In 2025, Lieutenant General Sadhna Saxena Nair was conferred the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) by the President of India during the Defence Investiture Ceremony. This prestigious award recognizes her exceptional leadership, pioneering contributions to military medicine, and unwavering commitment to the welfare of soldiers across the Indian Armed Forces.
Early Life and Inspiration
Born in 1985 in Alwar, Rajasthan, Sadhna grew up witnessing her mother’s tireless work as a community health volunteer. Those early mornings spent alongside her mother’s mobile clinic instilled in her a deep sense of service and empathy. Encouraged by her family’s commitment to social welfare, she took every opportunity to tutor neighbourhood children and organise local health camps. By the time she finished high school, Sadhna was already charting a path toward public service.
Education and Formative Years
After topping her state board exams, Sadhna earned admission to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi, graduating with an MBBS in 2008. She went on to specialise in Emergency Medicine, completing her MD in 2012. Driven by a desire to serve on the front lines, she joined the Army Medical Corps that same year. Advanced courses in disaster management, CBRN defence, and high‐altitude medicine further honed her skills for austere environments.
Military Career and Distinguished Service
Over the last decade, Colonel Nayar has held key positions across India’s most challenging terrains:
- Medical Officer, Forward Surgical Team, 2014–2017, along India–China border. Commanding Officer, Field Medical Unit, 2018–2020, Leh and Ladakh sectors Lead Coordinator, Operation Megha Shakti (Uttarakhand floods), 2023 Medical Director, Regional Armed Forces Hospital, Pune, 2021–present. Her decisive actions in setting up makeshift hospitals on high‐altitude roads and coordinating helicopter evacuations saved hundreds of lives. She pioneered telemedicine links between remote posts and central hospitals, reducing mortality among injured soldiers by over 40 percent.
Special Service Medal: Recognition for Humanitarian Leadership
In June 2024, Sadhna Nayar was awarded the Special Service Medal by the President of India. The citation praised her “exceptional gallantry and organisational excellence” during the relentless Uttarakhand floods of 2023–24. Under her command, medical teams treated over 5,000 villagers and rescued more than 300 stranded civilians at altitudes above 3,000 metres. She became the first woman officer in her regiment to earn this honour for disaster relief operations
Family and Personal Journey
Service runs deep in the Nayar household:
- Spouse: Major Rajesh Nayar, Infantry Regiment, veteran of counter-insurgency operations
- Children: Aanya (10) and Arjun (7), both budding nature enthusiasts inspired by their mother’s mountain missions
- Parents: Rekha and Harish Pratap Singh, retired teachers who fostered a love of learning and community outreach
Together, they balance postings across the country with home-schooling initiatives and local health awareness drives.
Legacy and Future Aspirations
Colonel Sadhna Nayar’s story continues to inspire young women across India to join the armed forces and pursue careers in military medicine. She is currently developing a mobile health application to deliver real-time battlefield analytics and patient tracking. Her long-term goal is to establish a network of remote telemedical outposts in India’s most inaccessible regions. As she prepares for her next deployment, her life stands as a testament to service before self and the transformative power of compassionate leadership.