♦ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually flagged off ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, the world’s first Tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, from the iconic Gateway of India in Mumbai on 11 September 2025.

♦ Over the next nine months, ten women officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force will sail aboard the indigenously-built 50-foot Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni, covering approximately 26,000 nautical miles.

♦ The expedition will also feature four international port calls – Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Canada), and Cape Town (South Africa) – before returning to Mumbai in May 2026. 

♦ The 10-member team is led by Lieutenant Colonel Anuja Varudkar with Squadron Leader Shraddha P Raju as deputy leader.

♦ Other members include Major Karamjeet Kaur, Major Omita Dalvi, Captain Prajakta P Nikam, Captain Dauli Butola, Lieutenant Commander Priyanka Gusain, Wing Commander Vibha Singh, Squadron Leader Aruvi Jayadev, and Squadron Leader Vaishali Bhandari.