![](https://bharatshakti.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LT-BSI-Defence.gif")
India is fast-tracking its ambitions to become a global maritime powerhouse, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urging international partners to collaborate with the country’s fast-growing shipbuilding industry.
Speaking at Samudra Utkarsh, a high-level seminar showcasing India’s shipbuilding capabilities, the Minister said Indian shipyards are emerging as vital pillars of the nation’s evolving Blue Economy.
Singh stated that India now possesses a fully integrated shipbuilding ecosystem capable of handling every stage of the process, from concept design and modular construction to refits, repairs, and lifelong maintenance.
“We are capable of delivering everything from aircraft carriers to advanced research vessels and energy-efficient commercial ships,” he said, adding that this depth of capability positions India to become a global hub for shipbuilding, ship repair, and maritime innovation in the decade ahead.
A Call for Global Collaboration
Addressing delegates, defence industry partners, and foreign officials in New Delhi, he encouraged international players to “co-develop next-generation maritime capabilities” in India. The Minister highlighted that such partnerships would help build sustainable technologies, bolster resilient supply chains, and collectively create a secure maritime future.
“What sets India apart is our end-to-end shipbuilding strength,” he said. “We are building not just ships, but partnerships; not only platforms, but trust.”
Showcasing Indigenous Strength
Singh cited major indigenous achievements—including INS Vikrant, the Kalvari-class submarines, and a growing fleet of stealth frigates and destroyers—as proof of India’s expanding design ability, automation expertise, and systems-integration capabilities. Every vessel currently under construction for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard is being built domestically, a milestone that aligns with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
India now has 262 ongoing indigenous design and development projects, many of which are approaching advanced stages. Some shipyards, Singh noted, are on track to achieve nearly 100% indigenous content within this decade.
Driving Maritime Growth Beyond Defence
Singh also underscored India’s expanding role in commercial and dual-use shipbuilding. Indian yards are now constructing high-end passenger and cargo ships, coastal ferries, pollution-control vessels, and even the world’s most advanced deep-sea mining support vessel for ISRO and the National Institute of Ocean Technology.
The private sector, he added, is emerging as a force multiplier, producing LNG carriers, green-fuel vessels, Ro-Ro ships, and highly efficient commercial vessels for both domestic and international markets.
Calling shipyards “vital pillars of the Blue Economy,” Singh highlighted their role in supporting marine research, sustainable fisheries, ecosystem monitoring, and maritime law enforcement across India’s vast coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone.
Technological Leap: Digital, Green, and AI-Driven
Indian shipyards are rapidly integrating digital shipyard technologies, AI-enabled systems, hybrid propulsion, and future-fuel capabilities. This transformation not only aligns India with global benchmarks but also strengthens climate-resilient and sustainable shipbuilding practices.
Foreign navies are increasingly choosing Indian shipyards for complex refits, which Singh said reflects India’s reliability, cost competitiveness, and expanding technical depth. “We aim to become the preferred sustainment and repair hub for the entire Indo-Pacific,” he declared.
Heritage Meets Modern Maritime Ambition
This year’s Samudra Utkarsh theme: “2500 BCE to 2025 CE: Celebrating 4,524 Years of Shipbuilding Excellence”, echoed India’s maritime heritage, from the ancient dockyards of Lothal to the modern shipbuilding centres of Mumbai, Goa, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, and Kochi.
MoS Sanjay Seth and Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar also addressed the gathering, describing India’s shipyards as symbols of national resurgence, technological confidence, and industrial strength. Both highlighted the need for innovation, skilling, global collaboration, and green shipbuilding practices to cement India’s position as a major shipbuilding nation.
New Publications Launched
During the event, Singh released a coffee-table book titled “Shipyards of Bharat – Infrastructure, Capability, Outreach”, along with two compendiums, Samudra Navpravartan and a ten-year AI roadmap for Indian shipyards.
India’s rapid strides in shipbuilding, backed by policy reforms under the Maritime India Vision 2030, Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, and defence production initiatives, are creating an ecosystem poised to influence the global maritime landscape. As Singh reiterated, the country stands ready not only to build advanced ships but to shape a secure, innovative, and interconnected maritime future for the world.
Team BharatShakti
