| The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. It currently has approximately 56000 personnel on active duty, including 5000 members of the naval aviation branch, 1200 marine commandos and 1000 Sagar Prahari Bal soldiers, making it the world's fifth largest navy in terms of personnel. The Indian Navy currently operates around 170 vessels, including the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, along with operational jet fighters. Though the primary objective of the navy is to secure national maritime borders, India also uses its navy to enhance its international relations through joint exercises, port visits and humanitarian missions, including disaster relief. In recent years, the Indian Navy has undergone extensive modernization and expansion meaning there is now a much more overt military and political readiness to establish 'blue water' capability. The Naval Crest consists of the Ashoka emblem, a foul anchor and a shield, and its navy blue colour. Below the crest is the motto of the Service- 'Shano Varuna' - meaning 'May the Lord of the Oceans be Auspicious Unto Us'. In India it is customary to acknowledge the gift of nature by offering felicitations to its presiding deity. Water is the greatest of such gifts and Varuna is its presiding deity. And hence the Vedic prayer 'Shano Varuna' - meaning 'Be Auspicious Unto Us, oh Varuna!'. 18 Mar 1952 is an important date in the maritime history of India. It was then that Chakravarti Rajagopalachari gave to the Indian ... |
