INS Chilka to Host Record Passing Out Parade for 3,300-Plus Agniveers and Coast Guard Naviks on November 13
The Indian Navy will hold the Passing Out Parade for its ninth batch of Agniveers and Indian Coast Guard Naviks at INS Chilka on November 13, following 16 weeks of initial training for more than 3,300 trainees. The batch will be the largest to pass out from the naval training establishment in Odisha.
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff, will attend as Chief Guest and Reviewing Officer. The parade will formally conclude the trainees’ intensive programme and mark the start of their careers in the maritime forces.
According to the Ministry of Defence, INS Chilka’s curriculum combines academic instruction with physical conditioning, swimming, parade training, outdoor activities and camps. The programme is intended to provide recruits with a foundation for their professional duties while developing physical agility, mental resilience and professional competence.
Training also places emphasis on character, leadership, discipline, camaraderie and teamwork, alongside the naval values of Duty, Honour and Courage. Families will attend the parade to witness the trainees complete their course, with naval veterans and other distinguished guests also expected.
Valedictory function and awards
Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, will preside over the Valedictory Function. Awards will recognise meritorious trainees, the champion division and the best instructor for their performance and contribution to training.
The function will also include the unveiling of ‘Ankur’, the trainees’ bilingual magazine. The Indian Navy will livestream the Passing Out Parade on its official social media platforms, allowing people across the country to watch the ceremony.
INS Chilka, near Chilika in Odisha’s Khordha district, is the Navy’s primary ab-initio training establishment for sailor recruits. It has been training successive batches of Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme. The size of the ninth batch reflects the continuing expansion of induction under the scheme into both the Navy and the Coast Guard.
