President Droupadi Murmu conferred 6 Kirti Chakras and 33 Shaurya Chakras for exceptional bravery by the Armed Forces, CAPFs, and Police during Defence Investiture Ceremony 2025. Explore the courageous stories that earned India’s heroes their highest gallantry awards.
New Delhi, May 22, 2025: In a deeply moving and proud moment for the nation, President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday conferred 6 Kirti Chakras (including 4 posthumously) and 33 Shaurya Chakras (including 7 posthumously) upon gallant soldiers, officers, and police personnel for acts of extraordinary bravery. The awards were presented during Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2025, held at the prestigious Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.
The ceremony recognized individuals from the Indian Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and State/Union Territory Police Forces, whose courageous actions stood out for their heroism, selflessness, and steadfast duty to the nation.
“These gallantry awards symbolize the raw courage, unmatched valour, and complete disregard for personal safety shown by our brave hearts in the line of duty,” said the Ministry of Defence in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
President Smt Droupadi Murmu conferred 6 Kirti Chakras (4 posthumous) & 33 Shaurya Chakras (7 posthumous) at the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2025 for extraordinary bravery by #ArmedForces, #CAPFs & State/ Union Territory Police. Honoured acts include anti-terror ops in J&K & NE,… pic.twitter.com/Q9S2oBd5rA
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 22, 2025
Acts of Bravery Across Diverse Battlefronts
The award citations span multiple high-risk operations including:
- Counter-terrorism missions in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)
- Counter-insurgency operations in the North-East
- Anti-piracy missions in international waters by the Indian Navy
- Life-saving aircraft rescues by the Indian Air Force (IAF)
- Anti-Maoist operations led by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
In Jammu and Kashmir, dreaded terrorists were neutralized and apprehended, with large caches of arms and ammunition recovered in the process. Many operations involved high-risk encounters in dense urban and forested zones, where personnel risked their lives to protect civilians and maintain peace.
Indian Navy’s Bold Anti-Piracy and Firefighting Missions
Officers from the Indian Navy were honoured for their bold anti-piracy operations that led to the safe rescue of hostages and surrender of pirates on the high seas. In another display of unmatched courage, Navy personnel successfully controlled fire on a burning oil tanker, saving not just the vessel but preventing a potential maritime disaster.
Indian Air Force: Flying Through Danger
Air warriors from the Indian Air Force were recognised for their ability to remain calm under pressure. These brave men safely maneuvered disabled aircraft away from civilian areas, risking their own lives to prevent catastrophic casualties and property damage.
CRPF’s Grit in Maoist-affected Zones
The CRPF personnel exhibited immense grit in operations conducted in Left-Wing Extremism-affected regions. Their successful missions led to the capture of Maoist insurgents and recovery of deadly weapons, reaffirming their unwavering dedication to maintaining law and order in some of India’s most hostile territories.
A Nation Salutes Its Heroes
The Defence Investiture Ceremony 2025 serves as a poignant reminder of the bravery and self-sacrifice of India’s uniformed forces. As the President pinned medals of honour on uniforms and presented awards to the families of martyrs, the ceremony resonated with emotion, pride, and a deep sense of national gratitude.
Each awardee, whether living or remembered in sacrifice, has carried the torch of duty beyond the call — defending the nation’s integrity at unimaginable personal risk.