President Droupadi Murmu urged Navy personnel to keep themselves updated with the latest technology 'to protect the country's maritime interests. Speaking after presenting the prestigious President's Colours to the Indian Navy's gunnery school INS Dronacharya at Fort Kochi on Thursday evening, Ms Murmu said being the fifth largest economy in the world with a long coastline and island territories, having a strong and modern Navy is of very high importance. She said India's combat-ready, multi-dimensional and versatile Navy has deterred the country's adversaries and safe guarded the maritime interests for the last 75 years. It also enabled the creation of a peaceful periphery to facilitate socio-economic growth.  Over the years,  the Navy has developed significant capabilities to be a mission-deployed and response-ready force across the Indian Ocean Region and be the  First Responder to any contingency in the country's maritime neighbourhood. <br />'' <br />''Earlier, on her arrival at INS Dronacharya, President Murmu was welcomed with a 21-gun salute and later inspected a ceremonial guard of honour. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral  R Harikumar were among those present on the occasion.<br />'' <br />''The President also visited India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at the Cochin Shipyard. She said the aircraft carrier is a shining example of Atma Nirbhar Bharat and observed that India is among the select few nations with the capacity to build an aircraft carrier with indigenous technology.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The President later left for Thiruvananthapuram.</span><br />