In A First, Navy Day Celebrations Held Out of Delhi

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• About Operation Trident (History, Sequence of events, etc.)
• News Summary

Why in News?

• In a first, the celebrations for the Navy Day was held out of Delhi.
• President Droupadi Murmu was the Guest of Honour as the naval combat prowess is demonstrated at the ‘Operational Demonstration’ at Visakhapatnam.
• The day is celebrated each year to mark the Indian Navy’s achievements in ‘Operation Trident’ during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

What is Operation Trident (1971)?

• Operation Trident is a key offensive during the 1971 India-Pakistan War, when the Indian Navy inflicted heavy damage on Pakistani vessels in Karachi harbour.
• Every year, India celebrates December 4 as Navy Day to commemorate Operation Trident.
• The same day also marks the end of Navy Week, which, too, is celebrated annually.

What happened during Operation Trident?

• The India-Pakistan War of 1971 had begun on December 3, when the Pakistan Air Force launched pre-emptive strikes on airfields in Western India.
• India responded by formally declaring war in the wee hours of December 4.
• On December 4, under Operation Trident, the Indian Navy sank three vessels near the Pakistani port city of Karachi.
• The Indian Air Force also played a crucial role during Operation Trident, when Karachi’s Kemari oil tanks were strafed by the IAF on the same day in an independent operation which it did not claim.
• The 1971 War ended on December 16, as India sealed its victory when the instrument of surrender was signed by Lt Gen A A K Niazi of Pakistan with Lt Gen J S Aurora watching, at Dhaka at 4.55 pm that day.
• That remains the abiding image of the 1971 War. 

News Summary

• President of India Droupadi Murmu participated in the Navy Day celebrations at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• She said that oceans will play a vital role in India’s growth and prosperity with the future linked to the waters, as in the past.
• Referring to Visakhapatnam as ‘Jewel of the East Coast’, the President said that the city had emerged as an important hub as the Headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) and its importance as an industrial and port city.
• Expressing happiness to launch various projects virtually, she said that the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool district would help in strengthening India’s defense sector.
  • The NOAR is a missile testing range, built by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

Q1) Who led Operation Trident?

The group was led by the Commanding Officer of the 25th Missile Boat Squadron, Commander Babru Bhan Yadav.

Q2) What was the main reason for 1971 Indo Pak War?

The Indo-Pakistani conflict was sparked by the Bangladesh Liberation War, a conflict between the traditionally dominant West Pakistanis and the majority East Pakistanis.