The Param Vir Sagar Yatra, a commemorative maritime expedition involving National Cadet Corps cadets from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, was ceremonially flagged off on January 6, 2026, from the historic Flag Point at Sri Vijaya Puram. The expedition marks a tribute to India’s highest gallantry award recipients and underscores the role of youth in preserving national memory and maritime heritage.
The expedition was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. The core team comprises 20 NCC cadets from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands NCC, who will continue their sea voyage aboard an Indian Naval warship under the Andaman and Nicobar Command to cover the remaining nine islands on their itinerary.
The Param Vir Sagar Yatra is a unique sailing initiative in which NCC cadets undertake a voyage to 21 uninhabited islands across the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago that have been named after Param Vir Chakra awardees. Through this expedition, cadets pay homage to the nation’s bravest soldiers while fostering a deeper understanding of India’s maritime geography and defence legacy.
During the first leg of the expedition, conducted between December 17 and 20, the cadets successfully visited 12 such islands. The ongoing leg will complete the maritime phase of the yatra, following which the cadets will travel to New Delhi. There, the expedition is scheduled to culminate with a ceremonial flag-in, during which the cadets will present the Param Vir Mati Kalash, containing soil collected from the visited islands, to the Prime Minister of India.
The flag-off ceremony witnessed the presence of Rear Admiral Biplab Hota, Chief of Staff at Headquarters Andaman and Nicobar Command, along with Commodore S. Ragav, Deputy Director General at the NCC Directorate for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Senior military officers of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, civil dignitaries and more than 600 students also attended the event. The gathering included NCC cadets, cadets from the Navy’s Sea Cadet Corps, and members of the Bharat Scouts and Guides.
The expedition is being conducted by 1 (AN) Naval Unit NCC, Sri Vijaya Puram, under the guidance of Colonel T. Hariteja, Group Commander, Chennai ‘A’, and Lieutenant Commander Reyaz Farooq, Commanding Officer of the unit. Officials said the yatra aims to instil values of patriotism, discipline and service among young cadets while highlighting the strategic and historical significance of India’s island territories.
