The 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations opened at Dras on 25 July 2026 with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh telling troops that the Indian defence forces stand fully prepared to face any challenge. Speaking on the eve of the anniversary of Operation Vijay, he said the enemy's intentions remained unchanged and that it continued to rely on tactics such as proxy wars and infiltration, even as the forces held themselves ready to meet any threat.

He was paying tribute to the soldiers who secured India's victory in the 1999 Kargil War, fought across the ridgelines above Dras in Ladakh.

Expressing confidence in the forces, Rajnath Singh said no one dares cast an evil eye upon India for as long as the patriotism and resolve of the country's troops remain unwavering. That courage, he added, is what lets every citizen pursue and realise their dreams without fear.

Rajnath Singh's message to the troops at Dras

The Defence Minister shared a Barakhana with the soldiers. Recalling the Kargil victory, he said the pride of that moment should not let anyone forget that the challenges before the country have not diminished. He reiterated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government's focus on the welfare of soldiers, and said sustained emphasis is being placed on defence modernisation so that the military is equipped with world-class weaponry and training.

He acknowledged the forces for taking on the latest technologies, and said their record of valour and commitment is recognised nationally and abroad. "This century belongs to us; the future belongs to us. Given the strides we have made towards self-reliance, I am confident that our defence forces will become the best in the world in the times to come," he said.

The self-reliance drive has run alongside the commemorations through the month. In the weeks before the anniversary the Army flagged off the Shaurya Vijay Yatra motorcycle expedition from the National War Memorial in Delhi, and mounted an expedition to Point 5140 above Dras, both converging on the Kargil War Memorial for 26 July.

27th Kargil Vijay Diwas honours the heroes of Operation Vijay

The afternoon at the Vishwanathan Stadium brought the Shaurya Bhoj, where the Defence Minister interacted with the troops. A display of drones, robotic mules and an Army Martial Arts Routine ran alongside a cultural programme drawn from the heritage of the region.

Rajnath Singh was joined at the Shaurya Bhoj by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, the Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, and the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma. Kargil War veterans, gallantry awardees, Veer Naris, the next of kin of the fallen, civil dignitaries and local citizens sat with them. Gen Dhiraj Seth and Lt Gen Pratik Sharma command the formations that hold the same sector the 1999 war was fought over, a point the Defence Minister's presence in Dras carried without saying.

Shaurya Sandhya at the Kargil War Memorial

Earlier, the Defence Minister had attended the Shaurya Sandhya at the Kargil War Memorial. Patriotic tunes set the tone for the tribute to the heroes of Operation Vijay, and ten next of kin of Kargil War heroes were felicitated for their families' sacrifice.

A Kalash carrying Veeron Ki Mitti was presented to Rajnath Singh. Inter-faith prayers led by religious teachers were followed by the Beating Retreat and the National Anthem. The Defence Minister then lit lamps at the memorial in homage to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the war.

The day had begun with the Yudh Sansmaran at Lamochen View Point, attended by Kargil veterans, the next of kin of the fallen and other guests. A Yudh Sansmaran film and a short video recounting the courage of 40 heroes of Operation Vijay were screened. The families were felicitated, and then shared their own memories of the soldiers.

Gauravmay Sanskriti and the road to 26 July

The Gauravmay Sanskriti programme at the stadium opened with the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre Band. The Shwet Ashwa team of the Corps of Military Police Centre and School followed with a motorcycle display of precision riding. Students presented a National Integration Dance, set beside glimpses of the Indian Army's growing use of new technologies for operations in high-altitude terrain, before the Vijay Bhoj brought veterans, serving personnel and the families of the heroes together.

The Defence Minister's attendance had been set out ahead of the two day commemoration at Dras. This year's 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas programme runs over three days and culminates on 26 July 2026 with the Shradhanjali Samaroh, at which Rajnath Singh will pay homage to the heroes of Operation Vijay on behalf of the nation.

Homage to the 545 who fell

The commemorations honour the 545 bravehearts who laid down their lives in the Kargil War. Of them, 537 were personnel of the Indian Army, five of the Indian Air Force, one of the Border Security Force and two were civilians, a toll recorded in the Ministry of Defence account of the day. Their sacrifice, in the words repeated at Dras, safeguarded the country's territorial integrity.