President Droupadi Murmu witnesses Indian Navy operations on board INS Vikrant | India News – Times of India

PANAJI: President Droupadi Murmu boarded the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and witnessed an operational demonstration by the Indian Navy at sea on Thursday.
Droupadi Murmu arrived at INS Hansa, the Naval Air Station in Goa on Thursday, where she was received by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, and Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Naval Flag. Command. Upon arrival, a ceremonial ‘Honour Guard’ consisting of 150 men was paraded in her honor.
Murmu then boarded the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at sea, off the coast of Goa, accompanied by 15 frontline warships and submarines of the Indian Navy.
This marked President Droupadi Murmu’s first visit to Indian Navy ships at sea.
The President received a briefing on the role and operational strategies of the Indian Navy before observing several naval exercisesincluding take-off and landing of fighter aircraft on the deck, missile firing exercises, submarine maneuvers, flypasts by more than 30 aircraft and a traditional warship steam past.
In her speech, President Murmu praised the capabilities and strategic reach of the Indian Navy.
“Indian Navy units are deployed for extended periods over vast areas, showcasing their capabilities and strategic influence. Your positive, proactive and quick actions have saved countless lives at sea. It was a special moment for me when the President of Bulgaria called for thanks for rescuing the Bulgarian crew from a hijacked ship earlier this year.”
In March, President Murmu received a call from her Bulgarian counterpart, Rumen Radev, who expressed his gratitude for the successful rescue of the Bulgarian ship MV Ruen by the Indian Navy.
In that operation, INS Kolkata, deployed in the Arabian Sea, intercepted the hijacked merchant ship MV Ruen after a 40-hour chase, thwarting Somali pirates who seized the ship in December 2023.
Discussing the induction of women into the Indian Navy through the Agnipath programme, Murmu said, “The Indian Navy is implementing transformative measures with the Agnipath program and induction of women. The Navy was the first service to open recruitment for women Agniveers. Through induction across all ranks and positions, the Navy’s proactive steps are harnessing the full combat potential of our women naval warriors.”
“The Indian Navy has appointed its first woman commander on board. She has also decided that women will fly naval aircraft. The Navy recently welcomed its first female helicopter pilot. These steps promote gender inclusivity,” Murmu said.
President Murmu also met Indian Navy women Agniveers serving on INS Vikrant, the Navy’s largest indigenous warship.
Admiral Tripathi highlighted India’s achievement in building and operating both SSBNs (nuclear ballistic missile submarines) and aircraft carriers domestically.
“It is a matter of pride that India is one of only six countries in the world and the only non-P5 country capable of building and operating both SSBNs and aircraft carriers domestically,” Tripathi said.
The Indian Navy displayed six of its conventional submarines to President Murmu during the demonstration. These include submarines of the latest Kalvari class, the Kilo class of Russian origin and the Shishumar class of German origin.
The President also interacted with the crew of INS Vikrant during the lunch, after which she delivered a speech to the fleet, which was broadcast to all units at sea.