Wing Commander Surinder Lal Chhabra (5248) was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) Branch of the Indian Air Force in September, 1956. He has acquitted himself in an admirable manner in various unit and staff assignments.

After passing out as an "Outstanding Honor Graduate" in Precision Measuring Equipment Specialist Course and an Advanced Course in Electronic Testing and Calibration in a foreign country. Wing Commander Chhabra has been serving as the Senior Technical Officer at a Base Repair Depot since October, 1970. He has applied his specialist training to great advantage, making a valuable contribution towards establishment of Calibration Laboratories. He reorganized the existing calibration section at the Depot enhancing its capability for measurement of additional parameters. Calibration of test equipment is now being done on a scheduled basis after laying down a realistic and pragmatic periodicity of calibration.

Wing Commander Chhabra has also boosted up production of Teleprinters so that there is now no backlog of repair and overhaul of this item. He reorganized the repair facilities in the Communication Equipment Bay in such a manner that the repair task for 1971-72 and 1972-73 was completed and in some cased targets were exceeded.

Wing Commander Chhabra devised and incorporated a modification eliminating the Siemens Relay in the Teleprinter line units which, besides overcoming production hold ups, effected a saving of Rs. 200/- in foreign exchange per unit. An additional facility for operating on blind duplex and change over from blind duplex to half duplex with just a flick of switch has also been provided due to his efforts. Another original contribution by the officer has been the fabrication of cable bunches for rewiring and imported type of radar from indigenous sources.

Wing Commander Surinder Lal Chhabra is awarded Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service of a high order.