The Indian Navy commissioned INS Aravali, its newest naval base, at Gurugram in the presence of Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff.
The event marked a significant step in enhancing India’s maritime infrastructure and technological capabilities.
The commissioning ceremony featured a 50-men Guard of Honour and a Sanskrit invocation by Captain Sachin Kumar Singh, the unit’s first Commanding Officer. Mrs. Shashi Tripathi, President of the Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA), unveiled the commissioning plaque, followed by the hoisting of the Naval Ensign and the breaking of the commissioning pennant to the tune of the National Anthem.
Senior naval dignitaries including Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan (VCNS) and Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti (DCNS) attended the ceremony alongside distinguished guests.
In his address, Admiral Tripathi emphasized that INS Aravali will serve as a hub for administrative and logistical support, aligning with the Navy’s expanding operational scale. He highlighted its role in advancing the Prime Minister’s MAHASAGAR vision—Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions—positioning India as the Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region.
Named after the resilient Aravali Mountain range, the base will support key information and communication centers vital to India’s command, control, and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) framework. Its crest, featuring mountain imagery and a rising sun, symbolizes vigilance, resilience, and the dawn of advanced technological capabilities.
Guided by the motto ‘सामुद्रिकसुरक्षायाः सहयोगं’ or ‘Maritime Security through Collaboration,’ INS Aravali embodies the Navy’s commitment to duty, honour, courage, and excellence through information dominance.
