“Self-reliance is the only way to stay relevant and ready in the present era of uncertainty,” said defence minister Rajnath Singh while inaugurating Sagar Sankalp - Reclaiming India’s Maritime Glory, a defence and maritime dialogue jointly organised by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Limited and a private media organisation in Kolkata, West Bengal on 6 March 2026. He emphasised that the current global situation has led to the realignment of supply chains, formation of new equations, and constant rise in maritime activities, reaffirming the government’s resolve of attaining self-reliance in every field.

“Old ideas, old global order, and old perceptions are changing rapidly. These are the uncertainties we need to understand. The current situation in the Middle East is one prime example. What is happening there is quite unusual. It is difficult to make concrete comments about the future course of events in the Middle East or in our neighborhood. The Strait of Hormuz or the entire Persian Gulf region is crucial for global energy security. When there is disturbance in the region, it directly impacts the supply of oil and gas. Moreover, we’re witnessing supply chain disruptions in other sectors as well. These uncertainties have a direct impact on the economy and global trade. The global scenario is an abnormal situation. What is more worrying is the fact that this abnormality is becoming the new normal,” he said.

Describing “technological dynamism” as another crucial element in today’s world, Singh stated that technology is bringing about unprecedented changes in every sphere of life, and it is even more clearly visible in the defence sector. He highlighted that high-end and precision technologies are being used in the defence sector, and the government aims to achieve Aatmanirbharta in defence tech to stay ready for future challenges.

The minister enumerated the structural and policy reforms implemented by the government to bolster defence production qualitatively and quantitatively, with special emphasis on transparency, financial discipline, performance benchmarking, and R&D. Terming Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) as a key pillar of the government’s self-reliance vision, he stated that in the shipbuilding sector, GRSE and other shipyards have also been given special focus to make the domestic industrial ecosystem strong and futuristic.

The defence minister pointed out that the government’s efforts are yielding positive results as in the Financial Year 2024-25, domestic defence production surpassed a record figure of Rs 1.50 lakh crore, with defence exports touching an all-time high of approx. Rs 24,000 crore. He stated that by April 2026, defence exports are poised to reach approx. Rs 29,000 crore and the government has set a target to export defence equipment worth Rs 50,000 crore by FY 2029-2030.

He also noted that all the warships and submarines on order for the Indian Navy are being built in Indian shipyards--from design, engineering, construction to lifecycle support. He termed it as a major leap towards self-reliance. “Self-reliance is no longer just a slogan; it is being established as a practical reality. A Builder’s Navy is not a slogan; it is a ground reality,” he said.

Singh also praised the contribution of MSMEs, start-ups, and indigenous vendors in the construction of large platforms, asserting that a warship is a product of joint efforts, also known as the conglomerate effect. This effect creates synergy, increases efficiency, mitigates risk, and creates an ecosystem of innovation, he said. He emphasised that the government has introduced several financial assistance schemes to advance India’s shipbuilding landscape, including the creation of a dedicated mechanism for long-term funding, liberalised FDI norms, and encouraged PPP model. Under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal vision 2047, investments worth approx. Rs 3 lakh crore have been planned to develop world-class shipbuilding clusters, he added.

In his remarks, CMD, GRSE Commodore PR Hari (Retd) reflected on India’s civilisational maritime legacy and the evolution of indigenous shipbuilding capability. He noted that India’s transition “from a Buyer’s Navy to a Builder’s Navy” marked a decisive turning point in restoring industrial depth. He also cited the journey from the delivery of INS Ajay in 1961 to the next-generation platforms under construction as symbolic of technological transformation and rising indigenisation.