Samudra Pradakshina: 9 women officers felicitated for 314-day, 25,500-nautical-mile voyage
Synopsis
Nine women officers from India's three armed services have completed Samudra Pradakshina — the country's first-ever tri-services all-women circumnavigation — covering 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans in 314 days aboard IASV Triveni. Felicitated on the eve of Independence Day, their achievement sets a new benchmark for women's participation in India's military.
Key Takeaways
Nine women officers from the Indian Army , Indian Navy , and Indian Air Force completed Samudra Pradakshina , India's first Tri-Services All-Women Circumnavigation Sailing Expedition.
The voyage covered nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans over 314 days aboard IASV Triveni .
The felicitation ceremony was held at Headquarters SWAC, Ahmedabad on 14 August , presided over by Air Marshal PV Shivanand .
Senior officials from the Indian Coast Guard , CRPF , BSF , and civil administration attended alongside school children.
Air Marshal Shivanand called the expedition an example of Nari Shakti and tri-service jointness .
Nine women officers from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force were felicitated in Ahmedabad on 14 August after completing Samudra Pradakshina — the first-ever Tri-Services All-Women Circumnavigation Sailing Expedition — a gruelling 314-day voyage that covered nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans. The ceremony, held at Headquarters South Western Air Command (SWAC), marked a landmark moment for women's participation in India's armed forces.
The Voyage and the Vessel
The expedition was undertaken aboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni, which carried the all-women crew through some of the world's most demanding open-water conditions. Over its 314-day duration, the voyage tested the officers' physical endurance and mental fortitude to their limits. The successful completion of the circumnavigation stands as the first of its kind in the history of India's tri-services.
The Felicitation Ceremony
Air Marshal PV Shivanand, AVSM, VM, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of SWAC, presided over the felicitation. Senior officials from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), and civil administration were present, alongside children from several schools. Air Marshal Shivanand described Samudra Pradakshina as a demonstration of Nari Shakti and tri-service jointness, commending the team's determination, leadership, and mental resilience in overcoming the challenges of the expedition.
What the Officers Said
The nine officers shared their experiences from the voyage, recounting the challenges they navigated and the lessons absorbed in teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. Air Marshal Shivanand noted that 'no endeavour is beyond reach when pursued with conviction and collective effort,' a sentiment the officers' achievement substantiates. Their accounts underscored the psychological as much as the physical demands of a months-long open-ocean circumnavigation.
Broader Significance for the Armed Forces
The expedition is part of a wider trend of increasing women's participation in challenging operational and expeditionary roles within India's armed forces. Notably, this achievement arrives on the eve of Independence Day, amplifying its symbolic resonance. Air Marshal Shivanand said the officers' accomplishment would inspire young women across the country to pursue ambitious goals and challenge conventional boundaries. The completion of Samudra Pradakshina reinforces the Indian Armed Forces' emphasis on jointness, professional excellence, and gender inclusion in high-stakes missions.
Point of View
All-women circumnavigation, completed without incident across four oceans, challenges that inertia with evidence rather than policy paper. The timing — felicitation on the eve of Independence Day — is clearly deliberate, designed to amplify the symbolic weight. What matters now is whether this milestone translates into structural expansion of women's expeditionary roles, or remains a celebrated exception.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Samudra Pradakshina?
Samudra Pradakshina is the first-ever Tri-Services All-Women Circumnavigation Sailing Expedition undertaken by the Indian Armed Forces. Nine women officers from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force completed a 314-day voyage covering nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans aboard IASV Triveni.
Who felicitated the nine women officers?
Air Marshal PV Shivanand, AVSM, VM, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Air Command (SWAC), felicitated the officers at a ceremony held at Headquarters SWAC in Ahmedabad on 14 August.
Which vessel was used for the Samudra Pradakshina expedition?
The expedition was undertaken aboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni. The vessel carried the all-women crew through demanding open-water conditions across four oceans over 314 days.
Why is Samudra Pradakshina historically significant?
It is the first circumnavigation of its kind in India's tri-services history — an all-women crew drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force completing a full global sailing expedition. The achievement is seen as a milestone for women's participation in challenging operational and expeditionary roles in the Indian Armed Forces.
Who attended the felicitation ceremony in Ahmedabad?
Senior officials from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, CRPF, BSF, and civil administration attended, along with children from various schools.
