Subject & Paper: GS-1 (Society: Women empowerment), GS-3 (Security/Maritime), Prelims

What happened
India flagged off Samudra Pradakshina—the first tri-service, all-women sailing expedition to circle the Earth. A crew of 10 women officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force will sail the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni for about nine months, roughly 26,000 nautical miles, starting and ending at Mumbai.

Why it matters.
This is a real-world test of seamanship, endurance, navigation, and teamwork. It also signals Nari Shakti and jointness (Army-Navy-Air Force working together). Such voyages build operational skills useful for maritime security, search-and-rescue, and disaster response.

Terms to remember:

• Tri-service: Crew drawn from all three services—Army, Navy, Air Force.
  
• Circumnavigation (under sail): A continuous route that crosses the Equator and covers at least 21,600 nautical miles (≈ Earth’s shortest round-the-world distance). Progress is by sails, not engine.
  
• Nautical mile (nmi): A unit used at sea; 1 nmi ≈ 1.852 km.

Great Capes: Stormy turning points in the Southern Ocean (like Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn). Passing near them is a classic blue-water challenge.

How a sail-only circumnavigation is validated (plain speak).
To count as “round-the-world,” the track must be long enough (≥ 21,600 nmi), must cross the Equator, and must be completed largely under wind power. Engines can be used for safety in port, but not to make distance. Crews keep a watch system (e.g., 4-hour shifts) for steering, sails, weather, and repairs.

What to remember for Prelims.

• First Indian tri-service, all-women circumnavigation.
  
• Vessel: IASV Triveni; base port: Mumbai.
  
• Equator crossing + ≥ 21,600 nmi; sail-only progress.

Prelims Question
With reference to Samudra Pradakshina, which of the following is/are correct?

1. It is India’s first tri-service, all-women circumnavigation under sail.
   
2. The expedition uses the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni.
   
3. A qualifying round-the-world sail must cross the Equator and cover ≥ 21,600 nmi.

Choose from the following options:

(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3.

One-line wrap. Sail-only, tri-service, all-women—India takes Nari Shakti around the world.