India’s Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth ₹53,866.50 crore for the construction of eight Next Generation Corvettes (NGCs) for the Indian Navy, marking a major step in strengthening maritime defence and indigenous shipbuilding. The agreements were signed on 2 November 2026 at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Under the arrangement, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) will construct five corvettes, while Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) will build the remaining three. The programme is the first warship acquisition initiative in which vessels designed indigenously by the Indian Navy have been awarded to Defence Public Sector Undertakings through a competitive selection process. The ships will feature advanced missile systems, modern weapons and sophisticated sensors, enabling operations across air, surface and sub-surface domains. Their missions will include anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, coastal security, littoral operations, surveillance and patrol duties, strengthening protection of important maritime trade routes and strategically significant waters. The project is also expected to deepen India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem through cooperation between public-sector shipyards, private industry and micro, small and medium enterprises. Over the next decade, construction is projected to generate around 72 lakh person-days of employment in shipyards and another 460 lakh person-days across ancillary industries and MSMEs. By prioritising Made-in-India materials, equipment, technologies and expertise, the programme is expected to expand domestic industrial participation, create skilled employment and support the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India objectives while enhancing the Indian Navy’s long-term operational preparedness.
