INS Sagardhwani, India's premier oceanographic research vessel operated by the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO, was flagged off from Southern Naval Command, Kochi on January 17, 2026, for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri mission (SM-5). The vessel was flagged off by Shri Radha Mohan Singh, MP and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence. Sagar Maitri (meaning 'Ocean Friendship') is a flagship collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO, aligned with the Government of India's expanded vision of 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions' (MAHASAGAR) — a framework that builds on Prime Minister Modi's earlier SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine. Under SM-5, INS Sagardhwani will retrace the historic routes of INS Kistna, which participated in the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) during 1962-65, visiting and conducting joint ocean research with eight Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) nations: Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar. The mission objectives include sustained scientific collaboration, marine data collection, oceanographic surveys, scientific capacity building, and equipment sharing with partner nations. INS Sagardhwani was designed by NPOL and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata — commissioned in July 1994 and serving for over three decades as India's key platform for ocean observations and marine acoustic research. The mission is strategically significant — the Indian Ocean is crucial to India's trade routes (over 90% of India's trade by volume passes through maritime routes), energy supply chains, and strategic interests. For Rajasthan's context, the DRDO-Navy collaboration underlying Sagar Maitri is linked to the broader defence research ecosystem that also supports border security technologies relevant to the state's strategic location.
INS Sagardhwani Flags Off for Sagar Maitri V Mission from Kochi: India's Ocean Research Vessel to Cover Eight Indian Ocean Rim Nations Under MAHASAGAR Vision
INS Sagardhwani, India's premier oceanographic research vessel operated by the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO, was flagged off from Southern Naval Command, Kochi on January 17, 2026, for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri mission (SM-5). The vessel was flagged off by Shri Radha Mohan Singh, MP and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence. Sagar Maitri (meaning 'Ocean Friendship') is a flagship collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO, aligned with the Government of India's expanded vision of 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions' (MAHASAGAR) — a framework that builds on Prime Minister Modi's earlier SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine. Under SM-5, INS Sagardhwani will retrace the historic routes of INS Kistna, which participated in the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) during 1962-65, visiting and conducting joint ocean research with eight Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) nations: Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar. The mission objectives include sustained scientific collaboration, marine data collection, oceanographic surveys, scientific capacity building, and equipment sharing with partner nations. INS Sagardhwani was designed by NPOL and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata — commissioned in July 1994 and serving for over three decades as India's key platform for ocean observations and marine acoustic research. The mission is strategically significant — the Indian Ocean is crucial to India's trade routes (over 90% of India's trade by volume passes through maritime routes), energy supply chains, and strategic interests. For Rajasthan's context, the DRDO-Navy collaboration underlying Sagar Maitri is linked to the broader defence research ecosystem that also supports border security technologies relevant to the state's strategic location.
Key facts
- INS Sagardhwani was flagged off from Kochi on January 17, 2026 for Sagar Maitri V mission.
- The mission covers eight Indian Ocean Rim nations: Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Myanmar.
- MAHASAGAR is the expanded vision of PM Modi's earlier SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine.
- INS Sagardhwani was designed by NPOL (DRDO) and built by GRSE, Kolkata, commissioned in 1994.
- Over 90% of India's trade by volume passes through maritime routes in the Indian Ocean.
- The mission retraces historic routes of INS Kistna from the 1962-65 International Indian Ocean Expedition.
Mains angle
Q: Examine the strategic significance of the Sagar Maitri V mission under India's MAHASAGAR vision for Indian Ocean regional security and scientific collaboration.
Answer (50 words):
INS Sagardhwani, NPOL-DRDO's premier oceanographic vessel, was flagged off from Kochi on January 17, 2026 for Sagar Maitri V, covering eight Indian Ocean Rim nations: Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar. Aligned with MAHASAGAR vision extending PM Modi's SAGAR doctrine, it advances ocean research and maritime partnership.
Static prep for this topic
Read the permanent syllabus behind this story.
6-axis classification
Appears in these topics
Practice MCQ from this story
SolveTap an option below. Correct or incorrect feedback appears instantly.
INS Sagardhwani is India's premier oceanographic research vessel operated by which DRDO laboratory?
INS Sagardhwani is operated by the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO. Designed by NPOL and built by GRSE Kolkata, it has served since July 1994.
Source: PIB / Global Security / Manorama Yearbook / IDRW / Defence Guru
Frequently asked questions
What is Sagar Maitri Mission V and when was it flagged off?
Sagar Maitri Mission V (SM-5) is the fifth edition of a collaborative oceanographic research initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO. INS Sagardhwani was flagged off from Southern Naval Command, Kochi on January 17, 2026 for this mission.
Which eight countries does the Sagar Maitri V mission cover?
The mission covers eight Indian Ocean Rim nations: Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar.
What does MAHASAGAR stand for and how is it related to SAGAR?
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. It is an expanded vision built upon PM Modi's earlier SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, broadening India's maritime diplomatic outreach.
Who designed and built INS Sagardhwani, and when was it commissioned?
INS Sagardhwani was designed by NPOL (Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory), a DRDO laboratory, and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. It was commissioned in 1994.
What is the historical significance of the route taken by INS Sagardhwani in SM-5?
The SM-5 mission retraces the historic routes of INS Kistna from the 1962–65 International Indian Ocean Expedition, underscoring India's long legacy of oceanographic research in the Indian Ocean region.
Was this useful?
Share corrections or missing exam angles with the editorial team.
Send feedback