Navy Day in India is celebrated every year on 4 December to recognize the achievements and role of the Indian Navy in the country. December 4 was chosen as the same day in 1971, during Operation Trident, the Indian Navy sank four Pakistani ships, including the PNS Khyber, killing hundreds of Pakistani Navy personnel.
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces and is headed by the President of India as Commander-in-Chief. The Chief of the Navy is the head of the military personnel of the Indian Navy. Admiral R Hari Kumar took over as the new Chief of Naval Staff on Tuesday. 2021 is being celebrated as the 'Golden Victory Year' to commemorate the 50th anniversary of India's victory in the 1971 war.
History of the day
During the India-Pakistan war in 1971, Pakistan launched an offensive on Indian airbases on the evening of December 3. In response to their attack, India dispatched 3 missile boats towards Karachi at maximum speed, Nirghat, Veer and Nipat. The Indian Navy failed 4 Pakistan's vessels including PNS Khaibar on December 4.
As per the Indian Navy’s official website, "the devastating attack on the Pakistan Naval Headquarters of Karachi saw success as it sank a minesweeper, a destroyer and an ammunition supply ship."
Significance of the day
The Navy plans to celebrate 2021 as ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ as a part of commemorating the 50th anniversary of the victory in the 1971 war. The Indian Navy was established by the East India Company in 1612. Later it was named as Royal India Navy and post-Independence, it was reconstituted as the Indian Navy in 1950.