Key Points
- PM Modi said maritime strength increasingly depends on technology, digital infrastructure, hydrographic capabilities and domestic manufacturing rather than naval assets alone.
- India commissioned INS Agray, INS Dunagiri and hydrographic survey vessel INS Sanshodhak.
- More than 40 indigenous naval platforms have been inducted, with 45 under construction as India expands defence manufacturing.
KOLKATA — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (21 June) linked India’s maritime ambitions to advances in technology, industrial manufacturing and domestic defence production while commissioning three naval platforms — INS Agray, INS Dunagiri and INS Sanshodhak — in Kolkata.
Addressing the commissioning ceremony, Prime Minister Modi said maritime capability would play a growing role in economic development, security and strategic influence as global trade, digital infrastructure and future resource exploration become increasingly connected to the oceans.
“Most of the world’s trade flows through maritime routes. The vast networks of data that connect the world pass beneath the oceans,” PM Modi said, adding that deep-sea resources, critical minerals and new energy sources would further increase the strategic importance of the maritime sector.
The Prime Minister described the induction of the three ships as part of India’s broader push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
According to Modi, the vessels were designed and built in India with contributions from domestic industries, engineers and workers. He said more than 200 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) participated in the construction of the three ships.
The commissioning included INS Sanshodhak, which Prime Minister described as India’s most advanced hydrographic survey vessel. The event coincided with World Hydrography Day, observed annually on June 21.
PM Modi said India was seeking to expand its role in defence manufacturing rather than remain primarily an importer of military equipment. He stated that more than 40 indigenously built warships and submarines had been inducted into the Indian Navy in recent years, while 45 major naval platforms are currently under construction.
The Prime Minister argued that shipbuilding creates demand across multiple sectors, including steel, electronics, machinery and component manufacturing, generating employment opportunities through extensive supply chains.
He also outlined the government‘s broader maritime strategy, which includes shipbuilding, ship repair, ship recycling and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities. Referring to the government’s ₹70,000 crore incentive package for the shipping sector, Modi said the initiative was aimed at strengthening India’s maritime and industrial capabilities.
The Prime Minister said India was modernising ports, expanding connectivity, developing inland waterways and building multi-modal logistics infrastructure under programmes such as Sagarmala to support the growth of the maritime economy.
Modi also highlighted growth in India’s defence sector, stating that annual defence production has increased from around ₹40,000 crore before 2014 to nearly ₹1.8 lakh crore, while defence exports have risen from about ₹700 crore to nearly ₹40,000 crore. He said Indian defence equipment is now exported to more than 80 countries.
Speaking about West Bengal’s role in the maritime economy, PM Modi said the state possesses port infrastructure, industrial capacity and skilled talent that could contribute to the development of maritime manufacturing, logistics and the blue economy.
The Prime Minister said India views the seas as a medium of cooperation but emphasised that security and self-reliance remain essential for protecting economic interests and supporting future growth.
