Stronger navy an absolute necessity for India: Rajnath
Visakhapatnam: INS Taragiri is not merely a warship but a symbol of India’s growing technological prowess, self-reliance and formidable naval power, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday.
As the fourth potent platform of the Project 17A class, INS Taragiri frigate was commissioned into the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam on Friday, the Defence Minister called to move beyond a traditional perspective on maritime security and view it through a comprehensive, future-ready framework. “We must not limit ourselves to safeguarding our coastlines."
"We must also ensure the security of critical sea lanes, choke points and digital infrastructure that are inextricably linked to our national interests,” he emphasised.
Stating that the Indian Navy is proactively engaged in all these security endeavors, Rajnath Singh said, “This approach prepares us for future challenges. Whenever India constructs and deploys advanced vessels such as INS Taragiri, it serves as a guarantee of peace and prosperity for the entire region.”
The Defence Minister informed that in the modern digital era, the vast majority of the world's data travels through undersea internet cables and any damage to them could disrupt global order.
With a coastline stretching over 11,000-km, the Defence Minister mentioned that India is surrounded by the sea on three sides and it cannot view its development in isolation from the ocean. He added that approximately 95 per cent of the country’s trade is carried out via maritime routes and energy security is dependent on the sea, which makes building a strong and capable navy not merely an option but an absolute necessity.
Highlighting the immense significance of the maritime domain in the evolving security landscape, Rajnath Singh stated that the Indian Navy maintains a round-the-clock presence across the Indian Ocean region amidst the global uncertainties.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to make the Indian Navy one of the world’s strongest in the times to come, backed by an indigenous industry, the Union Minister stated that defence manufacturing in the country is marching ahead as a national mission under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. “Today, we’re no longer confined to fulfilling our own requirements. We are actively securing our place within the global supply chain. From design and development to final deployment, India's participation is integral at every stage. It gives us confidence that we possess the capability to design not only our own security but also our future. INS Taragiri stands as an embodiment of this very vision,” he underlined, adding that the security efforts must not confine solely to the domains of land, sea and air but extend to space, cyberspace, and economic spheres.
Also, Rajnath Singh appreciated Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and the private sector in taking defence exports to an all-time high of Rs.38,424 crore in 2025-26 financial year. “Fourteen years ago, we used to export defence items worth Rs 1,200 crore. Today, it has reached almost Rs.39,000 crore. This is a proof that India's self-reliance is growing steadily, signifying that we are standing on our own feet,” he reiterated.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi highlighted INS Taragiri’s rich legacy, recalling the erstwhile Leander-class frigate commissioned in 1980, which played a pioneering role in advancing India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities and operational innovation. Reflecting on the evolving maritime security environment, he underscored the growing complexities of the Indian Ocean Region, shaped by dynamic geopolitics, emerging technologies and non-traditional threats. The CNS emphasised the navy’s commitment to remaining a combat-ready, credible, cohesive and future-ready force to safeguard national maritime interests, anytime, anywhere, anyhow.
The commissioning of over 75 per cent indigenous warship was carried out in the presence of Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, CMD, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited Captain Jagmohan (Retd), among others.
