The impressive Graduation Ceremony, commonly known as the Passing Out Parade (POP), for the third batch of Agniveers (02/2023), took place at INS Chilka in Odisha on March 15, 2024. A total of 2,630 Agniveers, including 396 women, successfully completed their training in a ceremony held post-sunset, overseen by Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff. Vice Admiral V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, presided over the event. Renowned sculptor Shri Sudarshan Sahoo, a recipient of both the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhusan awards, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. The ceremony was attended by distinguished sports personality and Arjuna awardee M Suranjay Singh, MCPO I (PT), along with other accomplished veterans.
Family members of the passing out course also attended this significant event, which marks the culmination of 16 weeks of rigorous Naval training and signifies the beginning of their journey in the Indian Navy.
During the parade, the Chief of the Naval Staff commended the trainees for their outstanding turnout, military demeanor, and precise drill. He emphasized the evolving challenges in the global security landscape and stressed the importance of utilizing their training effectively to accomplish strategic objectives. He urged the Agniveers to continuously enhance their skills, stay abreast of technological advancements, and cultivate a solid foundation of knowledge, along with a strong commitment to excellence in their respective domains. He emphasized the Navy’s core values of Duty, Honour, and Courage and encouraged them to uphold these values while serving the nation with dedication and valor. The Reviewing Officer also expressed gratitude to the parents of the Agniveers for their contribution to the nation.
The Chief Guest presented medals and trophies to deserving Agniveers. Prathamesh Amit Darekar and Sanni Kumar Rajak were awarded the Chief of the Naval Staff Rolling Trophy and Gold Medal for Best Agniveer SSR & MR respectively in the men’s category, while Samruddhi Khandave was recognized as the Best Woman Agniveer in the overall order of merit and received the Gen Bipin Rawat Rolling Trophy.
During the valedictory function, the Chief of the Naval Staff awarded the overall Championship Trophy to Angad Division and the Runners-Up Trophy to Shivaji Division. Additionally, he unveiled the summer edition of Ankur, the bilingual trainees’ magazine of INS Chilka.
