Vir Chakra given to Indian Air Force hero Abhinandan Varthaman

Vir Chakra given to Indian Air Force hero Abhinandan Varthaman

Team Ambitiousbaba and AB are here with a Current Affairs Special Series. In this series, candidates will be introduced to current affairs topics daily, which will not only improve their general awareness but also will ensure that the candidates do not lack in any current affairs topic. Today’s Current Affairs topic is “Vir Chakra given to Indian Air Force hero Abhinandan Varthaman”

Who is Abhinandan Varthaman?

He was a wing commander then, 36, was caught by the Pakistani Army on February 27, 2019, after his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down in a dogfight with Pakistani jets during aerial combat.

What was the matter?

India had set up an aerial strike on Pakistan’s terrorist facility in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area run by the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on February 26.

Abhinandan was in the Srinagar-based 51 squadron, and had taken flight to spoil an aerial attack launched by Pakistan. But his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down.

Abhinandan was then taken into detainment by the Pakistan Army. But due to global pressure and diplomatic efforts by India he was freed.

Award:

The Vir Chakra to Abhinandan had been awarded in August 2019 but has been given by the President now in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Afterward a high-level medical board of the Indian Air Force has cleared Abhinandan to return to the fighter cockpit. He is also recently promoted as group captain.

Days after he returned from Pakistan, Abhinandan conveyed to the IAF brass his wish to resume flying at the earliest.

Summary:

IAF fighter jets was shot down a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot on February 26, nearly two weeks after the Pulwama terror attack. Pakistan struck back on February 27 by attempting to target Indian military installations. He was a wing commander then, 36, was captured by the Pakistani Army on February 27, 2019, after his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down in a dogfight with Pakistani jets during aerial combat. Now he has been awarded Vir Chakra for shooting down Pakistani F-16 aircraft.

Question & Answer:

Q1. Who has been awarded Vir Chakra which was announced in 2019 and given recently?

Ans. Abhinandan Varthaman

Q2. Vir Chakra is given for which purpose?

Ans. It is given to Indian wartime military personal for doing extra ordinary gallantry in the presence of the enemy on the battlefield.

Q3. What is the rank of Vir Chakra in the wartime gallantry awards?

Ans. 3^rd (first two are: Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra)