Navy provided safe passage to 335 merchant vessels carrying cargo valued at $5.6 bn: Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the second edition of Indian Navy’s biannual Commanders’ Conference 2025, in New Delhi
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday praised the Indian Navy for its pivotal role in ensuring maritime security and safe trade through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), commending it for providing safe passage to approximately 335 merchant vessels carrying 1.2 million metric tonnes of cargo valued at $5.6 billion.
Addressing the Naval Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi, the Defence Minister said the Indian Ocean has emerged as the centre of global geopolitics and a theatre of both competition and cooperation.
“The Indian Ocean Region has become the centre of contemporary geopolitics. It is no longer passive; it has become an area of competition and cooperation. The Indian Navy, through its multi-dimensional capabilities, has played a leadership role in the region,” Singh said.
He added that India’s growing role in maritime security was a testament to its credibility as a trusted global partner.
“This is proof that India has now become a trusted and capable partner in the global maritime economy,” he observed.
The event was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary DDR&D and DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat, and senior Naval Commanders from across the country.
“Confident and powerful nation”
Terming a self-reliant Navy as the foundation of a “confident and powerful nation,” Singh lauded the service for its commitment to indigenisation and innovation under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
He highlighted that over the past decade, nearly 67 percent of the Navy’s capital acquisition contracts were signed with Indian industries, underscoring India’s reduced dependence on imports.
“We rely on our own talent and the capabilities of MSMEs and start-ups. The Indian Navy is currently working on 194 innovation and indigenisation projects under iDEX, TDF, SPRINT, and Make-in-India. These initiatives have made the Navy technologically self-reliant while integrating private industries and young innovators into the national defence ecosystem,” Singh said.
Singh also drew attention to the Navy’s role in driving India’s industrial and economic growth through indigenous shipbuilding.
“With every ship and submarine built, a new job is created; with every engine, a new skill is created; and with every indigenous system, India’s dependency is decreasing,” he remarked.
He cited Project 17A frigates—featuring over 75 percent indigenous content—as an example of this synergy, noting that the programme has created around 1.27 lakh jobs in shipyards such as Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).
Recently, the Navy also awarded contracts worth ₹315 crore for the construction of yard crafts, marking another milestone towards the government’s “Vocal for Local” vision.
Singh further lauded the Navy’s innovation drive in the aviation domain, noting progress in projects such as the Multi-role Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft, Utility Helicopters, Twin-engine Deck Fighters, and Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems (NSUAS).
“These initiatives are not only filling critical capability gaps but also strengthening self-reliance and giving new direction to India’s domestic aviation industry,” he said.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi commended the collective professionalism and dedication of Team Navy in maintaining operational excellence, particularly highlighting the success of Operation Sindoor, which he described as “a source of pride for the nation.”
Published on October 23, 2025
