Chief of the Naval Staff, Dinesh K Tripathi, on Wednesday, April 1, conferred prestigious gallantry and distinguished service awards to Indian Naval personnel at the Naval Investiture Ceremony 2026 held in Mumbai.
As per the official statement, the awards were presented on behalf of the President of India to honour exceptional bravery, leadership, professional excellence, and distinguished service by naval personnel and units.
During the ceremony, individual honours included two Yudh Seva Medals, twelve Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), eight Nao Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), and eighteen Vishisht Seva Medals, recognising outstanding contributions across various operational and service domains.
Award ceremony
In a poignant moment, the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak was awarded posthumously to the spouse of the late Deepak Kumar, Petty Officer Marine Engineering, for acts of exceptional courage.
The Chief of Naval Staff also presented the Capt Ravi Dhir Memorial Gold Medal for promoting flight safety and the Lt VK Jain Memorial Medal for excellence in applied research.
Unit Citations were awarded to several operational afloat units and shore establishments for exemplary service over the past year. Additionally, the CNS Rolling Trophy for Best Green Practices was conferred in both industrial and non-industrial categories, highlighting the Navy’s focus on sustainability.
Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, senior officers, sailors, and families of the awardees were present at the felicitation ceremony, marking a proud and solemn occasion celebrating the dedication and valour of the Indian Navy.
