Question map
Which one of the following is a decommissioned aircraft carrier?
Explanation
INS Viraat was a Centaur-class aircraft carrier that served the Indian Navy for 30 years after its acquisition from the United Kingdom, where it previously served as HMS Hermes [1]. Known as the 'Grand Old Lady', it was formally decommissioned on March 6, 2017, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai [1]. At the time of its retirement, it was the oldest aircraft carrier in service globally. In contrast, the other options represent different vessel types: INS Talwar is a lead ship of a frigate class, INS Chakra refers to nuclear-powered attack submarines leased from Russia (with Chakra II returned in 2021), and INS Khanderi is a modern Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarine commissioned in 2019 [2]. Following its decommissioning, Viraat's legacy is maintained by the active carrier INS Vikramaditya and the indigenous INS Vikrant [1].
Sources
- [1] https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1483700
- [2] https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ins-viraat-final-journey-indian-navy-6603113/