Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has described 2026 as a historic year for the Indian Navy, with plans for the induction or commissioning of 18 warships during the year.
Addressing the second edition of the Indian Navy’s biannual Commander’s Conference 2026 in New Delhi yesterday, Mr Singh said that the developments reflected the growing maturity of India’s domestic naval shipbuilding ecosystem. Underlining the Navy’s efforts towards achieving self-reliance in the defence sector, the Defence Minister emphasised that the Indian Navy’s warship production ecosystem is now meeting global benchmarks.
He said the warships commissioned recently contain over 75 percent indigenous content. The Minister called for a significant upgrade of India’s maritime surveillance architecture, recognising the importance of existing systems. He added that the growing volume and complexity of maritime traffic require enhanced analytical capabilities.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to the modernization of the Navy under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Singh stated that the Indian Navy serves as a strategic anchor in the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He said that the Indian Navy strengthens economic protection, regional stability, and power projection.
The Defence Minister has commended the Indian Navy for maintaining a high level of combat readiness and fulfilling its commitments across the region despite evolving challenges. He emphasised that the role of the Indian Navy is crucial in ensuring the strategic depth and regional power projection. The Defence Minister urged the Indian Navy to maintain its unrelenting momentum while transforming itself into a future-ready, combat-ready, and globally respected force.
