Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday, 17 July 2026, paid tribute to Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, the only Indian Air Force recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, on the occasion of his birth anniversary. The Chief Minister took to X to honour Sekhon's supreme sacrifice and his enduring legacy as a symbol of courage and national devotion.

In her post, CM Gupta wrote — 'Param Vir Chakra se alankrit, adamya sahas aur rashtra ke prati sarvochch samarpan ke pratik' ['Adorned with the Param Vir Chakra, a symbol of indomitable courage and supreme dedication to the nation'] — offering her 'shat-shat naman' (a hundredfold salute) to the fallen hero. She added that his life would continue to inspire every citizen toward devotion to the motherland and national service.

Context

Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon remains the sole recipient of the Param Vir Chakra from the Indian Air Force. The award was conferred posthumously for his extraordinary gallantry during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, when he single-handedly defended the Srinagar airfield against a Pakistani air assault, sacrificing his life in the process. His birth anniversary is observed each year as an occasion for national remembrance of his bravery.

Policy Backdrop

The Param Vir Chakra was instituted on 26 January 1950 as India's highest gallantry award for acts of valour in the presence of the enemy. It is conferred rarely and carries the weight of the nation's deepest military honour. Sekhon's recognition under this award places him among a small and distinguished group of recipients across the Indian armed forces.

Indian political leaders across parties have maintained a long-standing practice of issuing public tributes on social media to Param Vir Chakra recipients on their birth and martyrdom anniversaries. These gestures reinforce a national culture of commemorating military sacrifice, particularly from the 1971 war, which is regarded as one of India's most decisive military victories.

Stakeholders and Impact

The tribute resonates most directly with veterans, serving armed forces personnel, and their families, for whom public acknowledgement by elected leaders carries symbolic weight. For the broader public, such commemorations serve as reminders of individual acts of service that shaped India's national security history.

The Indian Air Force, as the service branch in which Sekhon served, holds his memory as a central part of its institutional identity. His is the only Param Vir Chakra ever awarded to an IAF officer, making every anniversary tribute a moment of particular significance for the service.

What's Next

National commemorations of the 1971 war are typically observed in December, marking the anniversary of India's victory. Flying Officer Sekhon's name and legacy are expected to feature in those observances, as well as in Republic Day and Independence Day events that honour gallantry awardees. CM Gupta's tribute on his birth anniversary adds to a growing pattern of year-round recognition of military heroes, reflecting a broader political and civic emphasis on honouring armed forces sacrifice at every opportunity.