Rijiju Salutes Vir Chakra Awardees Honoured by President Murmu
Synopsis
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju saluted recipients of the Vir Chakra — India's third-highest wartime gallantry award — after President Droupadi Murmu conferred the honours. He offered special tribute to the soldier recognised posthumously, calling the sacrifice one Bharat will never forget.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju publicly congratulated Vir Chakra awardees on June 8, 2026 , following a presidential investiture ceremony.
The honours were conferred by President Droupadi Murmu , the Supreme Commander of India's Armed Forces.
Rijiju offered a separate tribute to a soldier awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously, calling his sacrifice unforgettable.
The Vir Chakra has been India's third-highest wartime gallantry award since its institution on 26 January 1950 .
Full citation details and the names of all awardees are expected to be released through official government channels.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday, June 8, 2026, paid tribute to the recipients of the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award, after President Droupadi Murmu conferred the honours. Rijiju extended special condolences for a brave soldier recognised posthumously, calling the sacrifice one that 'Bharat will never forget.'
Context
Rijiju wrote on X that 'every Vir Chakra carries a story of courage, sacrifice and love for the nation,' congratulating the awardees honoured by President Smt. Droupadi Murmu. He added that 'their exceptional bravery inspires us all,' and reserved a separate, heartfelt line for the soldier honoured posthumously, stating his sacrifice for Bharat would never be forgotten.
The post, addressed to @rashtrapatibhvn — the official handle of the Rashtrapati Bhavan — signals the minister's acknowledgement of a formal presidential investiture ceremony. A video was attached to the post, though specific ceremony footage details were not disclosed publicly alongside the tweet.
Policy Backdrop
The Vir Chakra was instituted on 26 January 1950 as part of a three-tier Chakra gallantry series, alongside the Param Vir Chakra and the Maha Vir Chakra. It is awarded exclusively for acts of conspicuous bravery displayed in the face of the enemy during active operations. The award is conferred by the President of India, who serves as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
President Droupadi Murmu, who assumed office in July 2022 as the first tribal woman to hold the position, has presided over multiple gallantry award investitures. Such ceremonies are a constitutional and ceremonial responsibility of the President, reinforcing the state's formal recognition of military valour.
Stakeholders and Impact
The awardees and their families are the primary stakeholders in any gallantry investiture. For families of soldiers honoured posthumously, the presidential ceremony represents the nation's highest formal acknowledgement of their loved one's sacrifice. Senior ministers publicly amplifying these ceremonies on social media broadens the reach of that recognition to civilian audiences.
Defence forces personnel and veterans' communities closely follow gallantry award announcements, viewing them as affirmations of institutional respect for frontline sacrifice. Statements from cabinet ministers like Rijiju reinforce the government's commitment to honouring the armed forces in the public discourse.
What's Next
Full citation details and the names of all Vir Chakra awardees from this investiture are expected to be released through official government channels. The posthumous award, in particular, is likely to draw further attention as the complete citation — describing the specific act of bravery recognised — becomes available. Such disclosures typically follow the formal ceremony and provide a fuller picture of the operational context behind each decoration.
Point of View
Blending institutional respect for the armed forces with visible political endorsement. Rijiju's post — singling out the posthumous awardee with particular solemnity — follows a pattern of personalised tributes that resonate strongly with nationalist and defence-conscious audiences. The direct address to Rashtrapati Bhavan's handle also reinforces the executive-presidential coordination optic. As full citations emerge, the operational context of these awards will likely sustain news cycles around military valour and border security.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vir Chakra award in India?
The Vir Chakra is India's third-highest wartime gallantry award, instituted on 26 January 1950. It is conferred by the President of India for acts of conspicuous bravery displayed in the face of the enemy during active military operations.
Who conferred the Vir Chakra awards in June 2026?
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Vir Chakra awards at a formal investiture ceremony. President Murmu, who assumed office in July 2022, serves as the Supreme Commander of India's Armed Forces.
What did Kiren Rijiju say about the Vir Chakra awardees?
Kiren Rijiju said that 'every Vir Chakra carries a story of courage, sacrifice and love for the nation' and that the awardees' 'exceptional bravery inspires us all.' He also offered heartfelt tributes to the soldier honoured posthumously, saying his sacrifice for Bharat will never be forgotten.
Who receives the Vir Chakra posthumously?
A posthumous Vir Chakra is awarded to a soldier who performed an act of conspicuous bravery in the face of the enemy but did not survive. The award is typically received by the next of kin at a presidential investiture ceremony.
What is the difference between Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra?
All three are wartime gallantry awards instituted on 26 January 1950. The Param Vir Chakra is the highest, followed by the Maha Vir Chakra, and then the Vir Chakra as the third-highest, each recognising progressively distinguished acts of bravery in the face of the enemy.
