President Droupadi Murmu approved gallantry awards for 70 personnel of the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces on the eve of the 77th Republic Day. These included one Ashok Chakra, which was conferred on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who created history by becoming the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS).
In June last year, Shukla became the second Indian to travel into space and the first to reach the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 mission.
His 18-day space journey came 41 years after cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma flew aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
An experienced fighter pilot, Shukla has logged more than 2,000 flight hours on a wide variety of aircraft including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier and An-32.
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On the eve of Republic Day, President Murmu approved bravery awards for 70 employees. These included three Kirti Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras, including one posthumous award, one Bar to the Sena Medal (Gallantry) and 44 Sena Medals (Gallantry).
The Kirti Chakra, India’s second highest decoration for peacetime gallantry, was awarded to Major Arshdeep Singh, Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba and Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair.
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The President also approved the awarding of 301 military decorations to the armed forces and other personnel. These were 30 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 56 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, nine Yudh Seva Medals, two bars to the Sena Medal (distinguished), 43 Sena Medals (distinguished), eight Nao Sena Medals (distinguished), eight Nao Sena Medals (Distinguished) and 135 Vishisht Seva Medal.
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Here is the full list of Gallantry awards
ASHOKA CHAKRA
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
KIRTI CHAKRA
Major Arshdeep Singh
Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba
Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair
SHAURYA CHAKRA
Lt Col Ghatage Aditya Shrikumar
Major Leishangthem Deepak Singh
Captain Yogender Singh Thakur
Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand (posthumous)
Mangle Archer Sang Vaiphei
Dhurba shooter Jyoti Dutta
Lieutenant Dilna K
First Lieutenant Roopa A
Deputy Commander Vipin Wilson
BAR TO SENA MEDAL (GALANTRY)
Lance Havildar Satya Pal Singh
SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)
Colonel Amit Dadhwal
Lt. Col. Mudigere Rajagopal Suhas
Lt Col Pradeep Shoury Arya
Major Vishwa Prakash Dubey
Captain Ajinkya Pandit Kanase
Captain Prabhat Kumar Singh
Subedar Dharamveer (posthumous)
Subedar Kuldeep Chand (posthumous)
Naib Subedar Mohammad Iqbal Teeli
Naib Subedar Sariful Mandal
Naib Risaldar Rana Pratap Singh
Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh (posthumous)
Havildar Anand Suman Rana
Havildar Puran Singh Kharayat
Havildar Old Dorjee
Lance Dafadar Bharavad Mehulbhai Mepabhai (posthumous)
Lance Naik Ashok Kumar Bhinchar
Sepoy Gyakar Sandip Pandurang (posthumous)
Shooter Waikhom Mohan Singh
Shooter Thanggoulun Singson
Paratrooper Deepchand Kargwal
NAO SEN MEDAL (GALLANTRY)
Commander Nardeep Singh
Lieutenant Commander Rishabh Purbia
Commander Rajeshwar Kumar Sharma
First Lieutenant Prashant Raj
VAYU SENA MEDAL (GALANTRY)
Wing Commander Shobhit Vyas
Junior Warrant Officer Kirpal Singh Salaria
