Today, Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman will get the Vir Chakra

President Ram Nath Kovind will give Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman the Vir Chakra for his performance against Pakistan in February 2019. President Ram Nath Kovind will give Captain Abhinandan Varthaman the Vir Chakra on Monday, November 22 at an investiture ceremony for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 jet plane in February 2019.

During India's Balakot air raid, he shot down an F-16 over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, but was captured by the Pakistan Army after his plane was shot down by enemy forces. Back then, Abhinandan was a Wing Commander.

Abhinandan is credited with becoming the only Mig-21 pilot to ever shoot down an F-16 fighter jet.

Abhinandan had already been promoted to Group Captain in the Indian Air Force.

Abhinandan's unit 51 Squadron was also awarded a unit commendation for stopping a Pakistan Air Force aerial attack on February 27, 2019. The operations were carried out in retaliation for a Jaish-e-Mohammed attack on a CRPF convoy.