Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command felicitated 100 gallantry and distinguished service awardees on 10 January 2026 at a glittering Investiture Ceremony held at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt.
The awards presented included six Yudh Seva Medals, 30 Sena Medals (Gallantry) including four Sena Medals (Gallantry) Posthumous, 17 Sena Medals (Distinguished) including one Bar to Sena Medal (Distinguished) and 44 Vishisht Seva Medals, recognising acts of exceptional bravery, leadership and distinguished service to the nation.
Addressing the gathering, the Army Commander congratulated the award winners and expressed his solemn homage to those who laid down their lives and made the supreme sacrifice. He also exhorted all ranks to continue striving for professional excellence, Innovation and operational readiness, while remaining steadfast in their commitment to safeguarding India’s security and sovereignty.
Following the investiture, the Army Commander and Mrs Shuchi Katiyar, Regional President, Army Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA) interacted warmly with the awardees, Veer Naris and family members, acknowledging their invaluable contribution and sacrifices in the service of the nation.
The ceremony also featured an impressive display of in-house developed drones, showcasing the technological innovation and self-reliance achieved by troops of Western Command in line with the Indian Army’s modernisation efforts.
Headquartered at Chandimandir, Haryana, near Chandigarh, Western Command is one of the largest operational commands of the Indian Army, entrusted with guarding India’s Western Frontiers along Pakistan, covering J&K and Punjab. The Command has played a pivotal role in major India-Pakistan wars and conflicts including Op SINDOOR, a strong attestation of the capabilities of the command.
The Investiture Ceremony was a compelling and powerful testament to the Indian Army’s ethos of honouring valour, fostering innovation and maintaining unwavering readiness to meet present and future challenges.
