Rear Admiral Santosh Kumar Gupta, MVC, NM is a former flag officer of the Indian Navy.

The citation for the Maha Vir Chakra reads as follows:[1][2] Gazette Notification: 18 Pres/72,12-2-72 Operation: – Date of Award: 21 Dec 1971

Lieutenant Commander Santosh Kumar Gupta, Commanding Officer of a Navy air squadron, operating from the aircraft carrier INS ‘VIKRANT’, led a total of eleven very successful strike missions with devastating effects on enemy ships and heavily defended shore facilities in various sectors of Bangladesh.

On 9 December 1971, Lieutenant Commander Gupta pressed home a strike of Seahawk aircraft against enemy targets in Khulna in face of a fierce barrage of anti- aircraft gunfire.

Lieutenant Commander Gupta showed great courage and professional ability in landing his damaged aircraft safely on board the carrier.