
PM Modi Lauds Women Naval Officers Who Sailed 50,000 Km. What Is Navika Sagar Parikrama?
Last Updated:
Two women naval officers -- Lt Commander Dilna K and Lt Commander Roopa Alagirisamy -- returned to India after successful global circumnavigation spanning eight months.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed women's empowerment in the country, especially in the armed forces, and cited the instance of two Indian Navy officers who successfully completed the circumnavigation of the globe under Navika Sagar Parikrama II.
Lt Commander Dilna K and Lt Commander Roopa Alagirisamy returned to Goa on Thursday after culminating their eight-month voyage across four continents, three oceans, and three Great Capes. The second edition of the expedition was flagged off from the Naval Ocean Sailing Node, Goa, on October 2, 2024.
The Prime Minister, while addressing a public meeting in Bhopal today, hailed their courage and said that they defeated all challenges and troubles in their way and emerged victorious.
'The brave Navy women personnel have successfully completed a voyage of oceans spanning 250 days. They visited all around the world. They did it on such a boat that does not run via motors but uses wind. We all know the storm in the oceans. The two daughters defeated all troubles like bad weather and storms of the oceans. This shows that no matter how big the challenge may be, Indian women can emerge victorious," he said.
Notably, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the flag-in ceremony on Thursday, formally marking the success of the global circumnavigation. He received the two naval officers and said that they have made the nation proud by waving the Tricolour across the world.
What Is Navika Sagar Parikrama II?
The two Indian Navy women officers covered a distance of around 50,000 kilometers (47,041 km) in nearly 250 days aboard Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini.
The expedition began on October 2 last year with an aim to cover over 23,400 nautical miles. The return was scheduled for May 2025.
This was the second edition of the Navika Sagar Parikrama expedition that took place in 2018 with an all-women crew onboard.
However, this time, only two officers featured on the vessel, who set out to cover the globe, significantly raising the challenges that may have arisen during the expedition.
The expedition's route was planned with four major international stops, chosen for both practical and diplomatic reasons. The first important stop was on November 9, 2024, when INSV Tarini reached Fremantle, Australia, after a long and challenging 39-day journey covering over 4,900 nautical miles from Goa.
The two officers then continued their voyage to Lyttelton, New Zealand, for their second international stop, and later continued to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, a British territory.
With each stop, they had a chance to carry out maintenance, restock supplies, and take part in cultural exchanges, while also presenting India's naval strength in front of the world.
Their fourth and last international stop was in Cape Town, South Africa. INSV Tarini was warmly welcomed in the country with the South African Naval Band holding a special welcome ceremony, showing the global respect the expedition had earned.
From Cape Town, the vessel started its sail back to Goa on April 15, 2025.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
37 minutes ago
- Hans India
Monsoon covers entire country
New Delhi/ Shimla/Uttarkashi: A cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district early Sunday left two construction workers dead and seven missing as monsoon covered the entire country almost a week early than usual, bringing rain in national capital and other northern states and triggering landslides in several hilly areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall on June 29 and 30 in various districts of Uttarakhand, including Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar and Nainital. Authorities have put the Char Dham yatra on hold for a day for the safety of pilgrims. A similar red alert of heavy to very heavy rain has been issued for 12 districts in Himachal Pradesh, where rain-related incidents have claimed 17 lives since the onset of monsoon in the state on June 20. In Uttarakhand, a landslide triggered by a cloudburst destroyed the shelters of workers engaged in the construction of a hotel along the Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi district, officials said. There were 29 labourers at the campsite when the landslide occurred washing away around 10 metres of the highway. Twenty of them were evacuated to safety while nine went missing, the district emergency operation centre said. In Himachal Pradesh, services on the Shimla-Kalka rail line -- a UNESCO world heritage -- were suspended on Sunday after boulders and trees fell on the tracks following overnight rains in Solan district. A bridge in Solan's Barotiwala industrial area was also washed away. Bald River in the Baddi area of the district is swelling and there are reports of water up to four feet entering over 20 houses in Shivalik Nagar in Jhadmajri. Meanwhile, the water level in Mandi's Juni Khad and Beas River has increased and the local administration has appealed to people not to go to the river bank and stay alert. According to IMD data, this is the earliest the monsoon has covered the entire country since 2020, when it did so by June 26. The monsoon arrived in Delhi two days after the normal date of June 27, the IMD said. "The monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of Rajasthan, west Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and the entire Delhi today, June 29, 2025," the IMD said in a statement. According to the Met department here, Chandigarh received 119.5 mm of rain in the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Sunday. Among other places in Punjab, rains lashed Ferozepur, Mohali, Ludhiana, Patiala, Pathankot and Rupnagar. The IMD said that heavy to very heavy rain is likely to continue in many parts of northwest, central, east and northeast India over the next seven days. The IMD on Sunday issued a 'red' alert, predicting extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Jharkhand till July 1, an official said. This year, the monsoon reached Kerala on May 24, its earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009, when it arrived on May 23. The monsoon is crucial for India's agriculture sector, which supports the livelihood of around 42 per cent of the population and contributes 18.2 per cent to the GDP. It also plays a key role in replenishing reservoirs essential for drinking water and power generation.
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
42 minutes ago
- First Post
FirstUp: Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resumes and other big news of the day
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra starts again today after a five-year pause. The pilgrimage, held between June and September each year, is run by the Ministry of External Affairs. It lasts about 23 to 25 days and includes a demanding 45-km walk. In sports, Wimbledon begins today, with players moving from the clay surfaces of Paris to the iconic grass courts in London. The tournament will continue through to the middle of July read more The Kailash Mansarovar is seen from the flight. PTI Many big events are lined up for today. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is set to restart after being paused for five years. When people think of tennis, Wimbledon is often the first name that comes up. The tournament begins today. President Droupadi Murmu will be in Gorakhpur today for the first convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Gorakhpur. RJD leader Lalu Prasad's son, Tej Pratap Yadav, will start his 'Janata Darbar'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Today is also the final day for tech company Meta to pay the $220 million fine issued by Nigeria's consumer protection authority. Here is a look at the events: Kailash Mansarovar Yatra begins The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resumes today after being suspended for five years. A total of 750 people were picked from over 5,500 applicants through a computer-based draw. Held every year from June to September, the yatra is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs. It takes place along two approved routes: the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. CNN-News18 Ground Report: Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resumes after 5 years as India-China relations thaw, first batch of Indian pilgrims reach Tibet @siddhantvm explains the significance of holy yatra as he undertakes the journey himself!@Sonal_MK @toyasingh |… — News18 (@CNNnews18) June 27, 2025 The journey takes around 23 to 25 days and includes a tough 45-km stretch on foot. For Indian passport holders, the cost is close to Rs. 2,25,000 each, while foreign pilgrims pay roughly US$3,275. Group numbers vary between 25 and 108 people per batch. Ties between India and China had remained frozen for over four years following the standoff in Eastern Ladakh. However, relations resumed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Kazan, Russia, last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wimbledon kicks off Wimbledon kicks off today as players shift from the clay courts of Paris to London's iconic grass courts. In the men's draw, Carlos Alcaraz is hoping to build on his recent French Open success. Ranked world No. 2, Alcaraz had beaten Jannik Sinner to take the title in Paris. Sinner comes into Wimbledon as the top-ranked male player. Matches will run until mid-July. Reuters On the women's side, Barbora Krejcikova returns to defend her title after beating some strong contenders last year. Several higher-ranked players, who did not perform well at Wimbledon in 2024, will be eager to make a stronger showing this time. Matches will run until mid-July. The women's final is set for Saturday, July 12, followed by the men's final on Sunday. President Droupadi Murmu in Gorakhpur President Droupadi Murmu is set to visit Gorakhpur today to take part in the first convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the city. This will be her fourth trip to Gorakhpur in seven years, following an invitation from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The President is also expected to open the state's first AYUSH University in Pipri, on July 1, during her two-day tour. She will also visit the Gorakhnath Temple and pray at the shrine of Mahayogi Gorakhnath. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last day for Meta to pay $220 million fine in Nigeria Today is the final date for tech firm Meta Platforms Inc., which owns Facebook and WhatsApp, to pay a $220 million fine set by Nigeria's consumer watchdog. The fine was issued in 2023 by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) after it found repeated breaches of data rules, as uncovered in a joint review with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission. Meta has said it does not accept the ruling. Reuters/File Photo As reported by Barron's, Meta has said it does not accept the ruling and disagrees with both the findings and the fine. Despite raising objections, Meta has been told to comply with the decision and settle the amount by the end of today, according to reports in local media. Tej Pratap Yadav to start 'Janata Darbar' With the Bihar Assembly Elections ahead, RJD leader Lalu Prasad's son Tej Pratap Yadav will launch 'Janata Darbar' today. It aims to offer people a direct chance to raise concerns and seek help. 'Janata Darbar, direct solution to public problems. Let's create a new chapter of Bihar together. Always with you, always with Bihar. From Monday, June 30, Janata Darbar will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at my residence, 26 M Strand Road,' Tej Pratap wrote. Last month, Tej Pratap was removed from the party for six years following controversy over a social media post that was later taken down. The post, shared on Facebook, went viral and claimed that Tej Pratap had been in a long-term relationship with a woman named Anushka Yadav. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies


Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Digi Yatra to expand to 41 airports by 2025 end: CEO Khadakbhavi
New Delhi: Digi Yatra, the app that allows domestic passengers fast airport entry and boarding, is looking to expand to over 41 airports by the end of 2025. Currently, Digi Yatra can be used at 24 airports, including metro airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. "We are awaiting launch at four more airports, and in the next three to six months, Digi Yatra will go live at 13 more airports. Upcoming new airports like Navi Mumbai International Airport and Noida International Airport will go live with Digi Yatra directly," said Suresh Khadakbhavi, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Digi Yatra Foundation, in an interview. Launched in December 2022, Digi Yatra has a user base of over 14 million now. The services are currently live at eight private and 16 Airports Authority of India-operated airports. Also read | DGCA's surveillance detects several safety flaws at airports, aircraft The Digi Yatra CEO said that there are 25,000-30,000 new enrolments every day. 'We've enabled over 60 million journeys so far and by the end of 2025, the use base will be around 20 million. The adoption rate averages between 30% and 35% across Indian airports," said Khadakbhavi. In the coming few months, Digi Yatra services are expected to be expanded for foreign nationals as well. This expansion will be based on the back of a roll-out of e-passport services. On 24 June, the government announced the roll-out of e-passport services for Indian nationals. The e-passports are enabled with a chip with biometric details. Digi Yatra is currently being tested with e-passport enrolment, which will also enable foreign nationals to use the services. Currently, only Indian nationals can enroll for the services through their Aadhaar card, driving license or voter ID card. 'For example, a foreign citizen working out of India can enroll on Digi Yatra by using their e-passport credentials. Just like Indian nationals, foreign nationals will be able to use the services for domestic flights," said Khadakbhavi. Also read | Reliance Aerostructure to manufacture Dassault's Falcon 2000 business jets in India The Digi Yatra Foundation is in talks with the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao) to sign an agreement for the same. After the agreement, there will be access to verify data with ICAO's Public Key Directory (PKD), which would enable a secure exchange of cryptographic keys related to e-passports. Khadakbhavi is looking at a timeline of three months to implement the rollout. While Digi Yatra will be expanded for foreign nationals taking domestic flights, enabling this for international flights looks difficult for the moment, Khadakbhavi said. With the involvement of multiple stakeholders like the ministry of external affairs, the Bureau of Immigration and the ministry of home affairs, enabling such services is a tricky thing, as per the Digi Yatra CEO. 'When we talk about the international process, it means automated border control, which is a sensitive area. We would not want to fail in this and a good process needs to be defined," he said. He also said that with European Union building EU Digital Identity Wallet, there could be interoperability in the future. Also read | Air India eyes profitability with fleet overhaul and customer satisfaction boost There have been concerns around data privacy in the past including sharing and usage of data. However, the Digi Yatra Foundation has maintained its stance that the data is stored in a user's phone and the data shared with the airport is purged in 24 hours. 'We are not storing any personal data on any central location; the entire data is decentralized. If one wants to hack the database, they will have to hack all the phones of all users," added Khadakbhavi.