India's first aircraft carrier warship INS Vikrant was deployed on 04 March 1961

 

India's first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, was commissioned and deployed on March 4, 1961. INS Vikrant played a crucial role in the Indian Navy and had a notable history. It was a Majestic-class aircraft carrier originally built for the British Royal Navy during World War II, named HMS Hercules. After India acquired it, it underwent significant modifications before being commissioned as INS Vikrant.

INS Vikrant played a vital role during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, supporting naval operations in the Bay of Bengal. It served the Indian Navy for several decades before being decommissioned in 1997. The name Vikrant was later given to a more modern aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant (IAC-1), which was under construction and expected to be commissioned into the Indian Navy.