Indian Air Force ace pilot Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman on Monday was awarded the Vir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind in an investiture ceremony for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft on February 27, 2019.Varthaman was recently promoted to the rank of Group Captain. He shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft during aerial combat on February 27 a day after the Balakot airstrike.

Indian Air Force ace pilot Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman on Monday was awarded the Vir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind in an investiture ceremony for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft on February 27, 2019.Varthaman was recently promoted to the rank of Group Captain. He shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft during aerial combat on February 27 a day after the Balakot airstrike.