Medals for Sarvottam Yudh Seva

Seven military members received the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals (SYSM) in 2025 in recognition of their outstanding performance during Operation Sindoor. An act of terrorism in Pahalgam prompted this operation. The honors honor outstanding wartime leadership and operational accomplishment. This year, the Indian Air Force came home with the most awards, followed by the Army and Navy.

Operation Sindoor's history

Operation Sindoor commenced on 7 May 2025. The focus was nine terrorist groups from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It was an operational response to the terror attack in Pahalgam killing 26 people. The extremist group Lashkar-e-Taiba was accused in the attack. The purpose of the operation was to cause significant damage to terrorists’ infrastructure and defend the LoC.

Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal Significance

The Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal is the highest service level award for services in an active theater in India. It is awarded for exceptional leadership in conflict, hostilities or war. The medal ranks below the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and above the [[Presidential Service! It has been awarded only three times in history — the last time during the Kargil War.

Seven Medals for Air Force Squadrons of Indian Air Force

• IAF wins four of seven medals.

• Prominent leaders are Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Jeetendra Mishra, Nagesh Kapoor, Narmdeshwar Tiwari.

• Hit 11 terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

• Real-time hawala transactions through IACCS.

• Repelled drone swarms on religious and civilian sites.

Historical Acknowledgment

A Navy officer was the first to be awarded the SYSM. Next in command of the operation is the FOC-in-C of the western naval command, Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh (Retd), who was in command when Operation Sindoor commenced. The Navy deployed its Carrier Battle Group to the Arabian Sea; it also had submarines, early-warning helicopters and MiG-29K fighters. The navy activities manifested the maritime preparedness of India and its capability to extend itself to its strategic frontier, and to limit the Pakistani airspace.

Operation Sindoor's result

Operation Sindoor manages to eradicate trans-national terror infrastructure. It depicted side by side functioning of Army, Navy and Air Force. Pakistan, which initially rejected the invitation given by extent India to negotiate, did follow it up by offering to set aside the hostilities. The operation demonstrated the capability of India to maintain the coordination of the operations and yet responding with force to the threats of terrorists.

Operation Sindoor: Retaliation for Pahalgam Attack

• It was launched on May 7, 2025 and was aimed at nine terrorist organizations of Pakistan and Kashmir.
• IAF under Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Jeetendra Mishra, Nagesh Kapoor and Narmdeshwar Tiwari attacked 11 terrorist camps.
• Of the seven medals, IAF got four such as Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal.
• In demonstrating India maritime preparedness, the Navy officer in charge was Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh.
• Operation exhibited coordination of operations and aggressive reaction against the threats posed by terrorists.