Pune: HQ Southern Command conducted the solemn Investiture Ceremony with military grandeur at Bipin Rawat Auditorium, RSAMI, Pune, where 35 individual & 29 Unit Appreciation were conferred to the Army personnel and to the units of the Southern Command for their outstanding display of courage, valour and dedication towards the service of the Mother land. As a run upto the event, on 28 Feb 2024 a cultural show was org at RSAMI, Pune for awardees, veterans taking part in the Investiture ceremony, Symphony band comprising bands of Bombay Engineer Group & Centre, Guard Regimental Centre and PARA Regimental Training Centre played martial music. Special performance was made by the band members where Indian classical music Rags were also played. Dance performance by Mrs Arundhati Patwardhan enthralled the audience.
On 29 Feb 2024, Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh, Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishist Seva Medal, Vishist Seva Medal, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command presided over the investiture ceremony. A total of 13 Sena Medals (Gallantry), 08 Sena Medals (Distinguished), 02 Yudh Seva Medals, 13 Vishist Seva Medals, 27 General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Unit Appreciation and 02 Chief of Army Staff Unit Appreciations were awarded during the ceremony.
As customary, the investiture ceremony is conducted once in year to confer various awards to the individual and to the units who have distinguished themselves by acts of individual gallantry and exceptional devotion to their duty. Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh, Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishist Seva Medal, Vishist Seva Medal, General Officer Commanding-in- Chief Southern Command in his address congratulated all the awardees and recipients of unit citations and encouraged all ranks to emulate the award winners and put in their best while contributing to the collective goals of the Indian Army.
The Army Commander also recounted the superlative achievements of the Southern Command and all its units deployed all across the peninsular India and lauded the efforts of every individual towards enhancing the operational effectiveness the Southern Command and Indian Army.