Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was born on July 17th , 1943 in village Rurka in Ludhiana District of Punjab. He was the son of Warrant Officer Hon. Flight Lieutenant Trilok Singh Sekhon. He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 4th , 1967 as a Flying Officer.

During the 1971 Indo-pak war Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was assigned to the 18 Squadron "The Flying Bullets". He was flying the Folland Gnat fighter aircraft, which was based at Srinagar.

India was bound by an international agreement not to base its air defence aircraft at Srinagar. Therefore, the pilots who were hurriedly brought to Srinagar at the outbreak of the hostilities with Pakistan, were neither familiar with the terrain nor acclimatised to the winter rigours of Kashmir. Nevertheless, during the war, Flag Officer Sekhon and his colleagues fought Pakistani air raids with valour and determination. The reputation of the Gnat was safe in their hands.

On 14th December 1971, Pakistani attacked the Srinagar airfield with six F-86 jets.
Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was on readiness duty that time. Soon the enemy aircraft attacked the airfield, strafing ground targets. Under heavy fire, Sekhon was able to take off in his Gnat and engage the enemy Jets. He scored a direct hit on one Sabre and set another ablaze. The second jet was seen heading away towards Rajauri, trailing smoke. The remaining four Sabres pressed the attack.  After a long treetop level dogfight, They shot down Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon's aircraft and he was killed. The remaining enemy aircraft returned to Pakistan without pressing the attack.

The sublime heroism, supreme gallantry, flying skill and determination, above and beyond the call of duty, displayed by Flying Officer Sekhon in the face of certain death, set new heights to Air Force traditions.Determination, bravery and brilliant flying skills  displayed by Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon earned him the highest wartime  gallantry award,  the Param Vir Chakra, posthumously.He remains the only air force pilot to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra.

Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon is remembered for his gallantry and statues of him have also been erected in many cities in Punjab. A marine tanker built in 1985 was named Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC.