President Ram Nath Kovind honored the Indian Naval Aviation with the President’s Color at a ceremonial parade held at the INS Hansa base near Panaji in Goa on Monday.
The President was given a Guard of Honor by the Indian Navy on the occasion.
Mr Kovind, who is on a Tree Day visit to Goa, presented the Presidential Colours to Naval Aviation in the presence of Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh.
Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and others were present during the ceremony at the INS Hansa base located in Vasco town, about 40 km from state capital Panaji.
The Presidential Color is the highest honor given to a military unit in recognition of exceptional service to the nation.
It consists of a 36-inch by 48-inch white ensign with the national flag in the canton and a gold embroidered state emblem in the centre. A Navy spokesman said in a release that the elephant, a symbol of strength, is placed diagonally opposite the national flag in the canton.
The Navy was the first among the Indian Armed Forces to be awarded the President’s Color by the then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad on May 27, 1951.
“The subsequent recipients of the President’s Color in the Navy include Southern Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command, Western Naval Command, Eastern Fleet, Western Fleet, Submarine Branch, INS Shivaji and Indian Naval Academy,” the spokesperson said.
Indian Naval Aviation came into existence with the acquisition of the first Sealand aircraft on 13 January 1951 and the commissioning of INS Garuda, the first Naval Air Station, on 11 May 1953.
Today, Indian Naval Aviation boasts of nine air stations and three naval airfields along the Indian coastline and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the spokesperson said.
Over the past seven decades, it has grown into a modern, technologically advanced and highly powerful force with over 250 aircraft, including carrier-borne fighter aircraft, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, helicopters and remotely operated aircraft, the spokesperson said. he said.
.