Droupadi Murmu, the President of India and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, undertook a dived sea sortie aboard the Indian Navy submarine INS Vaghsheer on the Western Seaboard on Sunday. The President embarked the submarine from Karwar Naval Harbour, Karnataka, and was accompanied by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff.
During the over two-hour-long sortie, President Murmu interacted closely with the submarine’s crew and witnessed operational demonstrations, gaining first-hand insight into undersea operations and the demanding environment in which submariners function.
President Murmu is the second President of India to undertake a submarine sortie, after A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who sailed in a submarine in 2006. This maiden embarkation aboard an indigenous Kalvari-class submarine underscores the continued engagement of the Supreme Commander with the Armed Forces in operational settings.
In her message recorded in the visitor’s book, the President described the experience as deeply inspiring.
“It was indeed a very special experience for me to sail, dive and spend time with our sailors and officers onboard INS Vaghsheer. The multiple successful firings and challenging operations carried out by INS Vaghsheer demonstrate the crew’s exceptional preparedness and dedication, in accordance with its motto ‘Veerta Varchasva Vijaya’. Witnessing the discipline, confidence and enthusiasm of the Vaghsheer crew assures me that our submarines and the Indian Navy are combat-ready against any threat and under all circumstances.”
Earlier, in November 2024, the President had also witnessed an operational demonstration by the Indian Navy aboard the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
The sortie highlights India’s growing indigenous naval capabilities and reflects the nation’s confidence in the professionalism, preparedness, and combat readiness of the Indian Navy’s submarine arm.
