Page 24 - NIS English 1-15 April, 2026

Cover Story
National Maritime Day Special

Major Ports of Growing Strategic
the Country Importance

INS Vikrant

*map symbolic India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier was
commissioned into the Indian Navy on
September 2, 2022. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi celebrated Diwali 2025 on INS Vikrant.

n At a cost of ₹90,000 crore, 51 large
ships are under construction in the
country.
n The 100th and 101st indigenous
warships, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri,
12 were commissioned into the Navy.

Major ports are 217 n Indian shipyards have delivered
over 40 indigenous warships and
government-owned.
Minor and submarines to the Navy since 2014,
Intermediate Ports with a new ship being inducted every
40 days on average over the past year.

Navy Budget

49,623 1,03,548

Crore Rupees Crore Rupees

2020-21 2025-26

n The Navy's share of defence expenditure increased
from 15% to 21%.
n INS Anjadip also joined the Navy on 27 February 2026
n Two state-of-the-art frontline frigates, Udayagiri (F35)
and Himgiri (F34), were inducted into the Navy in
2025. This is the first time two major surface combatant
ships have been inducted simultaneously.

Not only this, but work on the ‘MAHASAGAR Mar- a water crisis, and India launched Operation Neer, and
itime Vision’ is progressing at a rapid pace. Today, the Navy arrived there with clean water. In 2017, when
India is able to lend helping hand for humanitarian Sri Lanka was hit by a devastating flood, India was the
assistance in any corner of the world. From Africa first to extend a helping hand. When Indonesia was
to Southeast Asia, the world sees India as a friend in devastated by the tsunami in 2018, India stood with
times of disaster. In 2014, neighboring Maldives faced the people of Indonesia in relief and rescue opera-

22 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || April 1-15, 2026