Why in news?

The Indian Navy decommissioned its two ships, INS Akshay and INS Nishank, after 32 years of service including participation in Operation Talwar and Operation Parakram.

Highlights:

• The decommissioning event was conducted at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard in a traditional ceremony wherein the national flag, the naval ensign and the decommissioning pennant of the two ships were lowered for the last time at sunset.

INS Nishank and INS Akshay

• INS Nishank, a high speed missile craft, was commissioned on September 12, 1989, INS Akshay was commissioned a year later on December 10, 1990 at Poti, Georgia.
• INS Nishank and INS Akshay were part of the 22 Missile Vessel Squadron and 23 Patrol Vessel Squadron, respectively, under the operational control of Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra Naval Area.
• The ships were in active naval service for more than 32 years and during their illustrious journeys, participated in several naval operations, including Op Talwar during the Kargil War and Op Parakram in 2001.
• INS Nishank was also deployed post the Uri attacks when tensions between India and Pakistan were high.

Operation talwar:

• Operation Talwar (Operation Sword) was the naval operation carried out by the Indian Navy during the Kargil War of 1999. It was one of the three operations at that time carried out by the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and the Indian Navy respectively.The operation’s goal was to choke Pakistani trade channels