·PIB

INDIAN NAVY’S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON ARRIVES AT PHUKET DEEP SEA PORT, THAILAND

In this note
  1. At a Glance
  2. Why in the News
  3. Background & Evolution
  4. Core Static Facts
  5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
  6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)
  7. Prelims Hooks
  8. Mains Relevance
  9. Related Topics to Study Next
  10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. At a Glance

  • First Training Squadron (1TS) of the Indian Navy is the seagoing training formation that imparts on-board practical training to officer cadets after the Indian Naval Academy phase [1][3].
  • Arrival of INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata and ICGS Sarathi at Phuket Deep Sea Port, Thailand on 25 Jan 2026 is part of a Long Range Training Deployment (LRTD) to Southeast Asia [1][3].
  • Significance for UPSC: intersects Act East Policy, SAGAR/MAHASAGAR vision, India-ASEAN strategic partnership, and the 2026 ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation [1][5].

2. Why in the News

  • 1TS made port call at Phuket on 25 Jan 2026, hosted by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) [1].
  • Visit follows port calls at Changi Naval Base, Singapore (15 Jan 2026) and Belawan, Indonesia (Jan 2026) under the same LRTD [2][4].
  • Deployment falls within 2026 — the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, declared by PM Modi at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit, 26 Oct 2025 [5][6].

3. Background & Evolution

  • 1TS is based at Kochi under the Southern Naval Command (the Navy's training command).
  • The squadron executes the sea-training component of the Integrated Officers' Training Course (IOTC); the current deployment supports the 110th IOTC [3].
  • Earlier 2024-25 LRTDs included port calls at Mombasa (Kenya), Colombo (Sri Lanka), reflecting steady expansion across IOR and Southeast Asia [7][8].
  • India-Thailand defence ties: bilateral exercise Maitree (Army), Indo-Thai CORPAT (Coordinated Patrol since 2005), and the Strategic Partnership elevated in 2024.

4. Core Static Facts

  • Formation: First Training Squadron (1TS), Indian Navy [1].
  • Parent command: Southern Naval Command, HQ Kochi.
  • Ships on current deployment: INS Tir (training ship, lead), INS Shardul (LST-L), INS Sujata (Sukanya-class OPV), ICGS Sarathi (Indian Coast Guard OPV) [1][3].
  • Course supported: 110th Integrated Officers' Training Course (IOTC) [3].
  • Implementing ministry: Ministry of Defence; Coast Guard ship operates under MoD as well [1].
  • Host: Royal Thai Navy (RTN) at Phuket Deep Sea Port; arrival 25 Jan 2026 [1].
  • Policy umbrella: Act East Policy; SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region, 2015); ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2022); ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation 2026 [5][6].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Geopolitical / Strategic

  • Reinforces India's Act East Policy by demonstrating naval presence in the Andaman Sea / Malacca approaches — a critical SLOC choke point [1].
  • Operationalises the 2026 ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation through visible naval diplomacy [5][6].
  • Builds interoperability with RTN, complementing Indo-Thai CORPAT and growing Quad-adjacent maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Administrative / Defence

  • Embodies the Navy's "Mission-Based Deployment" doctrine — using training cruises for diplomatic outreach.
  • Provides trainee officers real-world exposure to foreign port logistics, navigation in international waters, and joint drills with host navies [3].

Economic / Blue Economy

  • Phuket port call signals interest in maritime connectivity and blue economy, both pillars of the 2026 ASEAN-India work plan [5].
  • Supports India's stake in safe SLOCs carrying ~$200 bn of India-ASEAN trade.

Legal / International

  • Operations referenced under UNCLOS 1982, which underpins the ASEAN-India maritime work plan [5].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

  • Oct 26, 2025: 22nd ASEAN-India Summit; PM declares 2026 as ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation [5][6].
  • Jan 2026 (early): 1TS commences LRTD to Southeast Asia for 110th IOTC [3].
  • 15 Jan 2026: 1TS at Changi Naval Base, Singapore [2].
  • Jan 2026: 1TS port call at Belawan, Indonesia [4].
  • 25 Jan 2026: 1TS arrives Phuket Deep Sea Port, Thailand [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

  • 1TS is based under Southern Naval Command, Kochi.
  • INS Tir — dedicated cadet training ship, lead ship of 1TS [1].
  • INS Sujata — Sukanya-class offshore patrol vessel [1].
  • INS Shardul — Shardul-class Landing Ship Tank (Large) [1].
  • ICGS Sarathi — Indian Coast Guard OPV, sails with 1TS [1].
  • LRTD supports the 110th Integrated Officers' Training Course (IOTC) [3].
  • 2026 = ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, declared at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit (Oct 2025) [5][6].
  • Host at Phuket: Royal Thai Navy [1].
  • India-Thailand maritime exercise: Indo-Thai CORPAT (since 2005).
  • The ASEAN-India maritime work plan invokes UNCLOS 1982 [5].

8. Mains Relevance

  • GS-II: India and its neighbourhood / Bilateral & regional groupings — India-ASEAN relations, Act East Policy.
  • GS-III: Security — Maritime security, role of the Navy in shaping India's strategic outreach.
  • Probable stems: 1. "Naval diplomacy has become a central instrument of India's Act East Policy. Discuss in light of recent training deployments to Southeast Asia." (GS-II) 2. "Examine the strategic significance of the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation 2026 for the Indo-Pacific construct." (GS-II) 3. "Discuss how the SAGAR doctrine is being operationalised through Indian Navy's deployments." (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

  • SAGAR & MAHASAGAR doctrine — overarching maritime vision.
  • Act East Policy — political framework for ASEAN engagement.
  • ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2022) — institutional base.
  • Indo-Thai CORPAT / Exercise Maitree — bilateral defence mechanisms.
  • Malacca / Andaman Sea SLOCs — geographic significance.
  • Quad and IPOI (Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative) — broader Indo-Pacific architecture.
  • UNCLOS 1982 — legal underpinning of maritime cooperation.
  • Other Navy training ships: INS Tarangini, INS Sudarshini (sail training squadron) — distinguish from 1TS.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

  • 1TS ≠ Sail Training Squadron (STS). STS comprises INS Tarangini & INS Sudarshini; 1TS is a powered-ship squadron led by INS Tir.
  • ICGS Sarathi belongs to the Indian Coast Guard, not the Navy — but sails with 1TS for joint training.
  • ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation is 2026, announced at the 22nd Summit (Oct 2025) — do not confuse with the 2022 "ASEAN-India Friendship Year" or 2027 ARF anniversaries [5][6].
  • SAGAR (2015, Mauritius) is the doctrine; Act East (2014) is the policy — both, not interchangeable.
  • 1TS's parent is Southern Naval Command (Kochi), not Eastern Naval Command (Visakhapatnam).

Sources

  1. 1INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON ARRIVES AT PHUKET DEEP SEA PORT, THAILANDpib.gov.in · tier 1
  2. 2INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON ARRIVES AT CHANGI NAVAL BASE, SINGAPOREpib.gov.in · tier 1
  3. 3LONG RANGE TRAINING DEPLOYMENT OF INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON (1TS) TO SOUTH EAST ASIApib.gov.in · tier 1
  4. 4INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON MAKES PORT CALL AT BELAWAN, INDONESIApib.gov.in · tier 1
  5. 5INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON CONCLUDES VISIT TO PHUKET DEEP SEA PORT, THAILANDpib.gov.in · tier 1
  6. 6PM Modi declares 2026 as ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperationddnews.gov.in · tier 1
  7. 7INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON (1TS) CONCLUDES PORT CALL AT MOMBASA, KENYApib.gov.in · tier 1
  8. 8INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON (1TS) VISIT TO SRI LANKApib.gov.in · tier 1

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