Coming less than three months after the launch of Sanghmitra, the first NGOPV from GRSE, on 20 May 26, the occasion reflects the steady momentum achieved by GRSE in executing this prestigious programme.

GRSE is constructing four NGOPVs as part of the Indian Navy’s 11-ship NGOPV programme. The newly launched warship, named ‘Shruti’, was formally launched by Smt. Manika Sadhu, wife of Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, AVSM, NM, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition (CWP&A), Indian Navy, amidst traditional rituals and the chanting of Vedic shlokas. Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

The others present at the occasion were Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE along with Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN(Retd.), Director (Shipbuilding), Capt (IN) P Sunilkumar, (Retd.), Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel), Shri Niranjan Bhalerao, Director (Finance), Shri Abhishek Ranjan, IOFS, CVO and other senior officials of Indian Navy and GRSE.

The name ‘Shruti’ means “that which is heard”. In the Indian tradition, the term ‘Shruti’ is used to refer to the four Vedas, the ancient scriptures that have been preserved through oral tradition over generations and occupy a central place in India’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

The NGOPVs are significantly larger and more capable than the Offshore Patrol Vessels built earlier, offering enhanced endurance, firepower and operational versatility. Measuring about 113 metres in length and 14.6 metres in width, with a displacement of 3,000 Tons, they will achieve speeds of up to 23 knots and have an endurance of 8,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 14 knots.

Designed for a wide range of maritime operations, the NGOPVs will undertake coastal and offshore asset protection, maritime interdiction, surveillance, VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure), mine warfare and special operations. They will also be deployed for Out of Area Contingency Operations, anti-piracy, counter-infiltration, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), search and rescue missions, besides supporting hospital, COMINT and fleet maintenance roles.

Vice Admiral Sadhu mentioned, “The Navy’s responsibility is not only to defend our national interests; it is also to ensure freedom of navigation, security of our sea lanes, and the uninterrupted flow of energy and essential goods to and from India. Over the last decade, thanks to the Government and its important policy initiatives, we have made remarkable progress in creating a vibrant and increasingly technologically advanced defence manufacturing and shipbuilding ecosystem. And in this journey, ladies and gentlemen, GRSE has occupied a very, very special place. In 1961, GRSE delivered INS Ajay to us. It was the first indigenously built platform. Since then, over the last several decades, the Indian Navy has received more than 110 warships from GRSE, while GRSE has built over 800 ships and platforms for the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, export customers and other countries. On account of all these accomplishments, GRSE was also accorded Navratna status in June 2026, which I think is a great honour and recognition of the consistent vision, hard work and steadfast commitment of its personnel, both past and present. The launch of Shruti today is yet another reflection of the professionalism, competence and commitment of Team GRSE.”

Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, highlighted the expansion plans of the shipyard and its commitment to Atmanirbharta and self-reliance.

He also said, “Shruti, as she shall be named in a few moments from now, belongs to the Naval Ship of Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel project, of which four vessels are being constructed by GRSE. Unlike her predecessors, the Sukanya class OPVs or the indigenously built Saryu class OPVs, these ships are much larger, have much longer endurance and are packed with state-of-the-art equipment and sensors, not to mention a potent weapon fit. While the entire shipyard is brimming with activity, last year was an exciting year for us, when we delivered eight warships and launched one warship. This year shall be equally exciting, when we will deliver five warships and launch four vessels”.

The steel supplied by SAIL includes special quality DMR 249A grade hot-rolled sheets and plates. This specialized, defense-grade steel was meticulously manufactured and supplied from SAIL’s flagship facilities at Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela Steel Plants, underscoring the Maharatna’s robust technological capability in supporting India’s maritime defense infrastructure.

SAIL continues to propel the nation’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. By producing specialized steel for critical naval platforms, SAIL has become integral part to India’s defense indigenisation. To meet the emerging requirements of the defense sector, SAIL has taken extra measures well in advance to enhance the production of DMR Grade plates for defense requirements at its Plate-production facilities, specifically at the Special Plate Plant in the Rourkela Steel Plant. This strategic move is clearly reflected in India’s growing import substitution in the field of defense-grade steel. Its stellar track record includes provisioning the landmark indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, alongside the elite Project 17A stealth frigates-INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, and INS Udaygiri. Furthermore, SAIL’s specialized steel forms the backbone of formidable vessels like INS Ajay, INS Nistar, and INS Anjadeep among others. The successful induction of these advanced warships marks a defining milestone in India’s maritime capabilities and sovereignty.

SAIL CMD Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda said, “As a key partner in India’s defense sector, SAIL remains deeply committed to national self-reliance. To stay ahead in the defense sector’s growing needs, the company boosted its manufacturing capacity for DMR Grade plates -focusing heavily on the Special Plate Plant at the Rourkela Steel Plant. Delivering these high-strength DMR 249A steel plates protects India’s strategic independence while highlighting SAIL’s cutting-edge technical expertise.”

The commissioning of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray marks a defining milestone in India’s naval history and reinforces the nation’s growing strength in indigenous warship design and construction under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister commissioned the warships in the presence of Shri R. N. Ravi, Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, Shri Suvendu Adhikari, Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Chief of the Naval Staff and senior officials of Indian Navy & GRSE. The commissioning of three major surface warships on a single day is a first-of-its-kind achievement for any shipyard in India and highlights GRSE’s robust shipbuilding infrastructure, advanced technological capability and efficient project execution. The achievement further strengthens the shipyard’s operational preparedness across strategic, surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and maritime defence capabilities.

Aligned with the objectives of Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, GRSE is spearheading India’s green maritime transformation through focused initiatives in shipbuilding and ship repair, modernisation of yard infrastructure, strategic global partnerships, promotion of sustainable maritime practices, and adoption of emerging technologies. By integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), digitalization and innovation-led solutions across its operations, GRSE is driving efficiency, sustainability and technological excellence, while contributing to the vision of a resilient, self-reliant and globally competitive maritime sector.

INS Dunagiri, the second Advanced Guided Missile Frigate built by GRSE under Project 17A, represents a significant advancement in indigenous warship design. Equipped with BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles along with advanced defence systems, the warship significantly enhances the Indian Navy’s strike and defensive capabilities.

INS Sanshodhak, the last of the four Survey Vessels (Large) built by GRSE, will bolster the Indian Navy’s hydrographic and survey capabilities, supporting port and harbour approaches, navigation channels and maritime limits, while also aiding oceanographic data collection and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.

INS Agray, one of the eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWCs) under construction at GRSE, is designed for coastal anti-submarine operations and is equipped with advanced Combat Management Systems, lightweight torpedoes, anti-submarine warfare rockets and a 30 mm Naval Surface Gun with approximately 88% indigenous content.

With the delivery of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray, GRSE has achieved the milestone of building and delivering 118 warships, including 80 warships for the Indian Navy — the highest by any shipyard in the country.

Reinforcing its technological leadership, GRSE is the only PSU shipyard to receive the Defence Minister’s Award for Excellence in the Defence & Aerospace Sector for designing the most silent ship for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations for the Indian Navy.

From building 05-ton boats to 24,600-ton Fleet Tankers, GRSE has demonstrated unmatched versatility and established itself as a pioneer warship builder of the nation. Since 1960, GRSE remains the only Indian shipyard to have delivered over 100 warships and is also the first Indian shipyard to have built a Fleet Replenishment Tanker. It is additionally the first shipyard in independent India to build a Seaward Defence Boat (SDB), the builder of the first-ever Patrol Vessel for the Indian Coast Guard, the first-ever Indigenous Survey Vessel and the first Indian shipyard to export a warship — CGS Barracuda — to Seychelles.

Beyond shipbuilding, GRSE has consistently championed indigenous innovation and engineering excellence, securing 100 Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) from the Government of India and being recognised as the Best Performing Defence Shipyard of India for four consecutive years.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi stated, “I am delighted that on this occasion I have had the opportunity to come to this great land of Bengal. This is the land that gave a new direction to India’s ideas, that accelerated India’s renaissance, and that connected India to the world through the seas for centuries. Today, on this very soil, an important event linked to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Surakshit Bharat, and Viksit Bharat is taking place. Today, INS Agray, INS Dunagiri, and INS Sanshodhak are giving new momentum to that journey. These three vessels are also symbols of three important national commitments. They have been built in India, their designs were developed in India. The talent of Indian industries has gone into their construction. The skill of Indian engineers has gone into them. The hard work of Indian workers has gone into them. And this is the greatest strength of the new India.”

On the occasion, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Chief of the Naval Staff, stated, “GRSE has long been a trusted partner of the Indian Navy in ensuring maritime security. On this occasion, I would like to congratulate the GRSE team. I would also like to congratulate our industry partners and MSMEs who have helped us achieve this success. Last year, in Mumbai, the Prime Minister witnessed the first tri-commissioning in India. After 17 months, the second tri-commissioning in Kolkata shows that India’s warship construction capacity, modernity, self-reliance and self-confidence are all gaining new momentum.”

GRSE is currently constructing multiple frontline platforms, including one Project 17A Advanced Frigate, four ASW-SWCs and four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs). In addition, the shipyard is building 30 other vessels, including 13 export platforms, and is in advanced stages of concluding a prestigious contract for the construction of the Next Generation Corvettes.

Through indigenous warship construction, export-ready maritime platforms, innovation-driven excellence and over 90% indigenous equipment fit in frontline warships, GRSE continues to reinforce India’s emergence as a world-class maritime and shipbuilding powerhouse committed to national security, economic progress and nation-building excellence.

This was in recognition of the shipyard’s consistent financial and physical performance over the years.

GRSE’s financial performance over the last five years reflects its remarkable growth trajectory and operational excellence. The Company’s Revenue from Operations has grown from ₹1,754 crore in FY 2021-22 to ₹7,002 crore in FY 2025-26, registering an increase of nearly 300%. During the same period, Profit After Tax (PAT) has risen from ₹190 crore to ₹748 crore, reflecting a growth of nearly 294%.

A firm proponent of the Government ‘s Atmanirbharta and “Make in India” visions, the shipyard also delivered eight warships during the year, including three on the same day on March 30, 2026. These include P17A advanced guided-missile frigate Dunagiri, Sanshodhak, a Survey Vessel (Large) and Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft Agray.

Navratna status allows Public Sector Enterprises to make larger investments, enhancing their ability and expand operations.

The elevation to a Navratna status for GRSE comes at a time when the shipyard is in an expansion mode. It has embarked on a mission to increase capacity through both brownfield and greenfield projects.

Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, expressed his gratitude to the Government for being accorded this status and said, “The conferment of Navratna status is a defining moment in GRSE’s journey and a matter of immense pride for every member of the GRSE family. This recognition reflects the confidence reposed in us and acknowledges the dedication, commitment and professionalism of our employees, past and present. This elevation will further empower us to pursue strategic opportunities, enhance self-reliance in defence manufacturing, strengthen our global competitiveness and contribute meaningfully towards the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and India’s emergence as a leading maritime power by 2047.”

GRSE has several firsts to its name. In 1961, barely a year after being declared a Defence Public Sector Undertaking, the shipyard delivered the country’s first indigenous warship, INS Ajay, to the Navy. GRSE is also the proud builder of first ever Indian Export Warship, CGS Barracuda for Govt of Mauritius and also the first DPSU shipyard to be listed in the stock exchanges.

While GRSE has delivered over 800 marine platforms, the shipyard has also delivered the largest number of warships to the Navy, Coast Guard & friendly foreign nations. The figure stands at 118. Of these, 80 have been inducted into the Navy.

GRSE has also made strides in the field of commercial shipbuilding and has bagged export orders. It is now building 12 multi-purpose vessels for a German client, in keeping with India’s ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision, also foraying into green and autonomous vessels. GRSE is the only shipyard with specialisation in research ships, thereby contributing significantly to maritime sovereignty.