Indian Navy today formally inducted and named the Ancient Stitched ship as INSV Kaundinya at a ceremonial event held at Naval Base, Karwar in Karnataka. Minister of Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presided over the event as the Chief Guest, marking the culmination of an extraordinary project that celebrates India’s rich shipbuilding heritage.

INSV Kaundinya is a stitched sail ship, based on a 5th century CE ship depicted in the paintings of Ajanta Caves. The vessel’s construction was undertaken using a traditional method of stitching by a team of skilled artisans from Kerala, led by master shipwright Shri Babu Sankaran. Over several months, the team stitched wooden planks on the ship’s hull using coir rope, coconut fibre and natural resin. 🇮🇳

The “Gandaberunda” or two headed bird was the royal insignia of the Kadamba kingdom who ruled the Konkan coast for centuries.
#Heritage

Around 3,000 Agniveers -- most barely 20 years old and recruited under the Agnipath scheme in the past two years -- were at the forefront of Operation Sindoor, defending Indian military installations from Pakistani missile and drone attacks, sources told India Today TV.

From manning critical air defence systems to holding their ground across multiple installations, cities, and airbases despite repeated enemy assaults, the Agniveers’ performance matched that of regular soldiers. Frontline feedback described their contribution as both decisive and commendable. #Defence #Policy