rashtriya Rifles): He was honored for his tactical genius during a tense counter-terror operation.
  • He safely evacuated trapped civilians while simultaneously neutralizing an imminent threat. 
• Major Leishangthem Deepak Singh (11 PARA (Special Forces), Indian Army): He operated under extremely hazardous conditions in high-altitude terrain.
  • In a fierce, close-quarter gunfight, he eliminated one hardcore terrorist.
  • Displaying ultimate selflessness, he physically used his own body as a shield to protect a captive civilian from incoming fire.
  • His decisive, fearless action resulted in the elimination of two hardcore militants, the injury of another fleeing cadre, and the successful rescue of the hostage.
• Captain Yogender Singh Thakur (6 PARA (Special Forces), Indian Army): While leading a specialized surveillance team in Jammu and Kashmir, he spotted suspicious movement 300 meters away.
  • Acting on actionable intelligence, Captain Thakur led a surveillance squad to track and neutralize a heavily armed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist group in highly rugged terrain.
• Subedar P H Moses (1 Assam Rifles, Indian Army): Serving as the Second-in-Command of a special mission patrol, he came under unprovoked heavy fire from armed insurgents occupying a dominating height.
  • He demonstrated inspiring junior leadership during a complex special mission in the North-East. 
  • He successfully guided his troops through an active ambush zone safely. He neutralized two hostile cadres and disrupted the enemy’s coordination.
• Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand (Posthumous, 4th Battalion, Rashtriya Rifles): In September 2025, Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand was part of an operational team tracking terrorists in the Kishtwar/Udhampur-Doda border region in Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Disregarding his personal safety, he moved to intercept the threat, engaging a commander of the group in a physical struggle to prevent an attack on his team.
  • During the encounter, he managed to secure a weapon from the operative, successfully preventing immediate casualties within his assault party.
  • Despite coming under heavy fire and sustaining critical wounds, Lance Dafadar Chand remained dedicated to his duty. He continued to coordinate the position, maintain the tactical cordon, and guide his team.
• Rifleman Manglem Sang Vaiphei (3 Assam Rifles, Indian Army): On June 9, 2025, during a high-stakes counter-infiltration operation in Tengnoupal, Manipur, Rifleman Vaiphei and his unit came under heavy enemy fire.
  • He held his ground fearlessly under intense enemy fire and, with exceptional presence of mind, engaged three armed cadres in the very first volley.
  • His swift and decisive tactical actions neutralized two of the armed cadres and critically injured the third. 
  • His decisive response pinned down the fleeing threat and ensured the overarching success of the mission. 
• Rifleman Dhurba Jyoti Dutta (33 Assam Rifles, Indian Army): On September 19, 2025, during a flood relief operation in Manipur, his vehicle was ambushed by insurgents with automatic weapons.
  • Dutta was struck by multiple bullets in his chest, shoulder, thigh, and arm. 
  • Despite severe bleeding and deflated tyres, he refused to stop. Showing immense grit, he drove through the “killing zone” to safety. His selfless actions saved eight soldiers. 
• Lieutenant Commander Dilna K (Indian Navy): She was awarded for her unprecedented grit in completing the historic “Navika Sagar Parikrama II“.
  • She circumnavigated the globe over an 8-month period, navigating 25,600 nautical miles under treacherous maritime weather.
  • Facing violent storms, power failures and extreme isolation, she helped navigate through life-threatening conditions and became among the first Indians to reach Point Nemo by sailboat.
• Lieutenant Commander Roopa A (Indian Navy): Along with Lt Cdr Dilna, she conquered dangerous currents around Point Nemo aboard the INSV Tarini.
  • Lt Cdr Roopa A completed the same mission, overcoming the treacherous Drake Passage, near-capsize conditions, and complete loss of onboard power. 
  • Her calm leadership, seamanship and resilience ensured mission success despite repeated life-threatening challenges.