INDIA. Mumbai: Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral R Hari Kumar, presided over a distinguished Naval Investiture Ceremony at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on May 31, Wednesday, where he presented Gallantry and Distinguished Service awards on behalf of the President of India.
The ceremony was meticulously organized to acknowledge and honour the exceptional bravery, leadership, professional achievements, and distinguished service rendered by Naval personnel. Among those in attendance were Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, and other esteemed dignitaries.
A total of 33 awards were conferred during the ceremony. This included the Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) bestowed upon Vineet Kumar LA(AH) and Commander Nishant Singh (Posthumous), along with 13 Nao Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), 16 Vishisht Seva Medals, and two Jeevan Raksha Padak recipients.
In addition to these prestigious accolades, Admiral R Hari Kumar presented the Lt VK Jain Memorial Gold Medal, recognizing pioneering research in the field of Weapon improvement and Electrical Engineering, as well as the Captain Ravi Dhir Memorial Gold Medal, commending outstanding efforts in promoting Flight Safety.
The CNS Trophy for Best Green Practice 2023 was awarded to Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, and INS Tunir in the Industrial and non-industrial categories, respectively.
Furthermore, the CNS presented Unit Citations to operational units and shore establishments for their remarkable performances throughout the previous year. Indian Naval Ships “Betwa,” “Satpura,” “Sutlej,” and “Nireekshak,” alongside the Kalvari-class submarine “INS Karanj” and Indian Naval Air Squadrons (INAS) 321 FSS and INAS 318, received the Unit Citation. In the shore establishment category, the awardees were “INS India,” “Tanaji,” “Valsura,” and the Material Organization (Visakhapatnam).
The ceremony was graced by the presence of spouses and families of the awardees, as well as senior dignitaries from the Indian Navy. Admiral R Hari Kumar commended the award winners for their exemplary acts of bravery and distinguished service, expressing gratitude to their family members for their unwavering support to Naval personnel.
“As the Indian Navy continues to expand its operational footprint, it is the unwavering professionalism and indomitable spirit of our personnel that ensures success, consistently and every time. I urge each one of you to wholeheartedly align your actions with the vision of ‘Ships First’ in support of our valiant warriors who courageously navigate the seas, patrol the depths of the oceans, and soar through the skies. All our endeavours should be dedicated to backing these men and women at sea, who remain at the core of the Indian Navy’s commitment to being a ‘Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive, and Future-Proof Force,'” expressed Admiral R Hari Kumar.
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