Goa: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh said ships built by Goa Shipyard Limited and other Indian yards were floating symbols of India’s sovereignty ahead of the Samudra Pratap commissioning into the Indian Coast Guard in Goa.
He made the remarks during his visit to Goa Shipyard Limited on January 04, 2026, a day before the Samudra Pratap commissioning scheduled for January 05. Samudra Pratap is the first of two Pollution Control Vessels being built by GSL for the Indian Coast Guard.
The Raksha Mantri described Aatmanirbharta in defence as a strategic necessity rather than a luxury. He said institutions such as GSL had converted this necessity into reality by building indigenous capability, absorbing technology, and strengthening in-house design. These efforts, he added, ensured timely delivery of platforms to the Armed Forces and accelerated India’s self-reliance.
He underlined that Indian shipyards were operating in a complex maritime security environment. According to him, non-traditional threats were rising alongside conventional challenges at sea. He cited narcotics trafficking, illegal fishing, human trafficking, environmental crimes, and grey-zone activities as persistent concerns.
Samudra Pratap commissioning reflects evolving maritime challenges
Shri Rajnath Singh said the Samudra Pratap commissioning came at a time when shipyards played a critical role in national maritime security. He described GSL, located in a city central to India’s naval history and maritime heritage, as a pillar of the defence ecosystem with direct responsibility for safeguarding maritime interests.
He emphasised that a ship was more than steel and machinery. It represented the trust of citizens and the operational expectations of the Armed Forces. He said GSL had consistently met this trust over the years through reliable delivery and performance.
The Raksha Mantri stated that India was emerging as a proactive maritime nation. He said the country’s role in ensuring stability, cooperation, and a rules-based order across the Indian Ocean Region was steadily expanding. He urged institutions like GSL to continue strengthening India’s credibility at sea.
Highlighting the growing role of technology in defence, he called for equipping platforms with state-of-the-art systems. He specifically stressed AI-enabled maintenance and cyber-secure platforms to maintain an operational edge over adversaries. He expressed confidence that GSL would lead this technological transition.
Shri Rajnath Singh also appreciated GSL’s work on a high-technology dredger for Belgium. He supported a stronger push for defence exports to make India self-reliant and a net defence exporter. He linked this goal to the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 and assured full government support for capacity enhancement at shipyards.
Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Director General Indian Coast Guard DG Paramesh Sivamani, Chairman and Managing Director of GSL Shri Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay, and shipyard personnel attended the event.
