New Delhi: The Passing Out Parade (POP) of the first batch of Agniveers is scheduled to take place at INS Chilka on March 28 next week.

The POP marks the successful completion of training of close to 2,600 Agniveers, including 273 women Agniveers who are undergoing training at Chilka.

Adm. R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, will be the Chief Guest and the Reviewing Officer of the Passing out Parade.

VAdm MA Hampiholi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, would also be present on the occasion along with other senior naval officers and dignitaries. The successful trainees would be deployed on frontline warships for their Sea training. On June 14, 2022, the Defence minister and the three Service chiefs launched the Agnipath Scheme.

In consonance with the GoI initiative of a pan-India merit-based Agnipath recruitment scheme, Indian Navy oriented its selection, training and deployment methodology to lay the foundation of a contemporary, dynamic, younger and technically equipped future-ready.

The Navy further leveraged this opportunity to commence the entry of Women Agniveers. Subsequently, close to 2600 Agniveers, including 273 women Agniveers, were inducted into the Indian Navy and commenced their training at INS Chilka, in November 2022.

As part of their transformation to Sea Warriors, the Agniveers underwent 16 weeks of ab-initio training at INS Chilka, the premier sailors' training establishment of the Indian Navy. The training at INS Chilka encompassed academic, service and outdoor training, based on the core Naval values of Duty, Honour and Courage.

This first batch of Agniveers also includes those women and men Agniveers, who were part of the Indian Navy RD Parade Contingent, at the Kartavya Path on January 26 this year. The Passing Out Parade is a momentous occasion for the trainees and a proud moment for their families.

This is the first-ever passing out of the Agniveers from any training institution of the country post successful completion of ab-initio training -- a significant landmark towards a new beginning for the Armed Forces and the Nation.

Traditionally, POPs have been conducted in the morning hours, however, this historic POP is scheduled to be conducted post-sunset, a first of its kind in the Indian Armed Forces.

During the POP deserving Agniveers would be presented awards by the Chief Guest in various categories.

This year onwards, acknowledging the contribution of the first Chief of Defence Staff, the late General Bipin Rawat, towards the transformational Agnipath scheme; the Indian Navy has instituted the General Bipin Rawat Rolling Trophy for the 'Woman Agniveer Trainee Standing First in Overall Order of Merit'. This trophy would be presented to the deserving woman Agniveer by the daughters of General Rawat.

To commemorate this landmark event and motivate the Agniveers, for the first time, the Passing Out Parade is being attended by eminent veteran sailors, who have excelled in their Service as well as post-retirement careers, and eminent sportswomen have also been invited to the POP as Guests of Honour.

PT Usha, a member of the Rajya Sabha known by the nicknames 'Queen of Indian Track and Field' and 'Payyoli Express', and a proud recipient of the Padma Shri award, will be among the dignitaries at the event. Apart from being a Parliamentarian, she is also the president of the Indian Olympics Association.

Mithali Raj, former captain of the Indian women's cricket team and a recipient of Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and Maj Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awards, would also be in attendance.

Among the eminent ex-servicemen who would present to motivate the Passing-Out Agniveers are Chiman Singh, ex-PO CDI, MVC, a war hero of the 1971 Indo-Pak War who was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. Gajanan Jagannath Mane, who participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan War and was awarded the Padma Shri for his vast societal contributions post-release, would also be among the dignitaries.

Harjinder Singh Cheema, ex-POME who was force behind the establishment of a 500-crore industry of 'Cheema Boilers Ltd' in Punjab, would also be in attendance along with Shankar Singh Shishodia, ex-POCDI, who founded the 'Shri Prem Singh Badgujar Charitable Trust', which provides free treatment to poor patients, and also established the 'Mahadev Marmo Private Ltd', a firm involved in the exploration, mining and processing of Natural stones.

Darshan Singh Ahluwalia, ex-CHELA, who has been functioning as the administrator of reputed schools and was accredited with the 'Best Administrator' from the 'Indus Group of Institutions' in 2016, would also be among the distinguished guests. Avtar Singh, ex-MCELR II and an International Hockey player, who later served as an inspirational coach of the Indian Women's Team (Junior) and was a recipient of CNS felicitation, would also be among the attendees.

Harishankar Yadav, ex-POEL(P), who holds the 'Guinness World Record' for most step-ups in 24 hours, and also entered the 'Limca National record' for covering a distance of 4,249 km on a cycle in 2005, would also attend the event. He also holds a National Record for cycling from Kashmir to Kanyakumari thrice in the year 2007.

Manoj Kumar Sharma, another ex-POEL(R) accredited with the establishment of a diversified company with a turnover of over 15 crores and dealing in supplying construction materials to reputed builders and construction companies like Tata, L&T etc, would also be among the distinguished attendees.

The veteran sailors, with their illustrious Service careers and contribution to the nation post-retirement, will serve as inspirational figures for the Agniveers to aspire after.

INS Chilka is the premier training establishment of the Indian Navy for sailors' ab-initio training upon induction.

Commissioned in 1980, the institute undertakes various facets of Service training like Physical Training, Swimming, Small Arms, Cyber Security, Naval Orientation etc. The curriculum has been designed to develop mental and physical faculties essential for a career at sea.

This historic POP would mark the culmination of 16 weeks of training for the first batch of Agniveers.

Conduct of the maiden Night POP in the presence of eminent veteran sailors, sportswomen of international repute and senior Naval officials would be a landmark moment for the first batch of Agniveers.

Live streaming of the Passing Out Parade will commence from 1730 hrs on 28 Mar 23 onwards on Indian Navy YouTube Channel and Instagram Page, as well as on Doordarshan, the national broadcaster.