34 Personnel Honoured for Valour; 33 Units Receive Unit Citations
Ahmedabad : The Southern Command Investiture Ceremony 2026 was held in Ahmedabad on 06–07 February 2026, celebrating exemplary valour, courage and distinguished service to the nation. Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, conferred awards on 34 distinguished personnel for their exceptional acts of bravery and service.
In addition, 33 units were honoured with the prestigious “GOC-in-C, Southern Command Unit Citation” in recognition of their operational excellence, professional achievements and outstanding performance. The ceremony commenced with a ceremonial Guard of Honour for the Army Commander, reflecting the rich traditions and ethos of the Indian Army.
Addressing the gathering, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth emphasised that the investiture ceremony honours extraordinary courage, professionalism and selfless service, while drawing inspiration from the supreme sacrifices of fallen heroes and the enduring legacy of veterans. He highlighted Southern Command’s high operational readiness, jointmanship and multi-domain capabilities demonstrated during recent operations and exercises. He reaffirmed the Command’s continued focus on operational preparedness, technological modernisation and inter-agency synergy to strengthen integrated capabilities and ensure national security.
On the occasion, the Army Commander also presented Veteran Achievers Awards to distinguished veterans for their remarkable contributions across diverse fields. A weapon and equipment display showcased advanced systems aligned with the Indian Army’s modernisation and technology-infusion drive under the Decade of Transformation.
The ceremony was attended by senior dignitaries, defence officials, invited guests, Veer Naris and Veer Matas, and was marked by solemn pride and national reverence, reinforcing the core values of courage, discipline, sacrifice and selfless service.