Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor Explains Why Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla Received Ashoka Chakra At Parade

On this special broadcast of the 77th Republic Day celebrations, Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd), former Director General of the Indian Air Force, provides expert insight into the ceremonial protocols of gallantry awards. Explaining the significance of the presentation, he notes, 'The extraordinary achievement which any defence personnel gets... This is presented on the Republic Day by the President at the parade ground.' The discussion highlights the rare honour bestowed upon Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla, who was conferred the Ashoka Chakra, and Group Captain Nair, who received the Kirti Chakra. Air Marshal Kapoor draws a historical parallel to the 1985 awards given to Rakesh Sharma and Ravish Malhotra, noting that such marquee achievements are uniquely honoured at Kartavya Path as a mark of national respect. The bulletin also captures the musical prelude 'Vividhata me ekta' led by Sri Lokesh Anand, featuring folk artists from across India, setting a harmonious tone for the national narrative and the theme of 150 years of Vande Mataram.