The prestigious citation acknowledges the unit’s outstanding performance in fulfilling its operational responsibilities and maintaining the highest standards of readiness in safeguarding the nation against evolving security challenges.

The honour reflects the courage, dedication and selfless service of the Black Cat Commandos, whose specialised skills and unwavering commitment continue to strengthen India’s counter-terrorism capabilities.

The award stands as a testament to the professionalism and operational excellence of the NSG, reaffirming its vital role as the country’s premier counter-terrorism force.

Kuldeep, who was serving with Air Squadron 330 at INS Shikra, sustained critical injuries on 6 July after a tree uprooted during a severe storm fell on him while he was travelling on his scooter to report for duty. Despite intensive medical treatment, he succumbed to his injuries on 9 July.

His mortal remains were brought to his hometown by a special Indian Navy contingent. Before the funeral, a Tiranga Yatra was organised from Surajgarh to Ghardu village, with local residents, schoolchildren, ex-servicemen and members of social organisations paying tribute to the fallen sailor.

The final rites were conducted with full military honours, including a Guard of Honour by the Indian Navy. His elder brother, Pradeep, who serves in the Indian Air Force, lit the funeral pyre in the presence of family members, public representatives and serving defence personnel.

Born on 10 July 1999, Kuldeep had joined the Indian Navy in 2018, making the day of his funeral coincide with both his birthday and the anniversary of his enlistment. He is survived by his mother, wife, an 18-month-old daughter and his elder brother.

The nation bid a solemn farewell to the young sailor, remembering his dedicated service and sacrifice in the line of duty.

During the visit, the General Officer was briefed on the formation’s operational capabilities and the integration of indigenous technologies designed to strengthen the Indian Army’s air defence network against evolving airborne threats.

Lt Gen D’Cunha commended the Air Defence warriors for their unwavering professionalism, high morale and combat excellence, appreciating their commitment to maintaining a high state of operational readiness.

Reaffirming the critical role of the Army Air Defence Corps in safeguarding the nation’s airspace, he emphasised the importance of innovation, indigenous capability development and continuous preparedness in building a robust, agile and future-ready air defence shield for India.

Commissioned into the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers), the General Officer brings with him more than three decades of distinguished military service across a wide range of command, instructional and staff appointments.

Following the assumption of command, Major General Malhotra interacted with officers and personnel of the Sub Area. He commended all ranks for their professionalism, dedication and commitment to duty.

Addressing the troops, the General Officer urged them to maintain the highest standards of operational preparedness and remain vigilant against emerging security challenges, while continuing to uphold the traditions and ethos of the Indian Army.

According to sources, the projects are currently undergoing internal consultations and planning before entering the formal defence acquisition process. Once approved, they will significantly strengthen the Navy’s surface fleet and enhance India’s maritime capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the wider Indo-Pacific.

The largest of the proposed programmes is Project 15C, under which the Navy plans to build four next-generation guided-missile destroyers at an estimated cost of ₹50,000 crore. The new warships are expected to incorporate advanced sensors, weapons, electronic warfare systems and enhanced air defence capabilities, building upon the technologies fielded in the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) and Visakhapatnam-class (Project 15B) destroyers.

The second programme, Project 17B, envisages the construction of six advanced stealth frigates valued at approximately ₹40,000 crore. The project is expected to be shared equally between Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), with each shipyard constructing three frigates.

The most ambitious proposal is Project 18A, which aims to develop six next-generation large surface combatants displacing 14,000–15,000 tonnes. These warships are expected to feature enhanced strike capability, advanced air and missile defence systems, sophisticated command and control architecture, and greater endurance for long-range deployments.

The proposed projects are aligned with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and are expected to further strengthen India’s indigenous shipbuilding ecosystem while ensuring the Indian Navy retains a qualitative edge amid evolving maritime security challenges.

The WDMMA evaluates military aviation capabilities using its proprietary True Value Rating (TVR) system, which assesses fleet size, aircraft composition, modernisation, logistical support, special mission capabilities and indigenous aerospace manufacturing. The ranking covers 129 air arms across 103 countries, tracking more than 48,000 military aircraft worldwide.

According to the report, the IAF operates a fleet of 1,716 aircraft, including 542 fighter aircraft, 498 helicopters, 282 transport aircraft, 374 trainer aircraft and 20 special mission platforms such as airborne early warning and aerial refuelling assets. The assessment also factors in India’s ongoing modernisation programmes and domestic aerospace capabilities.

Despite the high global ranking, the report highlights several capability gaps. The IAF currently operates 29 fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, creating a significant shortfall in combat aircraft. It also notes the need for additional airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, mid-air refuellers, electronic warfare platforms and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) systems.

To address these gaps, the IAF is undertaking a major modernisation drive, including the induction of 180 Tejas Mk-1A fighters, plans to acquire 114 additional Rafale aircraft, and the procurement of new AEW&C, tanker and ISTAR platforms. At the same time, legacy fleets such as the Jaguar, Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 are scheduled for phased retirement over the coming decade.

The latest ranking underscores the Indian Air Force’s growing operational capabilities while highlighting the importance of sustained modernisation to meet future security challenges and maintain air superiority in an evolving strategic environment.

Vedansh, who joined the NDA in 2024 to pursue a BTech in Applied Electronics and Communication with the dream of becoming an Indian Air Force pilot, suffered a severe cervical vertebra fracture during routine training in March last year. Although the injury did not require surgery, he was declared medically unfit for the physical demands of military training and was subsequently discharged from the Academy.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, AIT Pune admitted Vedansh directly into the second year of its BTech programme under the “over and above” seats provision, following approvals from the relevant Army authorities and in accordance with AICTE guidelines for genuine cases.

Now on the road to recovery after completing a year at AIT, Vedansh remains determined to wear the uniform once again. He plans to appear for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination after graduation in the hope of securing a direct entry into the Armed Forces.

Major General Uday Shankar Sengupta (Retd.), Director of AIT Pune, described the initiative as a first for the institute and said the institution takes pride in supporting deserving students beyond academics. Despite prolonged hospitalisation and rehabilitation, Vedansh successfully completed his academic requirements and has continued to excel in his studies.

The initiative reflects the Armed Forces’ commitment to supporting their own and ensuring that setbacks do not become barriers to a life of service.

During the visit, the Corps Commander assessed the operational readiness of formations and commended the troops for their grit, resilience and unwavering commitment while serving under demanding terrain and climatic conditions. He exhorted all ranks to maintain the highest standards of vigilance, professionalism and combat readiness.

Lt Gen Shukla also interacted with local residents, assuring them of the Indian Army’s continued support and reaffirming its enduring partnership with border communities. He highlighted the importance of strengthening mutual trust, resilience and cooperation in safeguarding the nation’s frontiers.

The visit underscored the Indian Army’s commitment to maintaining a high state of operational preparedness while fostering strong civil-military ties in strategically important border regions.

The ceremony formed an important part of the graduation and commissioning celebrations at the prestigious military medical institution, recognising cadets who distinguished themselves through exceptional performance during their undergraduate medical training.

The awards acknowledged excellence across a wide range of fields, including academics, clinical training, sports, leadership and overall performance. The achievements of the award recipients reflected the demanding standards of professional competence, discipline and military bearing expected from future officers of the Armed Forces Medical Services.

Flying Officer Ananya Phadke Wins President’s Gold Medal

Flying Officer Ananya Phadke emerged as the most prominent awardee of the ceremony, receiving the President’s Gold Medal for being adjudged the Best All-Round Outgoing Medical Graduate.

The President’s Gold Medal is regarded as one of the highest distinctions presented to an outgoing medical graduate at AFMC. It recognises sustained excellence not merely in academics but also in leadership, extracurricular activities, sports, discipline and overall officer-like qualities displayed throughout the course of training.

Flying Officer Phadke was also awarded the prestigious Kalinga Trophy for her exemplary overall performance during undergraduate training.

By securing both major honours, she demonstrated the comprehensive excellence that lies at the heart of AFMC’s training philosophy—combining medical knowledge and clinical competence with physical fitness, leadership ability, discipline and commitment to military service.

Her accomplishments marked the culmination of years of rigorous academic preparation, clinical exposure, physical training and character development at one of India’s foremost medical institutions.

Celebrating Excellence Beyond the Classroom

The Academic Awards Ceremony honoured graduating cadets and newly commissioned medical officers who had excelled in various spheres of institutional life.

While academic proficiency remains a central component of medical training, AFMC also places considerable emphasis on sports, physical endurance, teamwork, communication skills and leadership. These qualities are especially important for military doctors, who may be required to serve in field hospitals, operational areas, high-altitude regions, ships, air bases and humanitarian-assistance missions.

The awards therefore recognised individuals who displayed the ability to maintain high academic standards while simultaneously contributing to sports, institutional activities and the broader military environment.

The ceremony highlighted the perseverance of the cadets, who had successfully completed an intensive programme comprising classroom instruction, laboratory work, clinical postings, examinations, physical conditioning and military orientation.

Preparing Doctors for the Armed Forces

AFMC is a premier medical institution responsible for training medical professionals for service in the Indian Armed Forces. Its undergraduate medical programme includes four-and-a-half years of academic and clinical education followed by a compulsory rotating internship. Medical cadets commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services undertake their internship training at selected service hospitals recognised by the National Medical Commission.

Unlike conventional medical education, training at AFMC prepares students for the dual responsibility of becoming both doctors and commissioned military officers.

Cadets are trained to provide high-quality medical care while operating within the disciplined and demanding environment of the Armed Forces. Their future responsibilities may include caring for soldiers, sailors and air warriors in peace stations as well as providing emergency medical support during operations, disasters and challenging field deployments.

The Academic Awards Ceremony reflected this multidimensional approach by recognising candidates who demonstrated balanced development across intellectual, physical and professional domains.

Recognition of Merit and Perseverance

The accomplishments of the awardees represented years of sustained effort and dedication. Medical education itself demands extensive study, practical training and clinical responsibility. At AFMC, these requirements are accompanied by military discipline, physical training and institutional responsibilities.

The award-winning cadets demonstrated the ability to meet these challenges while consistently performing at an exceptional level.

Their success also highlighted the contribution of faculty members, instructors, clinical mentors, training staff and families who supported the cadets throughout their undergraduate journey.

By honouring excellence publicly, the ceremony encouraged future batches to pursue the highest standards of professional and personal conduct.

Upholding AFMC’s Distinguished Legacy

AFMC has long been recognised as a centre of excellence in medical education and research. The institution trains undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, nursing cadets and other healthcare professionals for service within the defence establishment.

Over the decades, its graduates have served across military hospitals, operational formations, naval establishments, air bases, peacekeeping missions and remote areas of the country.

The institution’s approach emphasises that a military doctor must possess not only medical expertise but also courage, adaptability, physical resilience and an unwavering commitment to service.

The 2026 Academic Awards Ceremony reinforced this legacy by celebrating individuals who embodied these values during their formative years at the college.

A New Chapter of Military Medical Service

For the graduating cadets and newly commissioned officers, the ceremony represented both recognition of past accomplishments and the beginning of a new phase of responsibility.

As they move from the structured training environment of AFMC to service hospitals and operational appointments, they will be expected to apply their medical knowledge in diverse and often challenging circumstances.

The distinction achieved by Flying Officer Ananya Phadke and the other award recipients serves as an inspiring example for future medical cadets. Their performance reflected the values of merit, perseverance, discipline and excellence that have defined AFMC for generations.

The ceremony ultimately celebrated more than academic achievement. It honoured the development of compassionate doctors, capable leaders and dedicated military officers prepared to safeguard the health and well-being of India’s Armed Forces.

Through their achievements and future service, the graduating officers will carry forward AFMC’s enduring tradition of producing military medical professionals of the highest calibre.

Coming from a modest family in Manipur, Singh is the youngest of five siblings born to Shri R.K. Muktasana Singh and Smt. R.K. (O) Ibetombi Devi. He was an all-round achiever from a young age, excelling both academically and in sports. After Class 12, he had secured a government engineering seat to study Computer Technology, but chose instead to pursue a career in uniform. He gave up the engineering seat and joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, Pune, with his sights set on becoming a fighter pilot.

At the NDA, he stood out quickly, being appointed Battalion Cadet Adjutant, earning the Academy Blazer for swimming, receiving the Sports Insignia, and winning a silver medal as the best cadet in physical training. These accomplishments hinted at the discipline and leadership that would later define how he responded to adversity.

He went on to the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad for flying training, where he was named Senior Under Officer, finished third in flying during the basic stage, and was recognised as the “Most Accomplished Trainee.” Selected into the Fighter stream, he moved to the Fighter Training Wing at Hakimpet, Secunderabad, to train on the Kiran Mk.II aircraft, firmly on track to becoming a fighter pilot.

That trajectory changed on 22 August 2011, when a solo sortie turned into a critical in-flight emergency requiring him to eject from the aircraft. Though the parachute landing itself caused no major injury, the force of the ejection fractured his lumbar spine, leaving him with a spinal cord injury and permanent paraplegia. He was taken to the Military Hospital at Kirkee, Pune, where doctors concluded he would be wheelchair-bound for life and recommended his invalidation from service, just months before he was due to be commissioned.

For most, this would have marked the end of a military career. For Singh, it became the start of an equally remarkable one.

Refusing to accept discharge, he petitioned to continue serving in a non-flying role, pointing to his intact upper-body strength and intellectual abilities. His case reached the then Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, who was moved by the circumstances of the training accident and by the cadet’s record and determination. The Air Chief took the matter up directly with the Ministry of Defence, and in the third week of December 2012, the Defence Minister approved his retention in service.

On 22 June 2013, Rajkumar Herojit Singh was commissioned as a Flying Officer in the Accounts Branch of the Indian Air Force, part of the 132 GDOC Course, becoming the first wheelchair-bound individual ever commissioned as an officer in the Indian Armed Forces. The decision showed the IAF’s readiness to bend convention to retain talent, marking a progressive step toward inclusion well ahead of formal disability rights legislation.

Since his commissioning, Singh has built a steady career in the Accounts Branch, applying his analytical skills to ground duties with the same dedication he showed as a cadet. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 22 June 2015 and to Squadron Leader on 22 June 2019. Though no longer flying operationally, he continues to serve the nation in a vital support capacity, proving that disability does not have to limit meaningful service.

Even while building his IAF career, Singh refused to let his condition define his limits. He took part in wheelchair marathons, wheelchair table tennis, and wheelchair badminton, and even completed an Advanced Open Water Diving course. In 2017, he turned to para-swimming, a sport in which he has since earned national and international recognition.

His achievements in the pool include representing India at the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, in October 2023, competing in the 100 m breaststroke (SB4 classification); competing at the World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira, Portugal, in 2022; and winning two gold medals and one silver at the 24th National Para Swimming Championship in Panaji, Goa, in October 2024, medalling in every event he entered. He holds multiple national medals and records across various para-swimming meets, and in 2024 he was honoured during Sanaroishingee Numit (Players’ Day) in Manipur for his contribution to sport. He consistently credits his victories to the Indian Air Force, his coaches, his family, and the people of Manipur.

Squadron Leader Singh’s story has become an inspiration well beyond his own achievements. For defence aspirants, especially those from the Northeast, it shows that the path to a uniform is open to anyone with enough determination. For persons with disabilities, he demonstrates that physical limitations do not have to stand in the way of excellence and service. For the Indian Air Force, his commissioning and continued service remain a landmark example of institutional compassion and forward-looking personnel policy.

His life reflects a simple truth: real heroism is not about avoiding adversity, but about refusing to be defined or defeated by it.

Today, as he continues to serve the Indian Air Force while competing as a national para-swimmer, Squadron Leader Rajkumar Herojit Singh remains an officer who has redefined what is possible. From the cockpit of a Kiran trainer to the podiums of para-swimming, from the aftermath of a spinal injury to the pride of a historic commissioning, his journey stands as one of quiet dignity, relentless perseverance, and deep patriotism. India is fortunate to count such individuals among its own — Squadron Leader Rajkumar Herojit Singh has not just served the nation, he has elevated the very meaning of service.