Indian Navy Launches Exciting Contest Ahead of International Fleet Review 2026
In a thrilling initiative to engage citizens with India's maritime heritage, The Times of India has partnered with the Eastern Naval Command to launch a unique competition for readers. This exciting contest is timed perfectly ahead of the grand International Fleet Review (IFR) scheduled to commence on February 15, 2026, which will see participation from navies across the globe.
How the Naval Identification Contest Works
The competition presents a fascinating challenge for enthusiasts. Each week, participants are provided with three different cutout parts of a specific Indian Navy ship. The objective is to correctly identify the name or class of the ship by assembling these pieces and submitting the answer.
To participate, readers must:
- Collect all three cutouts published during the week
- Assemble them to form a complete photo of the ship
- Identify the correct name of the vessel
- Email the assembled photo along with their name and postal address to Ifr26.indiannavy@gmail.com
- Use "IFR 2026 competition" as the email subject line
Contest Rules and Eligibility
Only entries that include both the correctly identified ship name and a properly assembled photo using all three published cutouts will be considered for prizes. Each week, the first 20 correct entries received will be eligible for naval memorabilia prizes. All submissions must be sent by February 7, 2026, to qualify.
Important restriction: Current naval personnel are not eligible to participate in this competition, ensuring fair opportunity for civilian enthusiasts.
Massive Public Response and Recent Winners
The IFR 2026 contest has generated tremendous enthusiasm among readers, with participation numbers exceeding expectations. The recently concluded Week 3 of the competition saw twenty lucky winners correctly identify the ship as INS Kora.
The Week 3 winners include:
- Chitra Gupta, Visakhapatnam
- Sathvika Varma Nadimpalli, Visakhapatnam
- Harsh Narayan Gupta, Visakhapatnam
- Rajkumar Rambhatla, Visakhapatnam
- Shalabh Agarwal, Hyderabad
- Charishma Chebolu, Visakhapatnam
- GNP Kaladhar, Visakhapatnam
- Dhanush Reddy, Hyderabad
- Harita Maruvada, Visakhapatnam
- Narasimha Rao Kalyani, Mahabubnagar
- Chandapu Varshini, Visakhapatnam
- Ravi Kant, Somajiguda
- Vaibhav Sharma, Sainikpuri
- Inara Isnain, Secunderabad
- Afsheen Suhaina, Visakhapatnam
- Painganadu Chandrasekaran Prashanth, Hyderabad
- Sreekanth Kelli, Visakhapatnam
- Syed Saad Ahmed, Hyderabad
- Varun Reddy, Hyderabad
- Murthy Addanki, Hyderabad
This innovative competition not only offers exciting prizes but also serves as an educational platform, increasing public awareness about India's naval capabilities and history. As the International Fleet Review 2026 approaches, such initiatives help build national pride and connect citizens with the country's defense forces in meaningful ways.
