Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM)
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Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) with Bar
Samanya Seva Medal (SM)
Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) & Yudh Seva Medal (YSM)
Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM)
Special Service Medals
Indian Operation Vijay Star
Operation Parakram Medal
India High Altitude Service Medal
Videsh Seva Medal
India 50th Anniversary Independence Medal
Indian 30 Years Long Service Medal
Indian 20 Years Long Service Medal
Indian 9 Years Long Service Medal
UN UNAVEM medal
GENERAL’S JOTTINGS-TOI
We should aim for Sams and Sagats for top brass
Media reports indicated that government intends to adopt merit as the new criteria for selection of top leadership in armed forces. This assertion itself is baffling to say the lea...
Seeking clarity on Taliban 2.0 and Afghan-Pakistan situation
Great game is an addictive affliction, having engineered ignominious defeat of most external forces, except Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In Higher Command (2001-02), my dissertation was...
Recalibrating South Asian alliances
China recently launched China Poverty Alleviation and Cooperation Development Centre (CPAC-DC), as part of CCP centenary celebrations. It managed to incorporate diplomatic represen...
Indian role in Afghan peace process
Tokyo summer Olympics got off to somewhat hesitant start, under the looming shadow of obstinate pandemic. Media attention, however, is divided, focused on another round in the neve...
Theaterisation imbroglio requires resolution post-haste
It was indeed bold, on part of the government, to kick-start delayed reforms for integration of defense forces. Institution of combined defence services (CDS) and creation of depar...
Standoff in Ladakh: Defining reality check
One year after the Ladakh stand-off, it is axiomatic to take stock, analyse shortcomings and options to chart the way forward. Unfortunately, major focus is skewed in favour of Gal...
Saluting spirit of empowered citizen warriors in Covid times
As India limps back to a semblance of normalcy, some heartwarming stories shine through the pall of gloom and despair. Three examples of administrators readily come to mind: Iqbal...
Re-imagining nat’l security in post-pandemic times
May is turning out to be a very ominous month indeed due to the recurring crisis, a “triple whammy” of sorts. In May 1999, we were jolted by Pakistan’s intrusions in Kargil. Last y...
Territorial Army model, youth as enablers in tough times of pandemic
The country is battling a health emergency triggered by the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. Two years ago, during a talk on national security challenges, where the likelihood of...
Dealing with gladiator syndrome in Khaki
The current month has been disastrous for the reputation of police forces, with the ongoing sordid drama of Mumbai police, followed by Bijapur ambush. It is more painful as I had t...
‘Weed out corruption in officer induction, introduce reforms’
The Selection Centre, North, in Kapurthala has gained notoriety even before its move to permanent location in Ropar. There are strident demands to wind it up, using the analogy of...
We need strategic awareness instead of quixotic jingoism
Gathering war clouds seem to have cleared out on both LoC and LAC, bringing to mind the famous analogy used by former PM Vajpayee during Operation Prakram. Most soldiers who have t...
Quest for ‘atmanirbhar’ modernisation of forces
India is grappling with an aggressive Dragon in the north, with uneasy stalemate on LAC beginning to acquire LoC type character. Hence, expectations from defence budget are indeed...
‘Chinese checkers’: Preparing for the summer onslaught
There has been a flurry of visits to the LAC by members of the top military hierarchy, including Ladakh and Arunachal. Such forays amidst the ongoing border crisis, besides raising...
Coping with Chinese techno-psy war
As we crystal gaze security challenges likely in 2021, it is appropriate to recall the major trends of last year. Despite the Covid pandemic, China blatantly altered the tenuous st...
Vijay Diwas: It’s time to look East
It is time for nostalgia and revisiting the tales of sacrifice and valour as we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the 1971 victory. December 16, celebrated as Vijay Diwas, heralded t...
Defence upgrade and pensions not zero sum game
In a recent media interaction, proposed reforms in terms of service and graded pensions were outlined. Surprisingly, some documents outlining these proposals were even leaked on so...
Governing and securing critical strategic corridors
The title of Robert D Kaplan’s famous book, ‘The Revenge of Geography’ readily comes to mind when we take stock of our critical strategic spaces. The challenges have been magnified...
Restore fauji ecosystem
The top Army leadership is holding its bi-annual conference, concurrently, veterans WhatsApp groups are witnessing unprecedented spewing of venom. There is wide spread apprehension...
Perform to survive: Why defence production should be corporatised
While defence forces are combating People’s Liberation Army (PLA), in most challenging terrain and hostile weather, its oldest component Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) had decided to...
