Daijiworld Media Network - Ferozepur

Ferozepur, Dec 26: Ten-year-old Shravan Singh, hailing from Tara Wali village in Mamdot block along the Indo-Pak international border in Punjab’s Ferozepur district, was conferred the Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar 2026 by President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday in recognition of his exceptional courage, compassion and patriotism.

The country’s highest civilian honour for children was presented to Shravan on the occasion of Veer Bal Diwas. The Class IV student earned national recognition for selflessly serving water, lassi, milk and tea to Army jawans during “Operation Sindoor”, when swarms of drones entered Indian territory amid heightened border tensions.

Shravan’s actions, carried out fearlessly in a sensitive border area, won widespread appreciation from the Army as well as the local community. After receiving the award, the young boy said he enjoyed helping the soldiers every day by offering them cold water and milk.

“They gave me special gifts, shared food with me and even treated me to ice cream. I want to become a soldier and serve the nation when I grow up,” he said, adding that he had even bought new clothes for the award ceremony.

His father, Sona Singh, said Army jawans had camped in their fields during Operation Sindoor. “From the very first day, Shravan insisted on serving the soldiers. He found happiness in helping them and enjoyed their company. Watching him bring refreshments to the jawans filled us with pride. We never imagined he would receive such a big honour,” he said.

Shravan’s mother, Santosh Rani, expressed gratitude to the Army for recommending her son for the award. “He dreams of becoming a soldier. The jawans became like his friends,” she said.

Earlier, the Army had announced it would sponsor Shravan’s education to help him pursue his dreams. The Golden Arrow Division had also honoured him with the title of “Youngest Civil Warrior”. Western Army Commander Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar had felicitated the young boy, underlining the strong bond between the Army and civilians in border areas.

During the India-Pakistan tensions between May 7 and 10, multiple drone sightings were reported in villages and towns of Ferozepur district. Otherwise, Tara Wali, located just two kilometres from the international border, remains a quiet hamlet.

Shravan lives with his parents, an elder sister studying in Class VII and a younger brother.