New Delhi: In a historic moment for India’s indigenous defense capability, PM Narendra Modi Three indigenous frontline naval platforms – advanced stealth frigate INS Dunagiri, a survey vessel (large) INS Modhikari, and an anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft INS Agre – were commissioned into the Indian Navy on Sunday in Kolkata. These state-of-the-art platforms will significantly enhance the country’s operational capabilities, maritime security and domain awareness against geopolitical threats.Addressing a gathering at the commissioning, PM Modi said, “This event is an important milestone in the journey towards a self-reliant India, a secure India and a developed India.” Congratulating the Indian Navy, scientists, engineers and personnel, the PM said the achievement reflects India’s growing technological and maritime capabilities. “No nation can emerge as a major power without strong maritime capabilities. Development, security and prosperity are closely linked to the oceans. Most of the world’s trade takes place through sea routes, while vast global data networks operate beneath the oceans”, he said, emphasizing the importance of maritime power in the modern world. He further said that vital minerals, deep-sea resources and future sources of energy will increasingly be linked to the maritime domain. Therefore, he said, a nation’s economic and strategic influence is directly linked to the strength of its maritime domain.Modi said India fully understands this reality and is preparing itself accordingly. “The commissioning of three naval platforms is a testament to the country’s growing capabilities and prowess,” he said. Recalling the commissioning of INS Vikrant, he said it had opened a new chapter in India’s maritime journey and announced India’s growing naval strength to the world. He said that the journey from INS Vikrant to the commissioning of INS Aggre, INS Dunagiri and INS Modhik is not just a story of new warships but is also a reflection of India’s growing self-reliance. He said, “All three ships symbolize India’s commitment to indigenous design, manufacturing and innovation. Designed and built in India, the ships showcase the ingenuity of Indian industries, the expertise of Indian engineers and the hard work of Indian workers.”He said, “The strength of the country’s military can be measured not by its dependence on global markets but by its ability to become self-reliant. India wants to be a maker and producer, because manufacturing countries become decisive players on the global stage.” He said that more than 40 indigenously built warships and submarines have been inducted into the Indian Navy in the last few years. He remarked that almost every few weeks, the Navy receives a new capability, while 45 major naval platforms are currently under construction. He said, these figures are not just figures but indicators of India’s industrial capacity and future prospects.Prime Minister on development in maritime sector:Underscoring the immense employment generation potential of the maritime sector, Modi said, “The government sees the maritime sector not as a separate industry but as a major engine of employment and economic growth for a developed India. A modern ship requires large quantities of steel, electronics, machinery and thousands of components, creating opportunities across wider industrial supply chains.” Referring to the three commissioned ships, he said more than 200 MSMEs contributed to their construction, generating substantial employment and economic activity across the country.The PM said the time has come for India to enter the next phase of maritime development and the government has adopted a new approach to the shipbuilding sector and introduced several policy reforms in recent years to enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities. “The Rs 70,000 crore stimulus package announced for the shipping sector is not just an economic measure, but an investment in India’s maritime future and industrial expansion. Initiatives like Sagarmala reflect this comprehensive approach and are helping to reduce logistics costs, accelerate industrial growth and create new opportunities in coastal areas.
The PM also pointed out that June 21 is also observed globally as World Hydrography Day and called it a remarkable coincidence that India’s most advanced hydrographic survey vessel, INS Modhik, has been commissioned on the same day.He said that the commissioning ceremony coincides with the International Day of Yoga celebrated across the world and expressed happiness at having the opportunity to visit the historic land of Bengal, which has played a significant role in shaping India’s intellectual, cultural and national renaissance and has connected India to the world through sea routes for centuries.Modi on self-reliance in defense manufacturing:After the formation of his government in 2014, Modi said that a determined effort was made to change this situation through major policy reforms and an emphasis on self-reliance in defense manufacturing. “These efforts have opened up new opportunities in defense design, manufacturing and exports. While India’s total defense production was about Rs 40,000 crore in 2014, it has now increased to about Rs 1.8 lakh crore, reflecting significant progress towards building a strong, self-reliant and globally competitive defense industry,” he said. Modi emphasized that the progress made in the last 12 years shows how transformational change is possible when policies are clear, direction is right and all stakeholders work together with a shared commitment towards national development.The PM reiterated that India has always seen the oceans as a medium for cooperation and connectivity. “Security is indispensable to safeguard prosperity, while self-reliance is essential to build the future. INS Aggrey, INS Dunagiri and INS Modhik epitomize these ideals and symbolize a nation that is aware of its capabilities, confident in its own strengths and determined to move forward with renewed energy and purpose in the twenty-first century.”In a post on Twitter, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh described the Tri-commissioning as a defining moment in India’s maritime capability development. He wrote, “These state-of-the-art platforms are a testament to our strong defense manufacturing ecosystem and our unwavering resolve towards a self-reliant India. They are now ready to protect our national interests and ensure a secure Indian Ocean.” Governor of West Bengal Shri RN Ravi, CM Suvendu Adhikari, Naval Chief Admiral Krishna SwaminathanOther senior officers of the Indian Navy and representatives of Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), which built the ships, were among the dignitaries attending the ceremony.Navy Chief Admiral Swaminathan said this tri-commissioning in Kolkata comes exactly 17 months after independent India’s first tri-commissioning in Mumbai, and shows that India’s warship-building capability is gaining new momentum in modern technology, self-reliance and confidence. He said that these ships will significantly boost the capabilities of the Indian Navy and make its efforts to protect the country’s maritime interests more powerful and effective. The Navy Chief said, “GRSE has long been a trusted partner of the Indian Navy in ensuring maritime security. On this occasion, I would like to congratulate the GRSE team. I would also like to congratulate our industry partners and MSMEs who have helped us achieve this success.”Builders of three ships: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers: Strengthening its technological leadership, GRSE is the only PSU shipyard to receive the Defense Minister’s Award for Excellence in Defense and Aerospace Sector for designing the most silent ship for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations for the Indian Navy. From building 05 tonne boats to 24,600 tonne fleet tankers, GRSE has demonstrated unmatched versatility and has established itself as the country’s leading warship builder. Since 1960, GRSE remains the only Indian shipyard to deliver more than 100 warships and is also the first Indian shipyard to build fleet replenishment tankers. Additionally, it is the first shipyard in independent India to build Seaward Defense Boats (SDB), builder of the first patrol ship for the Indian Coast Guard, the first indigenous survey vessel and the first Indian shipyard to export a warship – CGS Barracuda – to Seychelles.
