President Droupadi Murmu takes sortie aboard submarine INS Vaghsheer

December 28, 2025

Karwar, Karnataka: President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday created history by undertaking a submarine sortie aboard the Indian Navy’s indigenously built frontline submarine INS Vaghsheer, marking a rare and symbolic moment in India’s naval journey.

This was President Murmu’s first-ever submarine sortie, making her only the second President of India to embark on such an underwater mission. The late former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was the first to do so in 2006.

The submarine sortie took place from the Karwar Naval Base on the Western Seaboard, offering the President a firsthand experience of India’s underwater naval capabilities.

Rashtrapati Bhavan Shares Official Update

In an official social media post, Rashtrapati Bhavan stated:

“President Droupadi Murmu embarked the Indian Navy’s indigenous Kalvari class submarine INS Vaghsheer at Karwar Naval Base, Karnataka. The President is undertaking a sortie on the Western Seaboard. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi is accompanying the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.”

Ahead of the mission, President Murmu—who serves as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces—donned a naval uniform and received a ceremonial salute from naval personnel before boarding the submarine.

She was accompanied by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, highlighting the strategic importance of the event within India’s maritime defence framework.

INS Vaghsheer: Symbol of Indigenous Naval Strength

INS Vaghsheer is the sixth and final submarine of the Indian Navy’s Project-75 Kalvari-class (Scorpene) programme and was commissioned earlier this year. Designed for a wide range of operations, the submarine is capable of:

• Anti-surface warfare

• Anti-submarine warfare

• Area surveillance

• Intelligence gathering

With its advanced design and silent running capabilities, INS Vaghsheer plays a crucial role in strengthening India’s maritime security and safeguarding national interests in the region.

President Murmu’s sortie aboard INS Vaghsheer stands as a powerful symbol of India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing and the Indian Navy’s expanding underwater combat capabilities, reinforcing the nation’s strategic presence across the seas.