Union Minister Rajnath Singh Flags In First-Ever Tri-Service All-Women ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ Expedition

Key facts

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged in the first-ever tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition 'Samudra Pradakshina' on July 22, 2026.
• The expedition was conducted aboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni by nine women officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• The voyage lasted 314 days and covered approximately 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans.
• The crew successfully crossed all meridians of longitude, the Equator twice, the International Date Line, and rounded the three Great Capes: Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and the Cape of Good Hope.
• The passage through the Drake Passage and rounding of Cape Horn earned the crew membership of the prestigious Cape Horners fraternity.
• The expedition served as an instrument of military diplomacy, with port calls showcasing India's cultural heritage and fostering goodwill with friendly nations.
• Defence delegates from Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and South Africa attended the flag-in ceremony.
• Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, and Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit were among the attendees.