NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that India has enhanced its role as a key responder and security collaborator in the Indian Ocean Region. During the Indian Navy’s Commanders’ Conference held in New Delhi on September 29, Singh noted that naval deployments now reach the South China Sea, Mediterranean, and Atlantic Ocean, showcasing the Indian Navy’s blue-water capabilities and growing operational scope.
According to Singh, increased maritime congestion, deception tactics, and gray-zone activities have complicated operational environments, prompting calls for more robust monitoring, surveillance, and analytical abilities across India’s maritime domain. The minister linked naval preparedness to safeguarding trade routes, energy supplies, and national security, asserting that the Indian Navy plays a vital role in economic protection, regional stability, and maritime security, all supporting the government’s Viksit Bharat 2047 development plan.
Singh highlighted Operation Urja Suraksha, which facilitates the transit of Indian-flagged merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, including support for vessels transporting liquefied petroleum gas. He pointed out that India imports roughly 85% to 90% of its crude oil and around half of its natural gas via maritime routes, making secure sea lanes crucial for energy security, the economy, and defense readiness.
Domestic Shipbuilding Drives Naval Modernization
Singh stated that India’s naval modernization increasingly depends on the country’s domestic defense manufacturing and shipbuilding industries, with over 75% indigenous content in recently commissioned warships. He announced plans to induct or commission 18 warships in 2026, marking the largest single-year fleet expansion in the navy’s history, and emphasized the importance of ongoing capability enhancement and increased local production.
The conference also addressed personnel policies, technological advancements, logistics, training, and operational readiness. Discussions included artificial intelligence, big data analysis, autonomous systems, and cyber warfare, with the three-day event bringing together senior naval officials, operational commanders, and government representatives. The Indian Navy has expanded women officers’ roles on frontline ships and aircraft, with Singh citing such deployments and women’s participation in sailing expeditions as part of the “All Ranks, All Roles” policy.
India enhances international maritime collaboration
Singh highlighted India’s leadership of Combined Task Force 154 under the Combined Maritime Forces, which India assumed command of in February 2026. During its tenure, Kochi hosted Operation Southern Readiness, involving 276 personnel from 27 nations, along with 76 facilitators and subject experts, supported by four international organizations. Singh described this command as a contribution to global maritime security cooperation.
He also pointed out INS Sudarshini’s Lokayan 26 voyage, which took the sail training ship across the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean, including port visits aimed at naval diplomacy, training, and engagement with Indian communities abroad. The Commanders’ Conference, running through October 1, gathers senior naval leaders, operational commanders, and officials to discuss combat readiness, maritime security, force development, technology, and inter-service coordination across India’s armed forces.