New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday felicitated nine women officers from the three services who returned home after completing India’s first-ever Tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, onboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni.
Interacting with the officers in New Delhi, Rajnath praised their courage and determination in completing the 314-day voyage, which covered nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans.
He described the expedition as a testament to Nari Shakti and an outstanding example of Tri-service jointness and synergy that would inspire the entire nation.
The women officers shared their experiences with the minister, saying the expedition’s demanding nature made the voyage both memorable and rewarding. They said their commitment to making the nation proud kept them motivated through immense physical and mental challenges.
Rajnath further said their dedication had inspired him and reinforced his own resolve, adding that their achievement showed how firm conviction could help accomplish any goal in life.
Calling the officers’ capability and confidence incredible, Rajnath said the successful completion of ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ had shattered stereotypes claiming women cannot accomplish arduous military missions.
He said the officers had proven that physical capability, mental toughness, and leadership qualities are not bound by gender, and that every daughter in India could now believe she, too, could cross oceans and conquer the world.
He also termed the expedition a shining example of Tri-service jointness, noting that officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force had sailed together on the same vessel under the same flag in pursuit of a shared mission. He said the voyage proved that no horizon was too vast to conquer when the forces moved forward together.
Rajnath further commended the team for showcasing India’s engineering excellence, indigenous capabilities and technological advancements to the countries they visited, saying the mission had conveyed that India is second to none in any field, according to an official statement.
Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar and other senior officers of the three services were present during the interaction.
The IASV Triveni crew was virtually flagged in by the defence minister on July 22, in Mumbai. He had earlier graced the flag-off ceremony on September 11, 2025, through video conferencing.
The mission’s success followed nearly two years of intensive training, meticulous planning and round-the-clock shore-based support. The expedition met all internationally recognised criteria for circumnavigation, crossing all meridians of longitude, crossing the Equator twice, crossing the International Date Line, and rounding the Three Great Capes – Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope.
The crew’s successful passage through the Drake Passage and rounding of Cape Horn also earned them membership of the Cape Horners fraternity, an honour reserved for sailors who conquer one of the world’s most demanding maritime passages.
Beyond the maritime achievement, ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ also served as an instrument of military diplomacy, with IASV Triveni showcasing India’s cultural heritage, maritime traditions and military professionalism during port calls across the globe.
