India's Push for Maritime Self-Reliance
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Defence (Naval vessels, Defence Public Sector Undertakings - DPSUs like GRSE); Government Policies & Initiatives (Atmanirbhar Bharat, SAGAR); International Relations (Indian Ocean Region - IOR).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations): India's role in the Indian Ocean Region.
General Studies Paper 3 (Security, Economy, S&T): Security challenges and their management in border areas (maritime security); Indigenization of technology and developing new technology; Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate; Indian Economy and issues relating to industrial growth. This is a quintessential GS3 topic.
Key Highlights from the News
Indian Navy is undertaking the largest shipbuilding program in its history, with 54 ships currently under construction in Indian shipyards.
This major advancement is part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, aimed at achieving self-reliance in India's defense sector.
Through this move, the Indian Navy is transforming from a "Buyer’s Navy" to a "Builder’s Navy."
INS Tamal, built in Russia, was the last major warship constructed abroad.
New ships like INS Androth, built by GRSE in Kolkata, incorporate over 80% indigenous content.
This project will help strengthen India's role as a "preferred security partner" in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and implement the SAGAR vision.
The long-term goal is to increase the Navy's strength to over 200 warships by 2035.
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