New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) Vice-Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, urged the 2,172 departing trainee sailors at the INS Chilka to refine their professional abilities and stay informed about technological advancements, while embracing the Navy's fundamental values of duty, honour, and courage, as stated by an official on Friday.

A total of 2,172 sailor trainees participated in the Passing Out Parade of the second batch of 2025, held at the INS Chilka on Thursday, marking the successful completion of 16 weeks of foundational training, as reported by the official.

The trainees celebrated their graduation during an impressive post-sunset ceremony, symbolizing their evolution into disciplined, resilient, and combat-ready Naval professionals, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

This graduating class included 2,103 Agniveers, which featured 113 women Agniveers, alongside 270 Senior Secondary Recruit (Medical Assistants), 44 sports entry personnel of the Indian Navy, and 295 'Naviks' from the Indian Coast Guard.

Vice-Admiral Saxena served as the Chief Guest and Reviewing Officer for the parade, while Commodore B. Deepak Aneel, the Commanding Officer at INS Chilka, acted as the Conducting Officer.

The event was graced by notable veterans, prominent sports figures, senior Naval officers, esteemed guests, and the families of the newly graduated trainees, as the statement highlighted.

The ceremony showcased exceptional standards of drill, discipline, and professionalism achieved by the trainees.

The inclusion of women Agniveers alongside their male peers reaffirmed the Indian Navy's commitment to inclusivity and gender equality in operational roles.

In his address to the parade, Vice-Admiral Saxena congratulated the trainees on their successful training completion.

He urged them to uphold the nation's honour while forging their paths with courage and determination.

He also appreciated the families of the Agniveers for their contributions to the nation.

The Chief Guest praised Team Chilka for their unwavering dedication and pivotal role in shaping both the Navy and the nation.

During the ceremony, the Chief Guest presented medals and trophies to outstanding Agniveers.

Sashi B. Kenchavagol and Jatin Mishra received the Chief of the Naval Staff Rolling Trophy and Gold Medal for Best Agniveer (Senior Secondary Recruit) and Best Agniveer (Matric Recruit), respectively.

Anita Yadav was honored with the General Bipin Rawat Rolling Trophy for Best Woman Agniveer based on overall merit.

Keshav Suryavanshi and Sonendra were recognized as the Best Navik (General Duty) and Best Navik (Domestic Branch), respectively.

Earlier, during the concluding function, the Overall Championship Trophy was awarded to Kharavela Division, with Ashok Division taking the runners-up position.

The occasion also marked the unveiling of the second edition of Ankur 2025, the bilingual magazine of INS Chilka, which highlights the experiences and transformation of Agniveers.