Overview

• Lt Commanders Dilna K and Roopa A stepped ashore at Goa’s Mormugao Port on May 29 after the Navika Sagar Parikrama II expedition circled the globe over 239 days and 25,600 nautical miles.
• The double-handed voyage relied solely on wind power and sails, with the crew overcoming 50-knot winds, 20-foot waves and a complete navigation-panel blackout.
• At the flag-in ceremony, Rajnath Singh commended the officers for showcasing India’s maritime capabilities and exceptional endurance.
• The defence minister confirmed that women pilots and soldiers played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor’s counterterrorism strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
• The expedition underscored the Indian Navy’s commitment to advancing women’s empowerment and celebrating the nation’s maritime heritage.