Lucknow-based Brigadier Sanjay Mishra has been conferred the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, in a glorious ceremony this Tuesday. Herein, a total of 52 officers of the Indian forces — Navy, Air Force and Army — were awarded with the AVSM at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Hailing from Mau, Brigadier Mishra is the head of the eye department of Delhi's Army Research and Referral Hospital. He has led a team of ophthalmologists from the Indian Army Medical Corps, while successfully conducting cataract surgery on the President last year.

Apart from this, the military surgeon is also claimed to be the only ophthalmologist to have implemented surgeries of two presidents of India, including Ram Nath Kovind, while in service. In 2018, during his tenure at Lucknow's Command Hospital, he also established the retinal centre, benefitting numerous patients.

On June 27, the Indian President, "Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, conferred Distinguished Service Awards to 84 serving and retired personnel of the Armed Forces & the Indian Coast Guard during Defence Investiture Ceremony (Phase-II) in New Delhi," the government press release read.

The AVSM is a military award bestowed on personnel, of all ranks of the armed forces, for their distinguished services of exceptional order. A peacetime equivalent of the Uttam Yuddh Seva Medal, Indian military decoration for Wartime Distinguished Service, AVSM is a prestigious award.