President confers 7 Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras and 29 Shaurya Chakras at Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-I)
On 8 June 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu conferred 7 Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras and 29 Shaurya Chakras on personnel of the Defence Forces, CAPFs and State/UT Police.
Summary
President Droupadi Murmu conferred gallantry awards at Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on 8 June 2026. Awards presented were 7 Kirti Chakras (2 posthumous), 15 Vir Chakras (3 posthumous) and 29 Shaurya Chakras (1 posthumous) to personnel of the Defence Forces, Central Armed Police Forces and State/UT Police. Kirti Chakra awardees included Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair of the Indian Air Force, while Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar and Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari received it posthumously. Lieutenant Commanders Dilna K and Roopa A of the Navy were among the Shaurya Chakra awardees. The Vice President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister were present. Kirti Chakra was earlier called Ashoka Chakra Class-II and was renamed in January 1967.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 8 June 2026, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi
- Kirti Chakra
- 7 (2 posthumous)
- Vir Chakra
- 15 (3 posthumous)
- Shaurya Chakra
- 29 (1 posthumous)
- Order of precedence
- Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, Shaurya Chakra
- Static
- Kirti Chakra = Ashoka Chakra Class-II until January 1967
Practice MCQs 4 questions
How many Kirti Chakras were conferred at the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-I) on 8 June 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 7
The President conferred 7 Kirti Chakras (2 posthumous), 15 Vir Chakras and 29 Shaurya Chakras.
Before January 1967, the Kirti Chakra was known as:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Ashoka Chakra Class-II
Ashoka Chakra Class-I, II and III were instituted on 4 January 1952 and renamed Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra in January 1967 (Gallantry Awards portal, MoD).
Consider the following statements about the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-I): 1. It was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on 8 June 2026. 2. 29 Shaurya Chakras, including one posthumous, were conferred. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Both 1 and 2
Both are stated in the Defence Ministry release of 8 June 2026.
In the order of precedence of gallantry awards, which of the following ranks above the Kirti Chakra?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Maha Vir Chakra
The order of precedence is Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra (Gallantry Awards portal, MoD).