Rajnath Singh: India Emerging as Preferred Hub for Complex Naval Ship Refits in Indo-Pacific

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday emphasized India’s rising stature as the preferred destination for complex ship sustainment and repair across the Indo-Pacific region, attributing this shift to the country’s rapidly advancing shipbuilding ecosystem. Speaking at the ‘Samudra Utkarsh’ seminar in New Delhi, Singh highlighted how an increasing number of naval vessels from friendly foreign nations are opting for Indian shipyards for their sophisticated refit requirements, recognizing India’s unmatched technological capability, reliability, and competitiveness.

Indian shipyards such as Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) are now at the forefront of delivering world-class naval platforms, including stealth frigates, destroyers, and next-generation anti-submarine warfare and shallow-water vessels. Goa Shipyard Limited is noted for constructing high-tech offshore patrol vessels and missile systems, while the indigenously-built Kalvari-class submarines exemplify India’s growing expertise in underwater warfare technology. These flagship projects underscore India’s expanding design capabilities, automation, and systems integration.

Singh also praised the contributions of commercial shipyards like Cochin Shipyard Limited and Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding, which are producing advanced passenger-coastal vessels, pollution-control ships, and research vessels supporting oceanographic exploration and maritime sustainability. He expressed confidence that India’s commercial fleet will soon be entirely built domestically, in tandem with robust policy support such as the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Defence Production & Export Promotion Policy.

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Throughout his address, Rajnath Singh reaffirmed the country’s commitment to self-reliance in shipbuilding, noting that every Indian Navy and Coast Guard ship currently under construction is being built in Indian shipyards. He highlighted the sector’s move toward achieving 100% indigenous content within the decade, aiming to minimize supply chain vulnerabilities and enhance operational readiness. Underlining India’s maritime heritage dating back to the Indus Valley civilization—a testimony to the country’s enduring seafaring legacy—he declared the shipyards of Bharat are shaping a sustainable blue economy and transforming India into a global maritime leader.

The seminar brought together stakeholders across defence and industry, showcasing advancements in indigenous shipbuilding and reinforcing India’s ambition to become the maritime “repair and sustainment hub” of the Indo-Pacific, thereby deepening strategic partnerships and contributing to regional security and prosperity.

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