New Delhi : Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has urged international partners to tap the potential of India’s vibrant shipbuilding industry and co-develop next-generation maritime capabilities, thereby creating sustainable technologies and resilient supply chains while shaping an innovative, inclusive & secure future for the world. He was delivering a keynote address at Samudra Utkarsh, a seminar organised by the Department of Defence Production, showcasing the capabilities of Indian shipyards, in New Delhi on November 25.
Raksha Mantri asserted that the Indian shipbuilding industry, composed of the spirited Public Sector Undertakings and dynamic private sector partners, safeguards national interests regionally & globally, and India stands ready to help shape the maritime century by ‘building not only ships, but trust’; ‘not only platforms, but partnerships’. “What truly sets India apart is its integrated end-to-end shipbuilding ecosystem. From concept design and modular construction to outfitting, refit, repairs, and full life cycle support, every stage of the shipbuilding process is indigenously developed and executed. Our public and private shipyards, backed by thousands of MSMEs, have created a robust value chain that spans steel, propulsion, electronics, sensors, and advanced combat systems,” he told the industry stakeholders, foreign partners, delegates and officers from the Armed Forces & Ministries present on the occasion.
Shri Singh highlighted that India’s shipbuilding ecosystem stands on the strength of multiple world-class platforms that reflect technological maturity and industrial depth. He pointed out that flagship projects, such as India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, Kalvari-class submarines and stealth frigates & destroyers, underline not only the naval strength of the country, but also the expanding design capability, automation, and systems integration expertise.
Raksha Mantri added that Indian shipyards are emerging as major players in the global commercial and dual-use maritime industry, mentioning about the high-end passenger and cargo vessels, coastal ferries, pollution-control & research ships, and the world’s most advanced deep-sea mining support vessel for ISRO and National Institute of Ocean Technology. He commended the private sector for rising as a force multiplier by producing green-fuel vessels, LNG carriers, Roll-On Roll-Off vessels, and high-efficiency commercial ships for domestic use and global clients.
“We are capable of delivering aircraft carriers to advanced research vessels and energy-efficient commercial ships. This integrated capability positions India strongly to become a global hub for shipbuilding, ship repair, and maritime innovation in the coming decade,” said Shri Singh.
Raksha Mantri underlined the fact that every ship of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard currently under construction is being built in Indian shipyards, which stands as a testament to Aatmanirbhar Bharat as envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He emphasised that the transformation of India’s shipbuilding sector is underpinned by a series of forward-looking policy reforms including the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, Defence Production & Export Promotion Policy and Defence Procurement Manual 2025.
Raksha Mantri Shri Singh stated that the result of the Government’s efforts is that the Indian Navy has 262 ongoing indigenous design and development projects in advanced stages. “We also boast of high indigenous content of our platforms. Some of our shipyards are on track to secure 100% indigenous content within this decade. This means that any naval vessel supplied from India will suffer minimum supply chains disruptions,” he added.