INS Rajput, Indian Navy’s first destroyer, to be decommissioned today after 41 years of service

Due to the prevailing Covid situation, the decommissioning ceremony at the Visakhapatnam Naval Dockyard will be a low-key event attended only by in-station officers and sailors.

INS Rajput, Indian Navy, INS Rajput to be decommissioned today, Kashin-class destroyers, Operation Cactus, India news, Indian express

The ship was also the first Indian Naval Ship to be affiliated with an Indian Army regiment -- the Rajput Regiment.

INS Rajput, the first destroyer of the Indian Navy, will be decommissioned today after over 41 years of service. The lead ship of the Kashin-class destroyers built by the erstwhile USSR, the destroyer was commissioned on May 4, 1980.

Due to the prevailing Covid situation, the decommissioning ceremony at the Visakhapatnam Naval Dockyard will be a low-key event attended only by in-station officers and sailors.

The lead ship of the Kashin-class destroyers built by the erstwhile USSR, the destroyer was commissioned on May 4, 1980.

INS Rajput was constructed in the 61 Communards Shipyard in Nikolaev (present-day Ukraine) under her original Russian name ‘Nadezhny’ meaning ‘Hope’. The keel of the ship was laid on September 11, 1976 and she was launched on September 17, 1977. The ship was commissioned as INS Rajput on May 4, 1980 at Poti, Georgia by I K Gujral, the then Ambassador of India to USSR, with Captain Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani as her first Commanding Officer.

The ship was commissioned as INS Rajput on May 4, 1980 at Poti, Georgia by I K Gujral, the then Ambassador of India to USSR.

Over her four decades of glorious service to the nation, the ship has the distinction of serving in both western and eastern fleets.

The ship had the motto “Raj Karega Rajput’’, and participated in several operations aimed at keeping the nation secure. Some of these include Operation Aman off Sri Lanka to assist IPKF, Operation Pawan for patrolling duties off the coast of Sri Lanka, Operation Cactus to resolve hostage situation off the Maldives, and Operation Crowsnest off Lakshadweep. In addition, the ship participated in numerous bilateral and multinational exercises.

The ship was also the first Indian Naval Ship to be affiliated with an Indian Army regiment — the Rajput Regiment.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

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