Gallantry Awards 2021

Abhinandan Varthaman, Indian Air Force ace pilot Group Captain, was accorded Vir Chakra by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind in an investiture ceremony. Abhinandan Varthaman has received Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft during aerial combat on February 27, 2019, a day after the Balakot airstrike.