Pradeep Shoury Arya

Major Pradeep Shoury Arya SC (born 30 May 1971) is the country's first Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer who has been decorated with the Shaurya Chakra for his efforts in thwarting an infiltration bid in the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. He has had the distinct honour of serving both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry Defence simultaneously.
He currently serves as the Commissioner of Income Tax in Bengaluru, Karnataka. 
==Early life and education==
He graduated from St Joseph's College of Arts and Science in Bengaluru. In college, he joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) from 1 Air / Karnataka NCC Air Squadron. He received a scholarship to pursue Private Pilot's License from NCC Directorate, Karnataka and Goa, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. He cleared his pilot aptitude to join the Indian Air Force from SSB Mysore. 
==Professional and technical qualifications==
Commercial Pilot's License DGCA with instrument rating and multiengine rating (Scholarship from the State Government of Karnataka)
Masters in Sociology, Business Administration, Law (labour law and business law), Taxation
PhD in Psephology [Voting Behaviour]
Alumnus of London School of Economics (LSE), UK, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, USA, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore, National Law School (NALSAR), Hyderabad, Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad and Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.
==Career with the IRS==
Pradeep Shoury Arya is from the 2004 batch of the IRS. He has worked in various capacities and collaborations. 
* Enforcement Actions against Tax Evasion.
* ITAT - appellate tribunal
* International Taxation and Transfer pricing 
* Assessments and inspection
* Election commission
* Narco terrorism
==Military Career==
As part of the Indian Army, PARA (TA) he has worked extensively in the Northern Theatre Command with the elite Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) as part of 4 PARA (Special Forces), in Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorism (CICT) Operations and mountain warfare in the hostile environment of Jammu & Kashmir. He has served in the North-Eastern States as part of 2 PARA (Special Forces) and 12 PARA (Special Forces). He has additionally worked as a part of Military Intelligence (MI). 
During his Post Commission Training at Indian Military Academy [IMA], Dehradun, 2013, he was adjudged the Best Officer Trainee in the Overall Order of Merit, 2013 and recipient of-
i. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Gold Medal
ii. Brigadier KP Singh Deo Medal for Best in Physical Training
iii. Gold Medal for Best in Camps, Outdoor Exercises and Activities
====Indian Army Commendations====
1. Awarded the Additional Director General, Territorial Army Citation, 2014 for his distinguished services and being a role model to other officers and men in the Territorial Army
4. Commendation by the Additional Director General, Territorial Army, 2020 for his outstanding performance commendable to the Territorial Army (TA) Fraternity and being the Architect of the Ecological Task Force, and the conduct of Ganga Yodha Mahotsav - 2020, Varanasi (UP)
5. Commendation by the General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-Chief), 2022, Southern Command, Pune for providing timely, relevant, accurate and synchronised intelligence support to tactical, operational and strategic-level needs of the Army
==Shaurya Chakra==
Pradeep Shoury Arya was awarded the Shaurya Chakra, India's third highest peacetime gallantry award, by the Honourable President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind on 26 January 2018. The Shaurya Chakra was awarded to him for leading a team of Special Forces into operations across the Line of Control (LoC) and neutralising terrorists. 
===Central Government===
2. Commendation by Shri Prakash Keshav Javadekar, the then Union Cabinet Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, including the Additional Director General, Territorial Army, 2020 for outstanding contribution towards ensuring Green India, including its ecological protection, encroachment control and overall cleanliness with nation’s mission of ‘Swachh Bharat’
===State Government===
1. Conferred the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, 2018 by the State Government of Karnataka, in recognition of his distinguished service and contribution in various fields, including Defence. 
2. Recipient of Nada Prabhu Kempegowda Award, 2018, instituted by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), for his notable contributions to National Security.
==Covid relief==
===Role in in COVID-19 pandemic management & relief during the first wave===
The Government of Karnataka nominated Major Pradeep Shoury Arya as the Chief Coordinator for COVID-19 Pandemic Relief. He displayed exemplary leadership and with meticulous planning, addressed several issues of labourers, African & North-East population & the marginalized sections of society. 
In Maharashtra, Major Arya along with various NGOs & stake holders, organized relief for migrant labourers, transgenders, commercial sex workers & slum dwellers 
In the Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh, coordinated with the Indian Army, Northern Command, Udhampur (14, 15 & 16 Corps) for relief operations, including distribution of medical aid & rations kits to migrant labourers and Bakarwal communities, along with various NGOs, including The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) & other stake holders. 
===COVID-19 pandemic management & relief during the second wave===
1. In various districts of Karnataka and Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu Major Arya helped upgrade the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and installed oxygen generation plants at various districts and organised relief measures, along with various NGOs, including The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) & other stake holders. 
2. In Assam, Major Arya helped upgrade the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Charaideo District and organised relief measures, along with various NGOs & stake holders, in coordination the Indian Army and Assam Rifles 
4. In Uttarakhand, Major Arya helped upgrade the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Pauri Garhwal District and organised relief measures, along with various NGOs & stake holders in coordination the Indian Army and the Territorial Army 
5. In Nagaland, Major Arya helped upgrade the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Monyakshu Village at Mon District and organised relief measures, along with various NGOs & stake holders in coordination the Indian Army Assam Rifles 
==CSR and Education==
In the last two decades Major Arya has rigorously worked and organised several programs, seminars, guidance initiatives for budding civil services and armed forces aspirants.
Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) Activities 
Coordinating charitable activities, including diversity, equality, inclusion, environmental responsibility, reducing carbon footprints and supporting sustainable development specially in Kashmir and the North-Eastern states
Board of Studies 
Nominated as the Member of Board of Studies in the Economics Department of St Joseph’s University, Bangalore
Member of the Governing Council 
Nominated as the Member of the Governing Council of Government Flying Training School (GFTS), Jakkur Aerodrome, under the Ministry of Youth Empowerment & Sports, Government of Karnataka 
==Work as guest faculty==
1. Secretariat, New Delhi, conducting / organizing orientation programmes, lectures and seminars for Members of Parliament and of State Legislatures
2. Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, Civil Service Training Institute, including Indian Administrative Service on public policy and public administration
3. National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT), Nagpur the premier Central Training Institute and other Direct Taxes Regional Training Institutes of Government of India for training of newly appointed civil servants of the Indian Revenue Service under the administrative control of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
4. National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics (NACIN) the premier training institute of Government of India, for training of newly appointed civil servants of the Indian Revenue Service, under the administrative control of the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. 
==In popular culture==
# The gallant feat for which he was awarded with the Shaurya Chakra has been written about in Chapter 9 of the book India's Most Fearless 2: More Military Stories of Unimaginable Courage and Sacrifice (2019), authored by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh, published by Penguin India. 
# The operations of Major Pradeep Arya, as part of the Indian Army and his work with National Investigation Agency (NIA), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other Enforcement/ Investigation Agencies was made into a Hindi-language military espionage series, titled Avrodh The Siege Within 2, for streaming television SonyLIV. It was premiered on 24 June, 2022.
Category:1971 births
Category:Indian Revenue Service officers
Category:Commissioner
Category:Indian Army