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 INDIA'S 75th INDEPENDENCE DAY

Vir Chakra is India’s third highest wartime gallantry award after Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra.

Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, who shot down a Pakistani F-16 jet during a dogfight over the Line of Control (LoC) on February 27, 2019, was on Independence Day awarded Vir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind at an investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

The citation said, “Despite being captured by the enemy, he continued to display exceptional resolve in dealing with the adversary in a stoic, brave and dignified manner till he was repatriated on March 1, 2019.”