The Indian Navy recently held its prestigious Naval Investiture Ceremony at Nausena Bhawan, celebrating the commendable achievements of 51 naval personnel recognized for their exceptional gallantry, leadership, professional excellence, and distinguished service. The event underscored the Navy’s commitment to ensuring maritime security and its readiness to address high-risk threats in challenging environments.
Among the accolades presented were one Yudh Seva Medal, thirteen Nausena Medals for Gallantry, eight Nausena Medals for Devotion to Duty, and seventeen Vishisht Seva Medals, marking a crucial acknowledgment of the efforts and sacrifices of naval officers.
Lieutenant Commander Vaibhav Tyagi was awarded the Nausena Medal (Gallantry) for his courageous actions during a daring rescue operation in the Red Sea on March 6, 2024. In recounting the details of the mission, Tyagi reflected, “This award has been given to me for the rescue mission we conducted during a Houthi missile attack on the merchant vessel True Confidence ST. The vessel was engulfed in flames, and its 21-member crew, severely injured and adrift in a small boat, needed urgent help. Despite not knowing their exact location, we successfully located and rescued them.”
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, expressed his congratulations to the awardees, emphasizing the significant nature of the occasion. “This ceremony marks our formal recognition of the remarkable bravery and dedication shown by our personnel. Their service ensures maritime security amidst evolving threats,” he stated.
Commodore Kartik Srimal received the Yudh Seva Medal for his leadership in Operation Sankalp, a mission initiated due to escalating maritime threats following the Israel–Hamas conflict. He elaborated on the vast scale of the operation, saying, “We operated across 5.1 million square kilometres—one and a half times India’s landmass—covering the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean. Around 21 ships with 5,000 personnel were deployed to deter drone and missile attacks and protect merchant vessels. Reconnaissance was conducted using naval aviation assets, and we integrated inputs from international agencies, merchant ships, fishermen, and our own forces to take actionable decisions.”
Lieutenant Commander Saurabh Malik, another Nausena Medal (Gallantry) recipient, shared his experiences from a February 2, 2022 mission. He detailed, “Our ship, INS Sharda, intercepted a hijacked fishing vessel taken by Somali pirates. One fisherman had tragically been killed, but we managed to rescue 19 others. Our eight-member boarding team acted swiftly to prevent the pirates from reaching Somali waters.”
The solemn ceremony was attended by the families of the awardees alongside senior naval dignitaries. The event culminated with a celebratory dinner hosted by the Chief of the Naval Staff in honour of those recognized for their service and bravery.
