Rajnath Singh Pushes Self-Reliance in Warship Building

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for greater self-reliance in warship and offshore vessel manufacturing, saying indigenous shipbuilding is crucial for India’s national security and long-term growth.
Addressing the Bhumi Pujan ceremony for five projects of Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Yantra India Limited in Kolkata, involving investments of around ₹3,400 crore, Singh said India has the potential to emerge as a major global shipbuilding hub.

He stressed the importance of maintaining high quality and ensuring timely delivery of defence products, particularly for exports. The Defence Minister said the armed forces are increasingly showing confidence in defence equipment manufactured by Indian public sector companies.
Singh said GRSE could play a leading role in India’s future shipbuilding ambitions and noted that the company is also constructing a cargo vessel for Germany. He added that the global gap in shipbuilding capacity presents a major opportunity for India under the Make in India initiative.

The Minister said GRSE has delivered more than 100 vessels in recent years, while Yantra India Limited is contributing not only to traditional weapon production but also to research and development.
Three of the five projects inaugurated through the Bhumi Pujan ceremony are aimed at expanding GRSE’s manufacturing capacity and infrastructure. The projects are expected to support the growing requirements of India’s maritime and defence sectors.
The ceremonies were held simultaneously at Kidderpore, Shalimar, Raichak and Ishapore in West Bengal. Singh said the projects would also contribute to the vision of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.