Deepak Singh, SC

Biography

Captain Deepak Singh was born in 1999 in the picturesque district of Almora, Uttarakhand. As the son of Shri Mahesh Singh, a former police officer, he grew up in a disciplined household where the values of duty and service were instilled early. Drawn to the Armed Forces from a young age, he pursued that aspiration with steadfast determination. After completing his schooling, he joined the Indian Army through the Technical Entry Scheme and passed out from the Officers Training Academy, Gaya, in June 2020, earning his commission in the Corps of Signals. A tough and capable officer respected by peers and seniors, he was also a passionate hockey player who embodied teamwork and discipline. After serving with his parent unit, he was deputed to the 48 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, deployed on counter-insurgency duties in Jammu and Kashmir. In August 2024, his unit was operating in the militant-infested Doda district under the White Knight Corps. Acting on intelligence about the presence of terrorists, a search and cordon operation was launched with the J&K Police in the dense Shivgarh-Assar forest on 13 August. Demonstrating exceptional tactical skill, Captain Deepak Singh set up surveillance at a vantage point, and when movement was detected at 1930 hours, he maneuvered his column and brought down coordinated fire, injuring the terrorists. Keeping his party vigilant through the night, he reorganised his team at first light and recovered an M4 assault rifle, ammunition and grenades. When an injured terrorist hiding among boulders opened fire on his party, Captain Deepak Singh, sensing danger to his buddy, pushed the soldier to safety and fully exposed himself, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. Despite his grievous injuries, he closed in and neutralised the terrorist before succumbing. For his extraordinary bravery and supreme sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra on 26 January 2025.