Women Agniveers at Chilka numbered 142 in the batch that passed out of the Navy's sailor training establishment in Odisha on Friday, part of the largest single batch in the history of INS Chilka. Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), was the Chief Guest and Reviewing Officer.

The new women sailors trained alongside 2,614 male Agniveers. Batch 02/26 had 3,358 trainees in all.

"Among them are 142 women Agniveers, who today become role models for millions," Admiral Swaminathan said in his address. Somewhere in a small town or village, he added, a young girl watching them would decide that she wants to do this too.

Women Agniveers at Chilka part of a record 3,358 batch

According to the Navy, the batch comprised 2,756 Agniveers, 286 Medical Assistants of the Indian Navy and 316 Naviks of the Indian Coast Guard. All of them completed their ab initio training together. "With 3,358 trainees passing out in a single batch, this is the largest single batch ever at Chilka," the CNS said.

The parade opened with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Chilka War Memorial. The march past followed. Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, attended along with senior naval officers, civil and military dignitaries, veterans, students and families of the trainees.

The Navy said the CNS complimented the trainees on their turnout and drill.

Deeksha named Best Woman Trainee

Deeksha, AVR (SSR), received the Rolling Trophy for Best Woman Trainee in the Overall Order of Merit, one of the individual awards the CNS presented to the batch's top performers.

Other top performers of Batch 02/26

The Chief of the Naval Staff Rolling Trophy and Gold Medal for Best Trainee went to Nachiketa Sanasam, SSR (Med Asst), in the SSR category and to Arbaz Amin, AVR (MR), in the MR category. Amar Sakthi M, NVK (GD), and Arpit Sangwan, NVK (DB), were adjudged Best Navik (GD) and Best Navik (DB) respectively. At the Valedictory Function on Thursday, Marakkar Division won the Overall Championship Trophy, with Shivaji Division the runner-up, and the batch's edition of Ankur, the bilingual trainees' magazine of INS Chilka, was unveiled.

Path to a regular Navy career open to the new sailors

The CNS told the batch that the Agnipath scheme had seen an important addition while they were in training. "You now have an additional opportunity to become a regular sailor and build a long and rewarding career in the Indian Navy," he said.

The change follows the Union Cabinet's approval on November 4 of a Second Tour of Duty for Agniveers. He was clear that the route has to be earned. "The Navy can offer you the opportunity, but you must earn it through your performance, conduct, behaviour, commitment and competitiveness," the CNS said.

The bar to get in was already high. Of the lakhs of young aspirants who applied, only about 1.5 percent made it through, he said. Selection for the Agniveer (SSR) and Agniveer (MR) entries runs through the Navy's recruitment portal, and the entries are open to women as well as men. The 142 women Agniveers at Chilka came through the same selection.

He also asked the batch to master their profession and never stop learning, two of the three expectations carried in the main report on the Chilka parade.

Navy Chief asks the batch to live by Duty, Honour and Courage

Admiral Swaminathan described these as the Core Values of the Navy, placed across Chilka, including on the parade ground. Duty means putting the mission first, he said. Honour is earned through conduct. Courage means doing what is right even when it is difficult or dangerous. Speaking in Hindi, he said the uniform gives a sailor an identity, but it is conduct that earns respect.

"Let Duty be your commitment. Honour be your character. And Courage be your strength," he said.

He also spoke directly to the parents. When their children left home, he said in Hindi, there would have been worry alongside the pride, and the confidence on display at the parade had perhaps answered their questions. Sending their children to the Navy was the right decision, he told them. "Your faith, sacrifices and encouragement have played a vital role in bringing these young sailors this far," the CNS said, asking families to keep guiding and supporting them.

Women sailors have trained at Chilka since 2023

The Navy was the first of the services to open its sailor ranks to women under the Agnipath scheme. The first batch of Agniveers to pass out of INS Chilka, in March 2023, included the Navy's first women sailors, around 273 of them according to reports at the time.

Women in uniform have since taken on demanding assignments across the services, among them the first tri-service all-women circumnavigation under the Samudra Pradakshina expedition.

Batch 02/26 is the ninth batch of Agniveers to pass out of Chilka. Ahead of the parade, the Navy had announced that it would be the largest passing out parade at INS Chilka, with Admiral Swaminathan reviewing it.