Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra Awarded Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal for Leadership in Operation Sindoor
President Droupadi Murmu has awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM), the highest distinction for wartime service in India, to Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra and six senior commanders from the Indian Armed Forces for their leadership during Operation Sindoor.
Who is Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra?
Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra (Retd) held the position of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at the Western Air Command (WAC), the largest and most vital operational command of the Indian Air Force, based in New Delhi. His career began in December 1986 when he was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Air Force Test Pilots School, with over 3,000 flying hours on more than 18 aircraft types over nearly four decades. Prior to leading the WAC, he served as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. Mishra has previously been honored with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024 and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2013.
Mishra's extensive experience commanding various air force bases, combined with his background as a fighter test pilot, influenced his leadership of WAC throughout Operation Sindoor. His practical knowledge of diverse aircraft and operational units provided him with a comprehensive understanding of frontline squadron capabilities and the technical systems essential for air defense.
WAC's role in Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor commenced on 7 May 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April 2025, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. As the head of the Western Air Command, Air Marshal Mishra oversaw offensive air operations and air defense along the western sector, which was central to India's response.
The IAF executed targeted strikes on terrorist camps and 11 Pakistani air bases, including Nur Khan and Rahim Yar Khan, while the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) facilitated real-time coordination across units. WAC assets played a critical role in defending Indian cities and religious sites against drone and loitering munition attacks, utilizing Akash surface-to-air missiles and other air defense systems. The IAF was awarded four out of the seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals this cycle, highlighting the significance of air power in the operation's success.
After the operation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Air Force Station Adampur on 13 May 2025 to meet with Air Marshal Mishra and the air warriors involved in the operation.
In addition to Mishra, the IAF's other honorees included Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari (then Vice Chief of the Air Staff), Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor (then AOC-in-C, South Western Air Command), and Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti (Director General of Air Operations during the conflict). The Army's Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai and Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, along with the Navy's retired Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh—the first naval officer to receive the SYSM—completed the list of seven awardees.
Why the SYSM matters
Established in 1980 as the wartime counterpart to the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), the SYSM honors "distinguished service of the most exceptional order during war, conflict, or hostilities." It is one of India's most exclusive military accolades. Prior to this round, it had only been awarded three times—to Lieutenant General Amarjit Singh Kalkat for Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, and to Air Marshal Vinod Patney and Lieutenant General Hari Mohan Khanna for the Kargil War. The Operation Sindoor awards mark the first occasion the SYSM has been bestowed since Kargil.
The awards were declared on 14 August 2025, ahead of Independence Day, and formally presented to the recipients at a Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 29 June 2026.
