Major General SS Sharda Honored with Yudh Seva Medal for Leadership in Operation Sindoor's Information Warfare
Major General Sandeep S. Sharda, serving as the Additional Director General of Strategic Communication, has been awarded the esteemed Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) in recognition of his outstanding leadership during Operation Sindoor. This military campaign was notable for its precise strikes combined with innovative information warfare techniques.
The Yudh Seva Medal, India's third-highest decoration for distinguished service during wartime, is awarded for acts of high-order service in conflict situations. The honor bestowed upon Maj Gen Sharda highlights the growing significance of controlling narratives in contemporary warfare.
Maj Gen Sharda, who was commissioned into the Dogra Regiment, has had a distinguished career within the Indian Army. His accolades include the Vishisht Seva Medal on Republic Day 2020 and the Sena Medal (Distinguished) on Republic Day 2022. He has also served as the Dean of Faculty of Study and Leadership at the Army War College and commanded the Pathankot Sub-Area during the Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations, marking the victory in the 1971 war.
His extensive experience across field commands, training institutions, and strategic-level appointments made him the ideal candidate to lead the Army’s information warfare endeavors.
Operation Sindoor was initiated on May 7, 2025, as a swift response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the loss of 26 civilian lives. The operation involved coordinated precision strikes by tri-service forces targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, alongside a pioneering information warfare campaign.
Under the leadership of Maj Gen Sharda, the team effectively managed to release verified updates swiftly, counteract enemy propaganda in real-time, and orchestrate a multi-platform messaging strategy to enhance reach and credibility.
The operation’s distinctive logo, crafted by Lt Col Harsh Gupta and Havildar Surinder Singh, featured the first "o" as a vermilion bowl, symbolizing sacrifice and commitment. It was launched with the tagline “Justice is served. Jai Hind!” and became the emblematic visual of the campaign.
The Yudh Seva Medal, typically awarded for actions in wartime or conflict, underscores the critical role of information warfare in the digital age, where perception is as crucial as battlefield achievements.
Operation Sindoor was significant in its scale, with seven officers receiving the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal and nine Indian Air Force pilots being awarded the Vir Chakra. It successfully dismantled terror infrastructures of groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
In his role as ADG Strategic Communication, Maj Gen Sharda is responsible for overseeing and countering hostile online content. This role reflects the 2018 Land Warfare Doctrine's focus on developing comprehensive information warfare capabilities, aligning with India’s 2025 Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations, which emphasizes intelligence integration and threat-informed planning.
During a post-operation briefing, Maj Gen Sharda, along with other senior architects of Operation Sindoor, demonstrated confidence and composure, lightening the mood with military humor about starting with the left foot, a nod to drill tradition.
The honor received by Maj Gen SS Sharda is not just a personal achievement but also an acknowledgment of the strategic importance of military communication. His leadership during Operation Sindoor has set a new standard for integrated information warfare, influenced adversaries’ strategic planning, and reinforced the idea that in modern warfare, controlling the narrative is crucial to success.
