NEW DELHI, SEPT 29: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for a major strengthening of India’s maritime surveillance and response capabilities, asserting that the changing security environment in the seas demands a future-ready, combat-ready and globally respected Indian Navy.
Addressing the second Indian Navy Commanders’ Conference 2026 at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi today, Singh said India had emerged as a “First Responder” and “Preferred Security Partner” in the Indian Ocean Region, while its growing strategic responsibilities extended beyond the immediate region.
He pointed to the deployment of Indian warships in the South China Sea, Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean, saying the presence demonstrated the country’s expanding blue-water naval capability and the Navy’s role in providing strategic depth and supporting regional security.
Singh cautioned that the maritime domain was becoming increasingly complex due to congestion, deception and grey-zone activities, making it necessary to take India’s monitoring, analysis and response mechanisms to a higher level.
Highlighting the pace of naval expansion, the Defence Minister described 2026 as a historic year for the Indian Navy, with 18 warships planned for induction or commissioning. According to him, this would constitute the Navy’s largest single-year force accretion.
He said the development reflected the growing strength of India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding ecosystem, while emphasising that capability enhancement must continue in response to evolving maritime challenges.
Singh also stressed the importance of self-reliance in defence production, noting that recently commissioned Indian warships have more than 75 per cent indigenous content.
He called for India to progress from meeting its own naval requirements to exporting indigenously built warships to friendly foreign countries.
The Defence Minister highlighted the Navy’s role in safeguarding Indian maritime interests during the West Asia crisis, particularly the safe movement of Indian-flagged merchant vessels and LPG tankers through the Strait of Hormuz under Operation Urja Suraksha.
He said India’s dependence on maritime routes for energy imports makes sea-lane security a critical component of national security. India imports approximately 85–90 per cent of its crude oil and around 50 per cent of its natural gas through maritime routes, he noted.
Singh said the Navy’s responsibility therefore extends to protecting the maritime routes that underpin India’s economic stability, energy supplies and defence preparedness.
Calling for a significant upgrade of the country’s maritime surveillance architecture, Singh said existing systems must be strengthened in view of the rapidly increasing volume and complexity of maritime traffic.
He stressed the need for enhanced analytical capabilities to enable authorities to monitor developments at sea more effectively and respond rapidly to emerging threats.
Singh also praised the Navy’s efforts towards women’s empowerment and recruitment under the “All Ranks, All Roles” approach.
He highlighted the deployment of women officers on frontline warships and aircraft and their participation in major navigational expeditions, including Navika Sagar Parikrama, describing these developments as important milestones in the Navy’s transformation.
The Defence Minister congratulated the Indian Navy on assuming command of Combined Task Force-154 under the Combined Maritime Forces, terming it an important contribution to cooperative security in the region.
He also referred to Operation Southern Readiness, held in Kochi during India’s command tenure of CTF-154, which brought together 276 personnel from 27 countries, 76 facilitators and subject-matter experts, and four international organisations.
Singh further highlighted the deployment of INS Sudarshini for Lokayan-26, which strengthened India’s maritime diplomacy and engagement with the Indian diaspora across the United States, Atlantic and Mediterranean regions while showcasing the country’s maritime heritage.
Concluding his address, Singh commended the Navy for maintaining a high level of combat readiness and fulfilling its commitments across the region despite an evolving security environment.
He said India’s maritime power was not intended merely to display the national flag at sea, but to ensure that wherever the Tricolour was seen, it conveyed security, trust and confidence.
“If the seas are secure, India will be secure; and if India is secure, the resolve for a Viksit Bharat will be further strengthened,” Singh said.
The three-day Commanders’ Conference, being held from September 29 to October 1, brings together the senior leadership of the Indian Navy to review operational preparedness, maritime security, capability development and emerging challenges.
