Archaeology
Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the Hon’ ble President of India and the Supreme Leader of Indian Armed Forces, awarded the President’s Colour to Indian Naval Academy (INA) on 20 November2019 The President’s Colour – the highest honour that is bestowed upon a military unit – was received by Academy Cadet Captain Sushil Singh on behalf of the INA in an outstanding parade making up 730 cadets of INA and a 150 – males Guard of Honour. An unique postal cover was also launched by the Hon’ ble President to commemorate the celebration.
The Hon’ ble President of India congratulated the INA, its present incumbents in addition to previous, on the celebration of the award of the President’s Colour and on conclusion of 50 years of Naval Academy for their effort and devotion towards realization of this proud day. He said that “The great parade today resonates well with the high credibility this Academy has earned for itself in a fairly brief period of time.The President’s Colour need to serve as the inspiring sign to inspire and mould a generation of officers that will pass out from this world class organization”.
Shri Arif Mohammed Khan, Hon’ ble Governor of Kerala, Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Personnel, Kerala State Minister for Ports, Museums, Archaeology and Archives, Shri. Ramachandran Kadannappally, Vice Admiral AK Chawla, AVSM, NM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command, and other senior service and civilian dignitaries beautified the event. The occasion was also witnessed by NCC Cadets of 32 nd Battallion, Kerala and kids from Sainik School, Kodagu and local schools of Payyannur, besides the service and civillian personnel of INA. Indian Naval Ships Magar and Sujata and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi were anchored off Ettikkulam Bay, to mark the memorable celebration.
Award of the President’s Colour to Indian Naval Academy is an acknowledgment of the yeoman service rendered by the organization in shaping the leadership of the Navy by training marine officers over the last fifty years at three different places – Kochi, Goa and Ezhimala. The Naval Academy was very first developed at a short-term area at Kochi in1969 With the boost in strength of the students, the Naval Academy was relocated to INS Mandovi at Goa in1986 The Indian Naval Academy (INA) discovered its permanent house at Ezhimala, Kerala and was inaugurated on 08 January2009 INA, Ezhimala, over a period of 10 years has commissioned 5930 officers, into Indian Navy and Coast Guard consisting of 531 ladies officers. INA has a present strength of 963 trainees including 44 ladies trainees and 26 trainees from friendly foreign nations.
Navy was the very first of the three militaries to be granted the President’s Colour on 27 May1951 Besides the INA, Southern Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command, Western Naval Command, the Western & Eastern Fleet as well as the Submarine Arm are the units of the Indian navy to be awarded likewise.
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Koc/129/ Nov19
