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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

Eutelsat OneWeb LEO satellite powers Indian Navy's Project Kaundinya voyage

Eutelsat's OneWeb LEO satellite network provided real-time connectivity for the Indian Navy's INSV Kaundinya during its maritime heritage expedition to Oman

Updated On: 15 Jan 2026 | 7:19 PM IST

Blaze of glory

This is a first-person account of the serving Indian Navy officer who was awarded the Shaurya Chakra in 2025

Updated On: 10 Jan 2026 | 5:30 AM IST

Exploding sleeper cells of the sea

Naval mines have re-emerged as potent instruments of modern conflict but India is not immune to their destructive power

Updated On: 10 Jan 2026 | 5:15 AM IST

Commissioning of Samudra Pratap strengthens self-reliance, says PM Modi

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Pratap on Monday, India's first indigenously built pollution control vessel

Updated On: 07 Jan 2026 | 10:47 AM IST

₹3.84 trn in weapon, equipment acquisition proposals approved in 2025: MoD

While these proposals will take time to translate into contracts, they nonetheless point to an enhanced focus on military modernisation

Updated On: 31 Dec 2025 | 6:51 PM IST

INS Sindhughosh decommissioned after 4 decades of service: Indian Navy

The decommissioning ceremony was held at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, in the presence of WNC's Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOCINC) Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan

Updated On: 20 Dec 2025 | 8:03 PM IST

New diving craft to bolster Indian Navy's underwater operations capability

DSC A20 is first of five indigenously built vessels built to perform underwater work in harbours, coastal waters

Updated On: 17 Dec 2025 | 6:09 PM IST

Navy to commission second MH-60R helicopter squadron on Dec 17

The MH-60R helicopter has been fully integrated with fleet operations and has proven its worth on numerous occasions

Updated On: 15 Dec 2025 | 12:29 AM IST

MEA debunks fake letter falsely linked to EAM Jaishankar on Rafale deal

The fake letter, falsely attributed to Jaishankar, claimed that details of the Rafale naval aircraft delivery schedule had been leaked and that the disclosure had caused unexpected complications

Updated On: 12 Dec 2025 | 6:48 AM IST

India, Brazil sign key naval MoU to boost Scorpene submarine support

According to the Indian Navy, the MoU will enhance life-cycle support, enable experience sharing in maintenance, and strengthen cooperation between government agencies & industry of both nations

Updated On: 10 Dec 2025 | 11:07 AM IST

Technology versus troops: Tracing India's defence dilemma

India needs to balance the inexorable logic of force optimisation with making up for the numbers lost

Updated On: 10 Dec 2025 | 7:15 AM IST

Govt denies report of new $2-billion India-Russia nuclear submarine lease

The Centre has refuted a Bloomberg report claiming a fresh $2-billion nuclear submarine lease, clarifying that the submarine referenced is part of a 2019 contract

Updated On: 04 Dec 2025 | 6:03 PM IST

Navy Day: President Murmu extends greetings to Indian Navy, salutes bravery

Navy Day is observed as an acknowledgement of the Navy's role in the country's defence, and December 4 was chosen to celebrate the day to commemorate its valour against Pakistan during the 1971 war

Updated On: 04 Dec 2025 | 10:33 AM IST

Space-based shield for the country's Navy

India's heaviest communication satellite will boost 'strategic autonomy'

Updated On: 10 Dec 2025 | 8:00 AM IST

India to induct nuclear-powered submarine soon: Navy chief Dinesh Tripathi

An updated version of the country's maritime doctrine is unveiled

Updated On: 02 Dec 2025 | 11:13 PM IST

Navy threat of offensive action key to Pak's ceasefire plea: Vice Admiral

Addressing the media ahead of the Navy Day, Vice Admiral Swaminathan, who heads the Western Naval Command, said Operation Sindoor saw an unprecedented mobilisation of more than 30 ships and submarines

Updated On: 02 Dec 2025 | 5:17 PM IST

India's economic rise will be shaped 'at, from and by the sea': Navy chief

Emphasising the scale of global ocean-based commerce, the Navy chief noted that maritime trade has grown more than fivefold in recent decades, reaching 12.3 billion tonnes in 2023

Updated On: 02 Dec 2025 | 7:31 AM IST

Operation Sindoor still ongoing, says Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi

Responding to questions on India's aircraft carrier plans, the Navy Chief highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong carrier fleet

Updated On: 01 Dec 2025 | 7:03 AM IST

INS Vikrant to take centrestage at Navy Day celebrations on Dec 3 in Kerala

President Droupadi Murmu will attend the event as the chief guest

Updated On: 29 Nov 2025 | 5:36 PM IST

India inks helicopter support agreements worth ₹7,995 crore with US

The Ministry of Defence said developing these facilities within the country would strengthen capabilities in the long run and lessen reliance on the US for such support

Updated On: 28 Nov 2025 | 5:56 PM IST