An aircraft was lost in October, 1967 in Kulkila Glacier area of Lahul-Spiti at the height of 15,000 and 18,000 feet. In October, 1978, Squadron Leader Puran Chandra Singh Rautela, VSM, volunteered to undertake the expedition to locate the wreckage and the body of the pilot. Despite adverse weather conditions, he undertook the journey as snow would have obliterated the traces of wreckage. On the way he saved the life of a Japanese tourist suffering from acute pulmonary edema at a height of 13,000 feet by offering him the limited oxygen available to the team. Though deserted by the majority of porters, he continued to lead the expedition under dangerous weather conditions with temperature at -30°C and wind speed of 50 knots. During the course of operation, on one occasion, he was buried to the neck-deep in loose snow. Inspite of this, he inspired confidence in the members of his team through personal example and carried on the expedition and ultimately discovered the wreckage of the aircraft lost nearly 11 years ago and carried the wreckage back to the base.

In this action, Squadron Leader Puran Chandra Singh Rautela displayed exemplary courage, determination and devotion to duty of a high order.

Squadron Leader Thiruvengadam Ramanujam (10695) AE (L) has been on the posted strength of 33 Signals Unit, Air Force since Aug 79 with a brief spell of absence of five months while undergoing Inter Branch Conversion course at Air Force Technical College.

Inspite of this being the first posting to an Air Defence Ground Radar Station and that too without any formal training on any of the complex modern systems he was required to maintain, he by virtue of extreme devotion, sustained hard work and rare professional skills has mastered the systems. He has engineered and incorporated eight important modifications in the Data Handling System of which four modifications are of major nature. Some of the modifications have now made it possible to display Pre-determined Routes, Air Field runway orientation, additional beacons, flashing symbols for aircraft in emergency, display range in Kilometers and Nautical miles etc. These improvements have resulted in better and effective exploitation of the system for operational use.

By his devotion and rare professional proficiency he has streamlined and improved the preventive and corrective maintenance techniques in addition to providing certain additional monitoring facilities for quick location and rectification of faults, thereby reducing the down time of the system in the event of failure.

As an officer, he has made his mark amongst the entire cross-section of the Unit. Several sections have come to depend on his skills and professional advice with regard to complex technical problems. His qualities of leadership, exceptional professional knowl edge and skills, his untiring efforts, his will to work at all times and excellent interpersonal relationship have contributed in a big way to the overall efficiency of various technical sections.

For his rare professional competence and extreme devotion to duty, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Squadron Leader Thiruvengadam Ramanujam.

Group Captain Jasvinder Singh Chauhan (14079) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Flying Branch in 11 July 75. In 25 years of distinguished service he has flown 3400 hrs on various fighter aircraft. He has commanded a fighter squadron and has been an Air Force examiner. He has also done Staff College in USA. Presently he has been posted as Station Commander at an Air Defence Director Centre (ADDC) in the Western Sector.

While Gp Capt Chauhan was in Command of the Unit, the ADDC was engaged in Op Safed Sagar as well as in several major exercises. It is to the officer's credit that in each occasion the Unit acquitted itself extremely well. His total grip on events was always obvious.

Gp Capt Chauhan's leadership and commitment have been responsible for excellent results. Some of his noteworthy achievements merit mention. This ADDC was adjudged the best ADDC in 1999. In Nov 99, DASI assessed it as "average plus" in all three disciplines i.e. Operations, Maintenance and Administration. The Unit has been fielded again for the best ADDC in the Air Force competition. In Mar 2000, Gp Capt Chauhan was tasked to establish a model camp for mobile units and prepare a SOP for the same. He did commendable job and consequently the SOP has been circulated all over the IAF for adoption as a standard. The ADDC has a number of lodger units. Each of the them, including the new INDRA-II unit, has received his full attention and support. As a result, all of them have excelled in their respective areas.

For his result oriented approach, organising ability and distinguished service of a high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Jasvinder Singh Chauhan.

Wing Commander Narendra Kumar Kalra (14397) Adm/FC, commissioned in 1976 as an Administrative Officer in the IAF, has been a Fighter Controller ever since. He has held the appointments of Training Director, Chief Operations Officer, Commanding Officer and Deputy Director Air Defence. He achieved excellence during his field tenures and achieved Category 'AYE' in 1986. He graduated from Defence Services Staff College in 1992 and has achieved exceptional grading in Advance Intelligence and Chief Administ rative Officer courses. He, a thinking soldier, has completed MBA in First division recently. As Commanding Officer of a newly raised unit, he transformed it into the best Ground Control Intercept unit in SWAC and won the trophy twice during his tenure. As Deputy Director at Air HQ, he obtained government sanctions in record time to procure equipment for field units, for which Chief of Air Staff commended him in 1995.

Wg Cdr Kalra, with his excellent professional knowledge, high initiative and expertise, imparted quality training to the Ops crew of Rajasthan sector, resulting in its enhanced operational preparedness. He provided operational and administrative guidance to the newly formed Transportable Radar Units, equipped with first four IndraII radars of IAF and operationalised them in record time. The unit was assessed 'Average plus' by DASI and adjudged the best 'Air Defence Direction Centre' in SWAC for the last two consecutive years mainly due to his involvement, guidance and leadership.

Wg Cdr Kalra volunteered to beautify the station, and exhibited qualities of innovation, planning and execution in various fields. He led from the front in conducting regular shramdaans, tree plantation and fixing illuminated road signs etc, thus giving it an aesthetic look. He keeps the welfare of his subordinates and service interest - a paramount principle, which has earned him a distinct mark of respect from all quarters. His dedication, zeal and enthusiasm serve as a great motivational factor to others.

For distinguished service of a high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander Narendra Kumar Kalra.

Wing Commander Man Mohan Upadhyaya (15907) Administrative/Fighter Controller was commissioned on 14 Dec 1979 in the Administrative branch of the IAF. During his distinguished service over 24 years he has held important appointments including of Chief Operations Officer, Commanding Officer, Fighter Controllers' Command Examiner and Project Coordinator for FADHS. He is a Master Fighter Controller. He has been commended by the AOC-in-C EAC and the Chief of Air Staff. Presently, he is posted to a Signal Unit as Chief Operations Officer wef 10 Jan 2000.

As a young Officer while working in a radar unit in East, Wg Cdr Upadhyaya took initiative which resulted in safe recovery of a Pilot who had ejected in the jungles of Nagaland at sunset time. For his alertness and quick actions he was commended by AOC-in-C, EAC in 1982. Under his dynamic leadership, a forward radar unit modified radiators of class IV vehicles for use as cooling device for the ST-68 Radar. This novel idea was subsequently circulated to all similar Radar units in the IAF. While at an Air Defence Direction Center (ADDC) in Western Sector, he systematically planned the retro-fitment of Automated Data Handling System which was made operational in a record time, for which Chief of Air Staff commended him in 1994. At Air HQs in 1997, while working on 'Project Future Automatic Data Handling System (FADHS)' which envisages the integration of AD resources, he realised that the project as per given operational requirements can not meet modern day requirements of Air Defence System. Subsequently, he authored the initial paper on concept of 'Integrated Air Defence', which now has taken the shape of Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS). He also had revised JSSG in 1996. As Chief Operations Officer of ADDC, Wg Cdr Upadhyaya has been the guiding force for smooth activation of all Air Defence elements of its vast sector on implementation of APM II. Due to his involvement and guidance this unit was adjudged the 'Best C & R Unit' in the IAF for the year 2001 and 'Best Static Radar Unit' in SWAC for the years 2000 and 2001. While implementing the FADHS project, he ensured that all the shortcomings are brought to the notice of vendors and higher authorities in the overall interest of IAF. As the project was taking long time, in order to automate the AD functions, he designed PC Based user friendly 'Ops Information System' (OIS). This system presently is in full use in certain nodal radar units. The system would automate the complete AD set up as the software is developed on server architecture for sharing the centralised database by all AD agencies. The system will bridge the gap till full fledged Integrated Air Command & Control System becomes operational.

For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander Man Mohan Upadhyaya.