Squadron Leader Rajiv Pundir was born on 28 April 1962 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He studied at St. Joseph's Academy, Dehradun, and later joined the National Defence Academy as part of the 62nd Course in 1979. After completing his military training, he was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 29 May 1983 as a helicopter pilot.
During his distinguished career, Squadron Leader Pundir flew several types of helicopters, including the Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-26, HAL Chetak, and HAL Cheetah, accumulating more than 3,000 flying hours. He served as an instructor at the College of Military Engineering and participated in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. In recognition of his outstanding professionalism, he received the Chief of the Air Staff Commendation in 1988.
During the Kargil War, he served with No. 152 Helicopter Unit, "Mighty Armours," flying the Mi-17 helicopter during Operation Safed Sagar. On 28 May 1999, he led a strike mission against enemy positions near Point 5140 in the Drass Sector. Despite knowing that the Mi-17 lacked effective countermeasures against enemy Stinger missiles, he accepted the mission without hesitation. After successfully firing rockets on the enemy objective, the helicopter was struck by a Pakistani surface-to-air missile during the breakaway. The aircraft crashed, killing Squadron Leader Rajiv Pundir along with Flight Lieutenant Subramaniam Muhilan, Flight Sergeant P. V. N. R. Prasad, and Sergeant Raj Kishore Sahu.
For his conspicuous courage, exceptional leadership, and supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, Squadron Leader Rajiv Pundir was posthumously awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry). His professionalism and devotion to duty remain an enduring inspiration to the Indian Air Force.