Air Commodore Krishan Murari Rishi, VSM (3906) Accounts during his long service of over thirty two years has served with distinction both in the field and at various staff appointments. As a pioneer he helped raising five premier establishments, from the scratch and earned commendation of the AOC-in-C Training Command in 1972 and Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service of high order in 1975.

After taking over as Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Central Accounts Office, within short period of one year, he systematized and streamlined procedures and working in that office through careful and immaculate planning, by introducing effective measures, laying down time bound drills, ensuring their meticulous monitoring and by making many result oriented innovations. This led to prompt and accurate maintenance and updation of Individual Running Ledger Accounts and Provident Fund Accounts of all personnel of the IAF, as a result of which serving individuals were supplied their payslips/salary statements/Photostats of IRLA, and annual statement of Provident Funds and the Noneffective personnel remittance of all their dues with utmost promptitude, which earned gratitude and appreciation all round, for highly personalised and efficient, service, contributing in a big way to high morale in the Air Force. He not only transformed this premier Accounting Organisation of Air Force Central Accounts Office as AOC but within four months of taking over as Director of Accounts, Air Headquarters brought the entire accounting services of IAF to a very high order of efficiency and made those an effective tool of the Air Force administration thereby enhancing the image of IAF in the service of the nation,

This was possible due to his high degree of intelligence, excellent in­depth knowledge of his profession and working conditions in the field, vast experience, good foresight, quick decision taking ability, clear and keen perception methodic planning and organising, ability and down to earth approach coupled with hard work and devotion to duty.

Air Commodore Krishan Murari Rishi, VSM has always responded to the call of duty cheerfully and willingly. He has displayed a very high sense of duty, tremendous drive, skill, professional competence and had thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Thittanimuttam Krishnaswamy Seshachari, VM (4954) was commissioned in the Air Force in 1955. He has held several important assignments both in the field and staff. For his high sense of dedication and devotion to duty during Indo-Pak war in 1971, he was awarded Vayu Seva Medal by the President. He was commended by the Chief of the Air Staff for his significant contribution toward the operational readiness of all units under South Western Air Command when this officer was its Command Engineering Officer.

Since 01 Apr 80 Group Captain TK Seshachari has been commanding one of major Base Repair Depot. Under his exemplary and dynamic leadership, the Base Repair Depot has not only achieved various authorized and special urgent operational tasks but also made rapid strides forward for taking up new and sophisticated tasks of aero engine overhaul, aviation rotables and ground equipment design manufacture and overhaul. He laid special emphasis on indigenisation and self reliance and exploited all the resources and expertise of the depot to develop and fabricate many new ranges of spares which not only overcame production stops but also saved considerable foreign exchange.

He systematized all the repair lines in a very efficient manner to ensure a steady and reliable output of aero engines and other equipment in a time bound programme. The depot has achieved a proud record of turning out 200 Viper and Type-31 engine during his steward.

By his exemplary leadership, achievement and exceptional devotion and dedication to the service, Group Captain Thittanimuttam Krishnaswamy Seshachari, VM has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Jasjit Singh VrC, VM (5100) Flying (Pilot) commissioned on 01 Apr 56 has had a distinguished record of service. He stood first in every course of instruction attended. He has command a MiG Squadron with distinction and was Chief Operation Officer of a major Air Force Station. Group Captain Jasjit Singh served in the Directorate of Flight Safety for 1½ years as a Deputy Director responsible for prevention of accidents and later as the Director of Flight Safety for one year. During these assignments, the officer undertook a number of in-depth studies to identify weak areas so that effective preventive programme could be adopted. Amongst the more notable work done was planning the AVSM 1984 establishment of Institute of Flight Safety (third such institution in the world), the case for preflight meals for aircrew, transit facilities for aircrew etc. His work highlighted the impending impact of depletion of trained and experienced technical manpower and since the problem was identified in time, remedial measures could be introduced. Under his personal guidance and direction the programme of computerization of flight safety information was initiated and put on sound footing. A new approach to accident reporting system was also introduced based on the studies and analysis done by the officer. For the first time, the flight safety programme was enlarged in scope to include active coordination with other organizations/departments in the country. Some of the main features of such activities were research projects for bird surveys on airfields, Bird Control and Environment Committee under the overall coordination of SA to RM etc.

Group Captain Jasjit Singh took over the duties of Director Operations (Aircraft Induction) on its formation at Air Headquarters wef Nov 82. This challenging assignment involved operational planning for efficient and expeditious exploitation of all new aircraft on induction into service. The task in hand includes a variety of aircraft: the next generation sophisticated high­technology air superiority fighter (Mirage-2000), a modern attack helicopter (Mi-25); a new medium transport aircraft (AN-32); and a modern high performance tactical strike fighter (MiG-27). Bulk of the work done by the office in this branch, of necessity, remains on the highly classified list. But it can stated with a great degree of confidence and assurance that his service to the Air Force, especially in the field of operational perspective planning, realistic approach to operational needs of the IAF and viable means to achieve a high level of combat worthiness have gone a long way in enhancing the operational preparedness of the IAF.

Group Captain Jasjit Singh has over a sustained period of time, worked hard with dedication and commitment to the service, regardless of personnel inconvenience and has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Krishna Lakshmanan was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) Branch of the Indian Air Force in November, 1958. He has held a number of important assignments with distinction and displayed devotion to duty, Innovative approach and professional excellence throughout his service career.

As a young officer, he was responsible for the installation and commissioning of a large transmitter station at a Command Headquarters. In 1969, while serving as Senior Signals Officer in an Air Base, in the rank of Squadron Leader, he was commended by the Chief of Air Staff for installing signals facilities including radio navigational aid in an out of the way air field and efficiently maintaining them under difficult conditions.

Subsequently from October, 1973 in the Radar and Communications Project Office of Ministry of Defence, the wide impact of his personal contribution is to be measured by successful development and induction of a number of electronic systems in the high technology Troposcatter and Microwave Communication network of the Indian Air Force. His innovative approach has resulted in the indigenous development and successful introduction of Teletype concentrators, automatic time punching systems and simplified Teletype Broadcasting Units.

As Senior Project Engineer (Communications) in Radar and Communication Project Office since July 1981 in the rank of Group Captain, he has achieved creditable success by applying himself to the challenging task with exemplary energy and enthusiasm, exceptional level of professional acumen and infinite capacity to put in hard work for beyond the call of normal duties.

Group Captain Krishna Lakshmanan has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Bharat Kumar (5787) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Flying Branch in December, 1959. Since then he has had a long tenure of 20 years on active flying duties. During this period he flew a variety of operational aircraft and held diverse supervisory and command appointments. He successfully completed the Fighter Combat Leader Course in 1975. Later, he commanded a Type 77 Squadron with distinction.

In August 81, Group Captain Bharat Kumar was posted as Base Commander at one of FBSUs (the Forward Base Support Unit). This Base serves as Armament Practice Camp and affords support services to visiting detachments akin to those provided at a fullfledged Wing. Group Captain Bharat Kumar marshaled and utilized the comparatively maegre resources at his command so that all detachments were able to complete their assigned tasks. During 1981-82 the Base was active on 240 days. Throughout, there was not even one occasion when flying operations were held up due to lack of admin, maintenance or operational support. Besides this, the operational preparedness of the Base to undertake operations during hostilities was also maintained at a high pitch.

In the field of administration, the performance of Group Captain Bharat Kumar has been commendable. The FBSU in a desert terrain where weather is hostile and living conditions are tough. He brought about remarkable improvements in provision of amenities for the personnel of Station and ensured that morale of personnel was very high at all times. In financial management, the performance of the Base has been noteworthy and the number of outstanding audit objections have been brought to nearly zero. Under his able leadership, non­public funds have shown a healthy growth.

The responsibility of providing admin support as well for overseeing the conduct of various trials at Pokhran Range has been entrusted to the Officer Commanding of the FBSU. A large number of service and civilian dignitaries including foreigners visit Pokhran Range to witness the trials. Group Captain Bharat Kumar marshaled his meager resources and ensured an exemplary support and proper conduct of these trials. His meticulous planning and foresight was especially evident during SARI-V trials conducted in November, 1982 and trials to assess the efficacy of Runway Rehabilitation Scheme in January, 1983.

Group Captain Bharat Kumar has brought about tangible and remarkably effective all round improvement in day­to­day working conditions and in overall operational preparedness of the Base. By his laudable initiative, outstanding devotion to service, resourcefulness, motivation and qualities of leadership, Group Captain Bharat Kumar has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Sudhakar Paranjape (5829) AE (M) was commissioned in the Air Force in 1959. He has held various field as well as staff appointments and has proved his professional competence in each of them. He was specially selected to specialize in 1st and 2nd line servicing of MiG (BIS) aircraft for that he was sent to USSR for training.

Since 26 Jun 86, Group Captain Paranjape has been holding the important appointment of Chief Engineering Officer of a major operational base in Eastern Sector. During his tenure there, he has established a reputation throughout the Command and also in the rest of the Air Force as a totally dedicated technical officer who has done outstanding work in raising the quality of maintenance on the aircraft operating from his base. His technical leadership and efforts in improving knowledge and understanding of Type 66/77 and Chetak aircraft by the technical personnel has enabled the Wing to maintain a consistent level of very high serviceability with intensive flying and excellent flight safety record. His aim has always been to improve on existing standards and procedures and he has created an environment in which every incident and every snag is studied and analysed in depth to ensure that rectification action is effective. In the process he has made several recommendations to the manufacturers and organized seminars/discussions in which both aircrew and technicians participate. These have helped to evolve several new procedures and modifications that have improved the serviceability and safety of the fleet. At all times Group Captain Paranjape has worked devotedly for long hours with a deep sense of commitment, cheerfully sacrificing much of his spare time in the cause of better maintenance.

By his dedication to the Service, outstanding technical leadership and excellent performance in improving the serviceability and safety of aircraft in the Air Force, Group Captain Sudhakar Paranjape has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Prakash Chandra Bugga (4155) Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) was commissioned in the Air Force in 1951 in the erstwhile technical armament branch. A graduate of the Institute of Armament Technology, Gp Capt PC Bugga has held many important appointments during his service career including that of Chief Engineering Officer of two major operational Wings and staff officer at Headquarters Maintenance Command and Air Headquarters. Since June 1981, Gp Capt PC Bugga has been Commanding Officer of a major Equipment Depot. Through his personal initiative, proof testing facilities for two types of ammunition have been set up, thus, providing for the first time, scope for extending the life of these ammunition. Thereby savings of Rs. 12 lakhs in foreign exchange have been effected during 1982 and further savings of Rs. 60 lakhs are expected in the next two years. He has been instrumental in designing and producing a tail parachute packing rig, which has been of great value to the Air Force. A special project undertaken by him to set up for the first time the infrastructure required for periodical proof testing of certain types of rockets used by the Air Force is well on the way towards successful completion. Another project which the depot has started under his direction is the repair and reconditioning of small arms without any additional resources. In all these achievements, Gp Capt PC Bugga has demonstrated exceptional qualities of leadership, perseverance and ability to motivate his men, ensuring success of the projects. He has always insisted upon and achieved highest levels of quality of production and technical expertise on the part of all his men. For this purpose he has set up an efficient technical training cell which imparts requisite training to the men.

Group Captain Prakash Chandra Bugga has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Kalpathy Anantkrishna Hariharan (5185) was commissioned in the Flying (Pilot) branch of the Indian Air Force in 1955. Since commissioning he has held a variety of important command and staff AVSM 1984 appointments. He was in fighter Squadron from 1957 to 1971. He commanded a fighter squadron equipped with supersonic aircraft from 1975 to 1977. He was Chief Instructor at the College of Air Warfare from 1977 to 1980. Besides being a qualified Pilot Attack Instructor, he is also a graduate of Defence Services Staff College.

Group Captain Hariharan took over the command of one of the major Signals Unit in October, 1980. This unit is equipped with high power three dimensional radar which is a very sophisticated system inducted recently by the Air Force. Initially the equipment has many operational and logistic problems inhibiting effective utilization of the system. Group Captain Hariharan applied his mind systematically to all the problems and by his initiative, drive and result­oriented leadership, not only brought the unit to full operational status within a very short period but, despite lack of adequate material and system support has also been able to maintain the sophisticated air defence equipment at considerably high level of operational efficiency.

Group Captain Hariharan, by persuasive approach and total dedication to the service interests, has obtained a number of welfare items and concessions from the State Government for the benefit of his men. He also organized substantial gifts and grants from the State Government for other Air Force Station in Gujarat area. By his exemplary conduct with the civil authorities, he has enhanced the image of the Air Force in general.

Under the able leadership of Group Captain Hariharan, the men placed under him have been motivated to excel themselves in their profession and work as an effective team in all fields of activities. By his exceptional devotion to duty, superb handling of men and material, boundless drive to achieve results and exemplary service mindedness, Group Captain Kalpathy Anantkrishna Hariharan has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Kuldip Krishan Bakshi (3685) Administrative was commissioned in the Air Force in 1949. Basically a law graduate, he successfully qualified in the Intelligence and Photo Interpretation course and Air Force Judge Advocate course, during his service career. The important staff appointments held by him are Dy JAG, Chief Administrative Officer of a major transport Wing, Senior Officer Administration of a major operational command and Director of Personnel (Airman). In all these appointments he has left a mark of his personal efficiency and devotion to service.

He was selected for the post of Deputy Judge Advocate General, because of his legal qualifications backed by practical experience gained during service. He was instrumental in stream lining various legal procedures and was associated with the unified committee. As Chief Administrative Officer of a major flying station in the Western sector, with his qualities of drive and imagination he was very successful in improving the living & working condition at the station as a whole. AVSM 1983-84

As Director of Personnel (Airmen) and as Senior Officer Administration of a major operational command, he has discharged his duties in a most able and competent manner and has achieved remarkable success in all fields of his activities. In his man management approach, he has displayed inspiring leadership by his sympathetic but firm handling. He applied his vast experience and knowledge of works services and thereby improved the satisfaction level of domestic accommodation as also the operational and technical works services which led to overall improvement in operational capabilities of station under his jurisdiction. Presently, he is employed as SOA of one of our major operational command.

Air Vice Marshal Kuldip Krishan Bakshi has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Nambi Srinivasa Gopalan (4751) Accounts was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January, 1950. He is an MBA from Delhi University and was the Head of the Department of Financial Management at IDM from 1973 to 1976. Throughout his service, he has distinguished himself in all the staff and instructional appointments he has so far held at Stations, Command Headquarters, Air Headquarters and Ministry of Defence. Air Vice Marshal Nambi Srinivasa Gopalan has been the Director of Accounts at Air Headquarters from Feb 81 to Oct 82, after which he was appointed Director Financial Planning. In both these jobs he has shown vision, sagacity and dynamism in evolving and pushing through farsighted proposals to further enhance the effectiveness of Accounts Branch. Immediately on taking over as Director Financial Planning he streamlined the planning and budgetary process of the Air Force through tremendous personal effort and unflagging enthusiasm. As a result of his interest and effort, the Directorate has been able to take firm charge of all budgetary planning and coordination, a task which was hitherto dispersed amongst many directorates. He is presently engaged in casting the next 5 year plan (1986-90).

He has shown initiative in preparing a comprehensive document which will justify AF requirements as well as link up various aspects of future requirements such as equipment, manpower and works services.

An officer of very high professional competence and integrity, intellectual vigour, unflagging enthusiasm and determination, AVSM 1984 Air Vice Marshal Nambi Srinivasa Gopalan has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Kuldeep Singh (3922) AE (M) was commissioned in the Air Force in the year 1950. Since then, he has held a number of important field as well as staff appointments at Command and Air Headquarters. Besides these, he is a graduate of Advance Air Armament Staff Course, Senior Defence Management Course and National Defence College.

As Commanding Officer of Central Servicing and Development Organisation Air Vice Marshal Kuldeep Singh excelled in rationalizing servicing and maintenance schedules for various types of aircraft in use. Later as Director Armament and Safety Equipment at Air Headquarters, he was responsible for formulation of policies in respect of bomb dump, ranges and storage accommodation for explosives armament stores and Safety Equipment which went a long way in enhancing the overall operational capability of the Air force.

Air Vice Marshal Kuldeep Singh served as the Senior Maintenance Staff Officer of Headquarters Eastern Air Command for two years. During this period, he was responsible for the smooth and efficient functioning of the technical and logistic services in the Command. Duo to his professional competence and drive, his meticulous management of personnel and resources, the technical and logistic services in the Command were in fact most efficient. He took special pains to achieve higher maintenance safety standards in the Command, and he spent long hours in the hangars and servicing bays at flying Wings, acquainting himself with problems, finding solutions and introducing servicing procedures. In mattes of maintenance policy he ensured that the directive/orders were clearly transmitted to the field, and conversely made sound recommendations to Air Headquarters on technical matters/problems faced by the field.

Throughout his service Air Vice Marshal Kuldeep Singh has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.