Javelin Star Neeraj Chopra, Northern Army Commander Receives PVSM
IN THE list of 29 servicemen who received the Param Vishisht Seva medal this year, 27 are three-star officers from the three services and one is a two-star army officer. One name that stands out in the list is that of a 24-year-old Subedar, who was not awarded for a military role but for the laurels he won for the country in athletics.
Subedar Neeraj Chopra, who became a household name after winning javelin gold at the 2020 Olympics, received the PVSM, which recognizes the most outstanding peacetime service of the order.
Humbled and honored to know that I have been named the recipient of Padma Shri award and Param Vishisht Seva Medal. I thank you all for your good wishes and blessings and I will continue to work hard to do my best for the nation. 🙏🏽🇮🇳
—Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) January 25, 2022
The government on Tuesday announced the list of gallantry awards approved by President Ram Nath Kovind. Among the officers who received the PVSM is Lt. Gen. YK Joshi, a hero of the Kargil War who has served as Commander of the Northern Army since February 2020, throughout the period of the clash of more than 21 month with China in eastern Ladakh. Joshi is expected to retire at the end of this month.
Others who have been awarded the PVSM are the Vice Chiefs of the Navy and Air Force, Vice Admiral SN Ghormade and Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, and the new Vice Chief of the army, Lieutenant General Manoj Pande, who will take charge on February 1, and should become the next army chief after General MM Naravane.
Air Marshal Manavendra Singh, who led the tri-agency investigation into the crash of the helicopter carrying Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat in December, also received the PVSM. The Air Force’s most senior helicopter pilot, Singh is the Commanding-in-Chief Air Officer of Training Command.
As the Army assumed its responsibilities during the pandemic, two senior officers – both now retired – from the Army Health Corps also received the PVSM. They are Lt Gen Madhuri Kanitkar, the only woman to receive the award this year, and Lt Gen Joy Chatterjee.
Lt. Gen. PGK Menon, who led the Indian delegation for more than a year in corps commander level talks with China to find a solution to the stalemate in Ladakh, was awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal ( UYSM), which is awarded for distinguished service in wartime. It was during discussions with him that China agreed to disengage from the strategic northern shore of Pangong Tso, the Kailash Heights in the Chushul sub-sector and Patrol Point 17A at Gogra Post.
The President also approved 53 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 13 Yudh Seva Medals, 3 Bar to Vishisht Seva Medals, 122 Vishisht Seva Medals, 3 Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 81 Sena Medals (Gallantry), 2 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry ), 40 Sena medals (devotion to duty), 8 Nao Sena medals (devotion to duty) and 14 Vayu Sena medals (devotion to duty).