Republic Day 2026: Completed the journey around the earth by water route, for the first time 2 women officers will get Shaurya Chakra

On Sunday (January 25, 2026), on the eve of the 77th Republic Day, after the approval of President Draupadi Murmu, the Defense Ministry released the list of soldiers and officers to be honored with gallantry awards. It has also been announced to honor two daredevil women officers of the Indian Navy in this list. This is the first time that two women officers are being awarded the Shaurya Chakra.

According to the release issued by the Defense Ministry, the President congratulated two daredevil women officers of the Indian Navy, Lieutenant Commander Dilna K. And it has been announced to give Shaurya Chakra, the third highest peacetime gallantry award, to Lieutenant Commander Rupa Alagirisamy.

Both women officers of Navy have created history

Last year, these two brave women officers of the Indian Navy had created history by covering a distance of 25 thousand nautical miles in the sea in a boat alone. That means he had completed one round of the earth through water.

Shubhanshu Shukla will be honored with Ashok Chakra and Prashant Nair will be honored with Kirti Chakra.

President Draupadi Murmu on Sunday (January 25, 2026) approved the award of gallantry awards to a total of 70 brave soldiers including one Ashoka Chakra, three Kirti Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras (including one posthumously), two Sena Medals (gallantry), 44 Sena Medals (gallantry) (including five posthumously), six (06) Navy Medals (gallantry) and two (02) Vayu Sena Medals (gallantry). Given, including six posthumously. In this, it has been announced that the famous astronaut and Group Captain of the Indian Air Force, Shubhanshu Shukla, who brought glory to the country by going to space through the International Space Mission, will be given the Ashok Chakra, the country’s biggest bravery award in peace time.

At the same time, Group Captain Prashanth Nair, the second Air Force officer (astronaut) kept in reserve to go on a space mission along with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has also been announced to be given the country’s second highest gallantry award, Kirti Chakra.

Other brave soldiers who received Kirti Chakra

1. Major Arshdeep Singh (1 Assam Rifles) – On May 14, 2025, while leading a special patrol team on the India-Myanmar border, in a surprise attack, he carried out a bold attack on an enemy position located at a high altitude in the dense forest. Despite heavy firing, he neutralized many armed militants and kept his troop safe.
2. Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba (Para Special Forces) – On April 11, 2025, during an anti-terrorist operation in the forests of Kishtwar, he moved forward amidst heavy fire and killed one foreign terrorist at close range and neutralized another. His courage and patience were extraordinary.

Other brave soldiers who received Shaurya Chakra

1. Lieutenant Colonel Ghatge Aditya Srikumar (Para Special Forces) – Self-planned and led a well-planned operation on the India-Myanmar border between July 11 and 13, 2025, in which a strong militant camp was destroyed and 9 terrorists were killed.
2. Major Anshul Baltu (32 Assam Rifles) – On April 29, 2025, during an encounter in Dima Hasao district of Assam, he displayed personal courage and killed a terrorist, due to which a total of three terrorists were killed.
3. Major Shivkant Yadav (Para Special Forces) – Killed a dangerous terrorist in close combat while chasing terrorists in difficult conditions in Shopian on the night of 12–13 May, 2025.
4. Major Vivek (42 Rashtriya Rifles) – During a search operation in Pulwama on 15 May 2025, an ‘A+ category’ terrorist was killed while giving priority to the safety of civilians.
5. Major Laishangthem Deepak Singh (Para Special Forces) – In a high risk operation to rescue abducted civilians, he displayed courage, neutralizing terrorists at close range and safely rescuing an innocent civilian.
6. Captain Yogendra Singh Thakur (Para Special Forces) On July 21, 2025, a notorious Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist was killed in an ambush operation in Basantgarh area of ​​Udhampur.
7. Subedar P.H. Moses (1st Assam Rifles) – On 14 May 2025, crawling amidst heavy firing, took a better position and neutralized many terrorists.
8. Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand (42 Rashtriya Rifles) posthumously – Despite being seriously injured in a face-to-face battle with terrorists in Kishtwar on September 19, 2025, he fought till the end and made the supreme sacrifice.
9. Rifleman Manglem Sang Vaifei (3 Assam Rifles) – Saved his troop by killing three armed militants during an anti-infiltration operation in Manipur on June 9, 2025.
10. Rifleman Dhurba Jyoti Dutta (33 Assam Rifles) – Despite being injured in an attack on September 19, 2025 while returning from flood relief, saved the lives of eight colleagues by taking the vehicle out of danger.
11. A CRPF officer

President also announced other military awards

Apart from this, President Draupadi Murmu has also approved the award of 19 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 4 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 35 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals and 7 Yudh Seva Medals. Apart from this, Sena Medal (Distinguished) has been awarded 2 times, 43 Sena Medal (Distinguished) and 85 Vishisht Seva Medals have been awarded.

Also, 81 Mention-in-Dispatches have also been given for their outstanding contribution in various operations, rescue operations and casualty evacuation operations including Operation Sindoor, Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Hifazat, Operation Orchid, Operation Meghdoot.

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