Lt Gen Nimbhorkar gets PVSM, is most decorated serving officer

Lieutenant General Rajendra Ramrao Nimbhorkar, Indian Army's Master General of the Ordnance, has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service, joining the ranks of officers decorated with the most medals for gallantry and distinguished service.

Lt Gen R R Nimbhorkar, presently Master General of the Ordnance (MGO), looking after Army's procurements, has become the only serving officer to get the maximum number of gallantry and distinguished service awards, an official said.

"He has a unique distinction of having received an award at each level of service," the official said.

Hailing from a farming family of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, he did his schooling at Sainik School Satara and was trained at the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.
 

He has served in Leh, Kargil, Kashmir Valley, Poonch Rajauri, deserts and North East in operational scenario.

He was critically injured while commanding his battalion during Op Vijay on Line of Control in Rajouri Sector and was awarded wound medal.

He was awarded Sena Medal (gallantry) in Dras sector, Sena Medal distinguished service in Naoshera, Vishisht Seva Medal in Akhnoor sector, Uttam Yudh Sewa medal in Nagrota, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in South Kashmir and Param Vishisht Seva Medal as Master General of the Ordnance.

He was selected as military observer for UN Mission in Angola and for military course at National Defence University, Washington and Hawaii. He was also selected for National Defence College, Dhaka.

He captured an enemy post in Dras Sector as Captain and as Major, he killed 22 terrorists in Baramulla district of Kashmir.

As General Officer Commanding in South Kashmir, he planned and achieved the elimination of 55 hard core terrorists and neutralised all prominent terrorist leaders and achieved normalcy in the area.

As Brigade Commander in Naoshera, he ensured there was a check on infiltration from across the border.

As a Corps Commander at Nagrota, he planned and executed the famous surgical strikes.

He is the only serving officer to be awarded maximum number of awards, which are a mix of gallantry and devotion to duty in the Indian Army today.

He has the distinction of having received an award at each level of service.

Lt Gen Nimbhorkar is also Colonel of the Punjab Regiment. He is only the second Maharashtrian after Lt Gen Thorat to hold this post.

He also served as General Officer Commanding, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa area before taking over the command of 16 Corps in 2015.

Belonging to an armed forces family, his younger brother is in the Air Force and the youngest retired from the Indian Navy. His elder daughter is a doctor in the Indian Navy and son-in-law also an officer in Indian Navy. His younger daughter works in corporate sector in defence and aerospace.

His wife Sheela Nimbhorkar is involved in welfare activities under the Army Wives Welfare Association and chairperson of the AWWA Ecosystem Committee.