A 38-year-old resident of Jabalpur has received a rare invitation from Rashtrapati Bhavan after being selected among 10 beneficiaries nationwide to be honoured by President Droupadi Murmu on Independence Day for his disciplined contribution to the Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

Amit Kumar, a resident of Bapu Nagar in Ranjhi, will attend the Independence Day programme in New Delhi on August 15, where he will be felicitated by the President. He has also been invited to join the President for a special luncheon following the ceremony.

Selected from Across the Country

Amit's selection comes under the Ministry of Labour and Employment's Atal Pension Yojana, a government-backed social security scheme that encourages long-term retirement savings through regular monthly contributions.

According to officials, he is among only 10 individuals chosen from across India for consistently depositing his monthly premium without any default since enrolling in the scheme in 2018.

Under the pension scheme, Amit contributes ₹130 every month and will receive a monthly pension of ₹3,000 after attaining the age of 60.

Rashtrapati Bhavan Invitation Delivered

The official invitation reached Amit's residence on Friday through the Department of Posts.

Officials from the Khamaria Post Office first contacted him to verify his address before senior postal officers and a postman personally delivered the invitation from Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The invitation package also includes air travel to and from New Delhi, accommodation, entry passes to Rashtrapati Bhavan, and a commemorative gift provided by the Government of India.

'It Feels Like a Dream'

Reacting to the honour, Amit said he initially found it difficult to believe that he had been selected.

"I belong to a middle-class family. I never imagined I would get an opportunity to meet the President of India and be honoured by her. Being selected from among millions of beneficiaries is a matter of great pride and fortune," he said.

He also expressed gratitude to the Government of India and the Labour Department for recognising his commitment to the pension scheme.

Celebration in Family and Neighbourhood

News of Amit's selection quickly spread through his neighbourhood, with family members, relatives and local residents congratulating him on the achievement.

Residents described the recognition as a proud moment not only for Amit but also for Jabalpur, saying his selection highlights the importance of financial discipline and long-term social security planning through government welfare schemes.

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday accepted the credentials of ambassadors and high commissioners from six countries during a ceremonial event held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking the formal commencement of their diplomatic assignments in India.

The envoys representing Mozambique, Nicaragua, Suriname, Gabon, Mongolia, and the Bahamas presented their Letters of Credence to the President in accordance with diplomatic protocol. The ceremony signifies the official recognition of the diplomats as representatives of their respective governments in India.

The Ministry of External Affairs follows the established practice under which newly appointed ambassadors and high commissioners formally present their credentials to the President before assuming their official diplomatic responsibilities.

The dignitaries who presented their credentials were:

Armando Pedro Muiuane Junior, High Commissioner of the Republic of Mozambique

Nadeska Imara Cuthbert Carlson, Ambassador of the Republic of Nicaragua

Hanisha Jayaram, Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname

Aurelien-Marcel Mintsa Nguema, High Commissioner of the Gabonese Republic

Dr. Ulziit Luvsanjav, Ambassador of Mongolia

Peter Nicholas Simonette, High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

The presentation of credentials is an important diplomatic tradition that formally establishes an envoy's authority to represent their country before the Head of State. It also reflects the continued strengthening of India's bilateral engagement with partner nations across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia.

India maintains diplomatic and development partnerships with all six countries in areas such as trade, investment, capacity building, education, healthcare, renewable energy, and multilateral cooperation. The appointment of new envoys is expected to further enhance bilateral dialogue and cooperation across sectors of mutual interest.

The ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan was conducted with customary diplomatic protocol and was attended by senior government and diplomatic officials.

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Shaurya Chakra on 13 military and police personnel at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also present at the ceremony.

In a ceremony that drew attention to the quiet, often unheralded courage of India's security forces, President Droupadi Murmu on Monday presented the Shaurya Chakra to 13 soldiers and police officers at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those present.

The honours spanned branches — Army, Navy, and state police — and ranged from counterterrorism operations along the Line of Control to anti-Naxal engagements deep in Chhattisgarh's conflict zones.

Colonel Who Killed Three Terrorists Honoured

Among the most noted recipients was Lieutenant Colonel Nitesh Bharti Shukla of the Indian Army's 19th Battalion, Sikh Regiment, who was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for eliminating three terrorists along the LoC. The citation reflects the kind of direct combat engagement that rarely makes headlines but shapes the security calculus in the border hinterland.

Major Aditya Pratap Singh also received the award for showing exceptional bravery during a military operation in a border area of Arunachal Pradesh, while Major Anshul Baltu of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and 32 Assam Rifles was recognised for his service and demonstrated valour in the field.

Navy's Long-Distance Sailors Recognised

In a departure from the predominantly land-based recognitions, Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A of the Indian Navy were awarded the Shaurya Chakra for their role in the Navika Sagar Parikrama-II expedition — a demanding circumnavigation mission that tested seamanship, determination, and endurance over an extended period. Their inclusion underlines a broadening definition of operational courage within the armed forces.

Chhattisgarh Anti-Naxal Officers in the List

Two police officers from Chhattisgarh — Inspector Laxman Kewat and Inspector Rameshwar Prasad Deshmukh — were also conferred the Shaurya Chakra for bravery during anti-Naxal operations in the state. Chhattisgarh has seen a significant intensification of counterinsurgency operations in recent years, with several high-value encounters drawing national attention. Recognising police officers at this level signals acknowledgment of the state-level forces that carry much of the operational load in left-wing extremism-affected districts.

A Posthumous Honour

The ceremony also carried a sombre note. Martyr Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand of 4 Rashtriya Rifles was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra. President Murmu presented the honour to his wife and mother — a moment that encapsulated both the cost of service and the state's formal recognition of sacrifice.

A Cross-Service Ceremony

The Shaurya Chakra is India's third-highest peacetime gallantry award, given for acts of bravery, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield or in the face of the enemy. Monday's ceremony brought together recipients from diverse operational theatres — Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, the open ocean, and the jungles of central India — in one room. That range, perhaps more than any individual citation, speaks to the breadth of active threat environments Indian forces currently operate within.

With PM Modi in attendance, the event also carried political weight, taking place against the backdrop of continued security operations in border regions and the government's stated commitment to zero tolerance on insurgency.