NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India has amplified its role as a primary responder and security ally in the Indian Ocean Region. Speaking at the Indian Navy’s Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi on September 29, Singh highlighted 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.
Singh emphasized that increasing maritime congestion, disinformation, and gray-zone tactics have complicated operational environments. He called for enhanced monitoring, surveillance, and analytical abilities across India’s maritime domain. The minister connected naval preparedness with safeguarding trade routes, energy resources, and national security, asserting that the Indian Navy plays a key role in economic protection, regional stability, and maritime security, aligned with the government’s Viksit Bharat 2047 development plan.
He highlighted Operation Urja Suraksha, which facilitates the transit of Indian-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, including vessels transporting liquefied petroleum gas. Singh pointed out that India imports about 85% to 90% of its crude oil and roughly half of its natural gas via maritime routes, underscoring the importance of secure sea lanes for energy, economy, and defense readiness.
Domestic Shipbuilding and Naval Modernization Drive Expansion
Singh stated that the Navy’s modernization efforts increasingly depend on India’s local defense manufacturing and shipbuilding industries. He noted that over 75% of the components in recently commissioned warships are indigenous. The minister also announced plans to induct or commission 18 warships in 2026, marking the largest single-year increase in the Navy’s history, and called for ongoing capability development and increased domestic production.
The conference reviewed personnel policies, technological advancements, logistics, training, and operational readiness. Discussions included artificial intelligence, big data analysis, autonomous systems, and cyber operations. The Indian Navy has expanded the deployment of women officers on frontline ships and aircraft, with Singh citing these roles and women’s participation in naval sailing expeditions as part of the “All Ranks, All Roles” policy.
India Enhances Multinational Maritime Engagements
Singh highlighted India’s command of Combined Task Force 154 under the Combined Maritime Forces, which it took over in February 2026. During this period, Kochi hosted Operation Southern Readiness, involving 276 personnel from 27 countries, along with 76 facilitators, subject specialists, and four international organizations. Singh described this as part of India’s contribution to collaborative maritime security.
He also noted INS Sudarshini’s Lokayan 26 voyage, which traversed the Atlantic and Mediterranean, supporting naval diplomacy, training, and engagement with Indian communities abroad. The Commanders’ Conference, running through October 1, gathers senior naval officials, operational commanders, and government representatives to discuss combat readiness, maritime security, force development, technology, and inter-service coordination across India’s armed forces.