India is set to be a global hub for shipbuilding, repair, and maritime innovation, leveraging shipyards capable of building everything from aircraft carriers to commercial vessels and research ships.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has strongly urged international partners to leverage the potential of India’s vibrant shipbuilding industry and co-develop next-generation maritime capabilities. Delivering his keynote address at Samudra Utkarsh, a seminar held in New Delhi on November 25, 2025, to showcase the capabilities of Indian shipyards, Singh stressed that this collaboration is vital for creating resilient supply chains, sustainable technologies, and ensuring a secure future globally.
The minister asserted that the Indian shipbuilding sector, which combines the strength of public sector undertakings and dynamic private sector partners, safeguards national interests both regionally and globally. He affirmed India’s readiness to influence the maritime century, stating the focus is on establishing trust through ship construction and cultivating partnerships through advanced platforms.
Singh highlighted that India’s unique strength lies in its integrated end-to-end shipbuilding ecosystem. This capability covers every stage, from concept design and modular construction to outfitting, refit, repairs, and comprehensive life cycle support, all of which are indigenously developed and executed. He noted that the robust value chain is backed by thousands of MSMEs and spans critical areas such as steel, propulsion, electronics, sensors, and advanced combat systems.
He cited several flagship projects that underscore India’s technological maturity and industrial depth, including the first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, Kalvari-class submarines, and advanced stealth frigates & destroyers. These projects showcase the country’s expanding expertise in design, automation, and systems integration.
A powerful testament to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision is the fact that every ship currently under construction for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard is being built entirely in Indian shipyards. The transformation of this sector is guided by forward-looking policy reforms, including the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Defence Production & Export Promotion Policy, resulting in the Indian Navy having 262 ongoing indigenous design and development projects.
Singh expressed confidence that, within this decade, some shipyards are on track to secure 100% indigenous content and that India’s commercial fleet will soon be built entirely within the country. The minister highlighted that India is well-positioned to become a global centre for shipbuilding, ship repair, and maritime innovation in the upcoming ten years, thanks to its comprehensive capacity, which includes everything from delivering aircraft carriers and cutting-edge research vessels to energy-efficient commercial ships.
Rajnath Singh described Indian shipyards as vital pillars of India’s emerging Blue Economy. Beyond defence platforms, they design and build a wide range of specialised vessels crucial for scientific understanding of the seas, monitoring marine ecosystems, strengthening law-enforcement capabilities, and enabling the sustainable exploitation of fisheries.
He also highlighted the industry’s shift towards green, efficient, and sustainable shipbuilding practices. The increasing number of foreign ships visiting Indian shipyards for complex refits was cited by Singh as a clear recognition of India’s capability, reliability, and cost-competitiveness.
The minister stated that India’s objective is to become the Indo-Pacific’s preferred centre for ship maintenance and repair.
The seminar’s theme, ‘2500 BCE – 2025 CE… Celebrating 4,524 Years of Shipbuilding Excellence, ’ reflected a civilisational continuum, connecting the ancient docks of Lothal to the modern shipyards of today, thereby carrying forward a centuries-old spirit of exploration and innovation.
SOURCE – PIB
