1. Originally called the Royal Indian Navy, our supreme naval branch of the armed forces of India was founded in 1612 by the East India Company and renamed the Indian Navy on 26th January 1950 after independence.
2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosale is considered as the Father of Indian Navy. He built a strong naval presence across the coast of Konkan and Goa to protect sea trade.
3. On December 4, the Indian Navy launched Operation Trident and attacked the Pakistan Naval Headquarters in Karachi sinking a minesweeper, a destroyer and an ammunition supply ship. Operation Python followed it on December 8, 1971. This day is celebrated as navy day.
4. Indian Navy Ensign (the flag) still incorporates the St. George’s Cross design, the flag of England but new design composed of the national emblem on the cross intersection.
5. The Indian Navy’s first independent mission was against the Portuguese Navy during the liberation of Goa in 1961.
6. INS (Indian Naval Ship) Viraat was the Navy’s first aircraft carrier and the oldest aircraft carrier in the world.
7. INS Arihant is the first ballistic missile submarine to have been built by a country other than one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
8. Indian Navy is among the top naval forces of the world has a strength of 58,350 personnel and a large operational fleet.
