Sri Vijaya Puram | January 07, 2026
The Param Vir Sagar Yatra, a unique maritime expedition undertaken by a core team of 20 NCC cadets from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands NCC, was ceremonially flagged off on Tuesday from the historic Flag Point at Sri Vijaya Puram.
The expedition was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, AVSM, NM, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC). Following the flag-off ceremony, the cadets set sail aboard an Indian Naval warship of ANC to visit the remaining nine islands as part of the yatra.
After completing the island expedition, the team will proceed to New Delhi, where the Param Vir Sagar Yatra will be formally flagged in by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. On the occasion, the NCC cadets will present the Param Vir Mati Kalash—containing soil collected from the visited islands—to the Prime Minister, symbolising national unity and paying tribute to the nation’s bravest soldiers.
The ceremony was attended by Rear Admiral Biplab Hota, VSM, Chief of Staff, HQ ANC; Commodore S. Ragav, Deputy Director General, NCC Directorate Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands; senior military officers of ANC; civil dignitaries; and over 600 students, including NCC cadets, cadets from the Navy’s Sea Cadet Corps, and members of the Bharat Scouts and Guides.
The Param Vir Sagar Yatra is a distinctive sailing expedition in which NCC cadets voyage aboard Indian Naval ships to 21 uninhabited islands named after Param Vir Chakra awardees, paying homage to the nation’s highest gallantry heroes. During the first leg of the expedition, conducted from December 17 to 20, 2025, the cadets successfully visited 12 such islands.
The event was successfully conducted by 1 (AN) Naval Unit NCC, Sri Vijaya Puram, under the guidance of Colonel T. Hariteja, Group Commander, Chennai ‘A’, and Lieutenant Commander Reyaz Farooq, Commanding Officer, 1 (AN) Naval Unit NCC.
