Wing Commander Amal Chandra Gupta through perseverance, diligence, foresight and thorough planning contributed greatly to the success of the bomber missions flown during the 1971 conflict.

Awarded Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished Service of a high order.

Wing Commander Hardip Singh Goraya was commissioned in the Flying (Pilot) Branch in November, 1954. During his distinguished career, he has held a number of flying and staff appointments in which he has acquitted himself credibly.

He has been holding the appointment of Staff Officer in the Air Staff of an operational Command since Feb 1973. The officer has discharged his responsibilities with great vigour and vitality. His willingness to probe deeply into problems and go into the minutest detail, combined with his readiness to put in long hours of hard work resulted in formulation and execution of perfect plans and programmes. He has single-handedly produced a number of papers on the future plans of the Command. He has also been responsible for the planning of 1973, 1974 and 1975 Annual Command Exercises. Especially with regard to the planning of the 1975 exercise, his contribution was almost total. In the conduct of these exercise also the officer up a great load on himself earning the appreciation of his superiors.

Wing Commander Goraya has proved himself to be an outstanding officer of unusual ability and has rendered distinguished service of a high order.

Group Captain JS Thakur was commissioned on 21 Jun 69 as a Fighter Pilot. He has flown over 3500 accident free hours and has held important appointments including Command of a front line strike squadron and Chief Operations Officer of a MiG-27 base. He was the founder member and deputy leader of the famous Air Force Aerobatics Team, the "Thunder Bolts". Gp Capt Thakur has been officiating as Air-I, Central Air Command since Jan 96. During this period, a major Air Force exercise was Planned and conducted in the Central Air Command area of operations, involving induction and operations of forces on a scale unprecedented in the Command. Gp Capt Thakur ensured smooth operations of such large forces. Operations included setting up elaborate Control and Reporting centre and Communication network, deployment of Air Defence forces, issue of detailed orders and operating procedures for conduct of operations, as well as continuous liaison with other Commands and Air HQ. It was largely because of his professional approach and deep sense of commitment that the whole exercise was completed smoothly with over 650 accident/incident free sorties executed. The aim and objectives of the exercise were successfully achieved.

For distinguished services of a high order, the President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Gp Capt JS Thakur.

Squadron Leader Devinder Kumar Sharma (18659) Accts was commissioned as an Accounts Officer in the IAF on 06 Dec 1986. During his initial service as Accounts Officer at Air Force Station Chandigarh, and Senior Accounts Officer at Air Force Station, Leh, he displayed a unique penchant for planning and organising and was instrumental in clearing long outstanding Audit objections. His tireless efforts, systematic professional approach and quest for excellence enabled Air Force Station, Leh to tighten budgetary control and streamline procedures for planned expenditure.

In recognition of his outstanding abilities, he was appointed Staff Officer to Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Personnel Officers). He was later chosen to be Staff Officer to Air Officer-in-charge Personnel, Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command and finally Staff Officer to Air Officer Commanding-inChief, Central Air Command. All through, the officer has discharged his duties in the most outstanding manner using well-honed managerial skills to support the functions of the Secretariat.

The officer has displayed remarkable maturity in prioritisation of tasks as well as coordination among various agencies so as to achieve the desired results quickly. He has instilled a high degree of motivation in his subordinates to achieve results much beyond the accepted norms. Polite but yet firm in dealings, he has, with great sensitivity, conveyed the directions of Air Officer Commanding-inChief to all and ensured their appropriate follow up. He possesses a great deal of professional ability, self-discipline, and capacity to understand and analyse human relations, and deals appropriately and firmly with his superiors and subordinates alike.

For distinguished service of a high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Squadron Leader Devinder Kumar Sharma.

Group Captain Dinesh Mukundan (13508) Administration/Air Traffic Controller was commissioned in the Administrative Branch in 1973. He was adjudged the best ATCO of the IAF in 1983 and thereafter posted as Commanding Officer of prestigious Air Force Element of IMTRAT in Bhutan during 1985-87.

During his distinguished career having 32 years he has been the Chief Administrative Officer of four different IAF stations i.e. AFAC, AF Stn Jorhat, AF Stn Palam and Air Force Academy and held instructional appointment CIGDOT at AFA. He has also served in a prestigious staff appointment as officer in-charge Drafting at Air Force Record Office. Gp Capt Mukundan is an alumnus of National Defence Academy. He was commended by Chief of the Air Staff in 1998 and by Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief, WAC and TC in 1990 and 1996 respectively. As Senior Personnel Staff Officer at Central Air Command, he has worked with dedication and perseverance in bringing about significant improvement in all facets of personnel administration in all units under Central Air Command. His humane approach and untiring efforts in making the existing policies and procedures more logical, simple and user friendly have been a hall mark of a very able and efficient administrator. Wherever he has worked during his last 32 years of service he has left very significant impact and a legacy behind which is worthy of emulating by his successors. His pioneer efforts in successfully introducing a vermiculture zero garbage scheme with no additional cost at Air Force Academy (one of the largest populated stations in the IAF) proved so successful that Air Headquarters directed all stations in the IAF to implement the zero garbage scheme on the pattern of Air Force Academy.

For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Dinesh Mukundan.