Vice admiral Satish Soni, flag officer commanding in chief, Southern Naval Command, flagged off the race.
Two Navy teams from Mumbai, one each from Kochi and Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala and two Indian Army teams from Hyderabad and Bhopal are participating in the race.
The 350-mile race will touch Androth Island and head back to Kochi on Jan 14.
Ships and aircrafts of Southern Naval Command, including INS Tarangini will be at sea to monitor the race.