Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026 observed on July 26

Key facts

• Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed annually on July 26 to honour the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers of Operation Vijay.
• The Kargil War of 1999 claimed the lives of 527 Indian soldiers, while more than 1,300 personnel were wounded.
• India's response to the Pakistani intrusion included Operation Vijay (Army), Operation Safed Sagar (Air Force), and Operation Talwar (Navy).
• The war led to the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 2020 and the establishment of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA).
• India's defence production reached a record ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, and defence exports rose to ₹38,424 crore, with equipment exported to over 80 countries.
• Key military platforms inducted after Kargil include Rafale fighter aircraft, Apache attack helicopters, Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, Arjun Mk IA battle tanks, and INS Vikrant.
• The conflict spurred initiatives such as Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat to boost indigenous defence manufacturing.
• India's surveillance network now includes drones, satellite-based monitoring, advanced radar systems, and integrated intelligence sharing.