INDIAN NAVY DAY-WHY IT IS CELEBRATED?

INDIA’S NAVY DAY

The Indian Navy Day is celebrated as an event to honour the courage and heroism of Indian Naval personnel and to commemorate the day of the first meeting of the Indian Navy (IN) and the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in the Second World War, in Tokyo Bay, Japan, on 27 October 1942.

This day is observed as National Armed Forces Day of India.

The origin of the day is in honour of the first meeting between the two navies on 28th October 1942, when the Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku, the battleship Haruna and destroyers Kako and Hiyo met the IN battleship INS Mysore, at the bay of Tokyo.

The day is celebrated as National Armed Forces Day of India, and also commemorates the surrender of Japan at the end of the war.

In 2015, the Navy took the initiative of organising the Navy Day in the whole country to celebrate this day in the form of a huge military parade.

The Navy is the largest of the three armed forces of India.

The Navy was formally established on 1 November 1950, by an Act of Parliament, as the Indian Navy. The modern-day Indian Navy is one of the five services of the armed forces of India and the only service under the Ministry of Defence.

The Navy has a total strength of over 285,000 men, making it the largest of the three armed forces in the country.

Apart from its land, sea and air units, the Navy has the Indian Coast Guard, as its fourth component. The Navy is the most potent force in the country, being equipped with the most advanced and lethal weapons systems.

The navy is the first line of defence of India, operating from its three strategic ports in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Kochi.

The Navy has the highest operational range among all the three armed forces of India.

All the three ships of the IN have names based on oceans and seas.

INS Vishwakarma (Herald) is the flagship of the Indian Navy, a guided missile destroyer. She is named after Vishwakarma, an ancient Hindu sage who is believed to be the architect of the universe.

INS Sindhurakshak is a stealth multipurpose frigate built for counter-terrorism, anti-piracy and anti-mine warfare. It is the first indigenously built stealth multipurpose frigate in the world.

INS Kamorta is an amphibious assault ship built for amphibious assaults, special operations and landing of troops and equipment. It is the first indigenous amphibious assault ship in the Indian Navy.

The Navy is the biggest supplier of soldiers in the Army.

The Navy is also responsible for the welfare of the sailors and their families. This is carried out through the Directorate General of Health Services, Indian Navy.

This department also takes care of the sailors’ mental health.

The department also manages the Navy Hospital, a major facility for treatment of wounded sailors.

In 2010, the Government of India gave permission for the first public