India, Jan. 26 -- Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who gained prominence as the face of the Indian Army during the 2025 media briefings for Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-based terrorists, was named a recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in the 2026 Republic Day honours list, for her "distinguished service of a high order". But Operation Sindoor's press briefings, which made her a household name in an increasingly online world, was not her only claim to merit or fame.

For instance, the R-Day medal recognition comes six years after the Supreme Court of India, in 2020, in a case that led to granting of Permanent Commission (PC) to women, specifically acknowledged her achievements. The SC bench highlighted that the blanket exclusion of wom...