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Indian Navy

About Indian Navy

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What is Indian Navy

The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces — the other two forces included in safeguarding the country are the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy, while the Chief of Naval Staff commands the Navy.
 
The primary objective of the Indian Navy is to protect the country's maritime borders and help in the expansion of its forces. The naval body, whose establishment can be traced back to the 17th century, is bestowed with various responsibilities. From defeating threats to developing indigenous systems and weapons, the Indian Navy operates above, on and under the surface of the ocean to help create a secure maritime environment.
 
Every year, various job opportunities are made available in the Indian Navy. To be eligible for several Indian Navy jobs, you need mandatory 12+ qualification from any government-recognised board or university. There are two methods for applying — NDA (National Defence Academy) entry and Indian Naval Academy entry.

When is Navy Day celebrated?
 
Navy Day is celebrated in India on December 4. On the eve of December 4, the Indian Navy organises a Beating Retreat and Tatoo Ceremony at the Gateway of India in Mumbai.
 
Why is Navy Day celebrated?
 
Navy Day is celebrated to invoke the memory of the launch of Operation Trident during the Indo-Pak war in 1971. The day is celebrated as a mark of reverence to those who were martyred in the war.
 
What was Operation Trident?
 
Operation Trident was conducted in the night intervening December 4 and 5 when the Navy launched an attack on the Pakistan Naval Headquarters in Karachi. India drowned four Pakistani vessels and ravaged the Karachi harbour fuel fields. The operation killed over 500 Pakistani Navy personnel, while the Indian side suffered no losses. 
 
Operation Trident was followed up with another attack by the Indian Navy, code-named Operation Python. Again, India did not suffer any losses in the offensive and managed to damage Pakistani fleet tanker PNS Dacca beyond repair while causing them to lose the Kemari Oil Storage facility as well.

Latest Updates on Indian Navy

Defence ministry signs ₹449 crore deal for 20 indigenous Navy GNSS jammers

The induction of the systems will support the safe operation of Indian Navy vessels in complex operational conditions

Updated On: 10 Jun 2026 | 10:21 PM IST

AIP gap adds to India's submarine challenge

Experts say the country needs a strong underwater presence amid maritime threats

Updated On: 10 Jun 2026 | 6:15 AM IST

India seeks a more 'vibrant' Colombo Security Conclave as China looms

Beijing has convened the China-Indian Ocean Forum since 2021. India is not a member of the forum

Updated On: 07 Jun 2026 | 10:20 PM IST

India has responsibilities on the continental and in the maritime domains

Former Chief of the Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said this when asked if the theatre command proposal is tied to the country's geopolitical ambitions

Updated On: 05 Jun 2026 | 4:08 PM IST

Navy chief backs maritime naval theatre command amid West Asia turmoil

Tripathi said theaterisation must remain strictly guided by operational effectiveness and enhancement of national military capability rather than organisational restructuring alone

Updated On: 30 May 2026 | 11:16 PM IST

Indian Navy confined Pak Navy to its ports during Op Sindoor: Rajnath Singh

Calling the Shaurya Vatika more than a tourist attraction, Singh said it would remind citizens of the sacrifices made by the armed forces

Updated On: 30 May 2026 | 2:57 PM IST

Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar takes charge as 48th Vice Chief of Navy

Earlier, as the Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command, he was instrumental in executing the Navy's aggressive forward deployment of critical assets as part of Operation Sindoor

Updated On: 29 May 2026 | 1:34 PM IST

India's conventional submarine gap widens amid delays and regional rivalry

Experts express concern as Pakistan expands its fleet with air-independent propulsion technology

Updated On: 20 May 2026 | 11:28 PM IST

Continuous at-sea deterrence

The third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine in the Arihant class is thought to weigh 7,000 metric tonnes and is assigned to the Strategic Forces Command

Updated On: 20 May 2026 | 5:02 PM IST

India ready to counter any cross-border misadventure: Navy chief designate

Indian Navy is not a peacetime ceremonial force but an operational navy deployed continuously across the vast and complex maritime theatre, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan stressed

Updated On: 12 May 2026 | 9:21 AM IST

Govt appoints new CDS, Navy chief amid theatre command restructuring push

Lt Gen N S Raja Subramani (Retd.) to lead military integration push, while Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan takes charge amid maritime security challenges

Updated On: 10 May 2026 | 11:34 PM IST

Undersea drones

India is developing a new generation of autonomous systems to tackle mines

Updated On: 10 May 2026 | 2:18 PM IST

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan appointed as next Chief of the Naval Staff

Vice Admiral Swaminathan, who is presently the Western Naval Commander in Mumbai, will take charge on May 31, with his tenure lasting up to December 31, 2028

Updated On: 09 May 2026 | 9:36 AM IST

Theatre command recommendations submitted; joint ops centre by May-end: CDS

Work underway to set up geospatial and communication agencies for the armed forces

Updated On: 04 May 2026 | 3:36 PM IST

Indian submarine Sindhukesari arrives in Colombo for operational turnaround

The submarine's crew is scheduled to participate in a variety of programmes organised by the Sri Lanka Navy, including visits to several tourist attractions in the island nation

Updated On: 04 May 2026 | 2:16 PM IST

Best of BS Opinion: India feels diplomatic squeeze from W. Asia conflict

From Iran diplomacy and artificial intelligence risks to Great Nicobar strategy and Pakistan policy, today's Best of BS Opinion highlights key strategic and economic debates shaping India's outlook

Updated On: 02 May 2026 | 6:15 AM IST

India conducts successful maiden salvo launch of naval anti-ship missile

India successfully conducts maiden salvo launch of NASM-SR off Odisha coast, validating strike capability, waterline hit precision and enhancing naval combat strength

Updated On: 30 Apr 2026 | 11:17 PM IST

India's LR-AShM hypersonic missile nears trials, DRDO outlines capabilities

The Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM) is designed to meet the coastal battery requirements of the Indian Navy

Updated On: 30 Apr 2026 | 2:01 PM IST

DRDO, Navy achieve hydrodynamic testing milestone for warship project

The work, led by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in collaboration with the Navy's Warship Design Bureau

Updated On: 25 Apr 2026 | 11:16 PM IST

Navy chief stresses operational synergy to address Indo-Pacific challenges

Admiral Tripathi was on a two-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), during which he reviewed the operational preparedness and discussed measures to strengthen jointmanship

Updated On: 23 Apr 2026 | 1:34 PM IST