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

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 [S1][S3].
• 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 [S1][S3].
• Significance for UPSC: intersects Act East Policy, SAGAR/MAHASAGAR vision, India-ASEAN strategic partnership, and the 2026 ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation [S1][S5].

2. Why in the News

• 1TS made port call at Phuket on 25 Jan 2026, hosted by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) [S1].
• Visit follows port calls at Changi Naval Base, Singapore (15 Jan 2026) and Belawan, Indonesia (Jan 2026) under the same LRTD [S2][S4].
• Deployment falls within 2026 — the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, declared by PM Modi at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit, 26 Oct 2025 [S5][S6].

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 [S3].
• Earlier 2024-25 LRTDs included port calls at Mombasa (Kenya), Colombo (Sri Lanka), reflecting steady expansion across IOR and Southeast Asia [S7][S8].
• 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 [S1].
• 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) [S1][S3].
• Course supported: 110th Integrated Officers' Training Course (IOTC) [S3].
• Implementing ministry: Ministry of Defence; Coast Guard ship operates under MoD as well [S1].
• Host: Royal Thai Navy (RTN) at Phuket Deep Sea Port; arrival 25 Jan 2026 [S1].
• 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 [S5][S6].

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 [S1]. - Operationalises the 2026 ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation through visible naval diplomacy [S5][S6]. - 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 [S3].

Economic / Blue Economy - Phuket port call signals interest in maritime connectivity and blue economy, both pillars of the 2026 ASEAN-India work plan [S5]. - 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 [S5].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Oct 26, 2025: 22nd ASEAN-India Summit; PM declares 2026 as ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation [S5][S6].
• Jan 2026 (early): 1TS commences LRTD to Southeast Asia for 110th IOTC [S3].
• 15 Jan 2026: 1TS at Changi Naval Base, Singapore [S2].
• Jan 2026: 1TS port call at Belawan, Indonesia [S4].
• 25 Jan 2026: 1TS arrives Phuket Deep Sea Port, Thailand [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• 1TS is based under Southern Naval Command, Kochi.
• INS Tir — dedicated cadet training ship, lead ship of 1TS [S1].
• INS Sujata — Sukanya-class offshore patrol vessel [S1].
• INS Shardul — Shardul-class Landing Ship Tank (Large) [S1].
• ICGS Sarathi — Indian Coast Guard OPV, sails with 1TS [S1].
• LRTD supports the 110th Integrated Officers' Training Course (IOTC) [S3].
• 2026 = ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, declared at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit (Oct 2025) [S5][S6].
• Host at Phuket: Royal Thai Navy [S1].
• India-Thailand maritime exercise: Indo-Thai CORPAT (since 2005).
• The ASEAN-India maritime work plan invokes UNCLOS 1982 [S5].

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 [S5][S6].
• 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).

11. Sources

• [S1] INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON ARRIVES AT PHUKET DEEP SEA PORT, THAILAND — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2218841 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON ARRIVES AT CHANGI NAVAL BASE, SINGAPORE — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2215591 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] LONG RANGE TRAINING DEPLOYMENT OF INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON (1TS) TO SOUTH EAST ASIA — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2212110 — (tier: 1)
• [S4] INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON MAKES PORT CALL AT BELAWAN, INDONESIA — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2216606 — (tier: 1)
• [S5] INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON CONCLUDES VISIT TO PHUKET DEEP SEA PORT, THAILAND — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2220316 — (tier: 1)
• [S6] PM Modi declares 2026 as ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation — https://ddnews.gov.in/en/pm-modi-declares-2026-as-asean-india-year-of-maritime-cooperation/ — (tier: 1)
• [S7] INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON (1TS) CONCLUDES PORT CALL AT MOMBASA, KENYA — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2173296 — (tier: 1)
• [S8] INDIAN NAVY'S FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON (1TS) VISIT TO SRI LANKA — https://www.pib.gov.in/pressreleasepage.aspx?prid=1766058 — (tier: 1)