On November 2, 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth ₹53,866.50 crore with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the construction of eight Next-Generation Corvettes (NGCs) for the Indian Navy.
The contracts were signed at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Under the agreements, GRSE will build five corvettes, while GSL will construct the remaining three. This project marks a milestone in indigenous warship construction, as these vessels will be designed by the Indian Navy and built by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) selected through a competitive process.
These modern warships will be equipped with state-of-the-art missiles, weapon systems and sensors, enabling them to carry out a variety of military operations in the air, on the surface and underwater. Their induction will strengthen the Navy’s capabilities in maritime security, operations against enemy vessels and submarines, coastal defense, maritime surveillance and the protection of vital commercial sea lanes.
The project is expected to boost India’s domestic shipbuilding ecosystem through the participation of private shipyards, industrial partners and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). According to the Ministry of Defence, it is projected to generate around 72 lakh person-days of employment in shipyards and 460 lakh person-days in ancillary industries and MSMEs over the next ten years.
This initiative supports the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India programs by promoting indigenous materials, equipment, technologies and a skilled workforce, thereby strengthening India’s self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector.
(PIB)
