India, Vietnam reaffirm commitment to stronger maritime and defence ties for regional security

September 13, 2026 6:46 PM

India, Vietnam reaffirm commitment to stronger maritime and defence ties for regional security

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held a meeting with Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, in New Delhi on Sunday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. The meeting followed the recent high-level bilateral engagement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart on the sidelines of the summit and focused on strengthening the longstanding friendship between India and Vietnam, advancing regional security and deepen...

Indian Navy commissions indigenous stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri, boosting maritime capabilities

July 11, 2026 2:21 PM

Indian Navy commissions indigenous stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri, boosting maritime capabilities

The Indian Navy on Saturday commissioned the indigenously built advanced stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri into its Eastern Fleet in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marking another milestone in India's drive towards defence self-reliance and maritime modernisation. Commissioned at Visakhapatnam, the warship is the sixth Project 17A stealth frigate to join the Navy within just 18 months, reflecting the rapid expansion of India's indigenous naval shipbuilding programme. Designed by...

Sagarmala: 315 projects worth Rs 1.57 lakh crore completed to boost maritime sector

April 11, 2026 1:50 PM

Sagarmala: 315 projects worth Rs 1.57 lakh crore completed to boost maritime sector

India’s maritime sector has seen significant expansion in capacity, connectivity, and operational efficiency over the past decade and the Sagarmala programme has contributed to the modernisation of ports, the development of coastal and inland waterway infrastructure, and the enhancement of cargo handling capabilities, an official fact-sheet said on Saturday. Over the past 11 years, the Sagarmala programme has delivered measurable outcomes. Sagarmala 2.0, supported with Rs 85,482 crore, aims t...

India must pursue self-reliance amid global uncertainties: Rajnath Singh

March 6, 2026 2:30 PM

India must pursue self-reliance amid global uncertainties: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday emphasised that self-reliance is essential for India to remain prepared in an increasingly uncertain global environment, highlighting the government’s push to strengthen indigenous defence production and shipbuilding capabilities. Speaking at “Sagar Sankalp - Reclaiming India’s Maritime Glory,” a defence and maritime dialogue organised by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata, the Defence Minister said global supply ...

India’s first maritime NBFC begins lending operations, sanctions ₹4,300 crore

January 1, 2026 10:11 AM

India’s first maritime NBFC begins lending operations, sanctions ₹4,300 crore

Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India’s first maritime-focused non-banking financial company (NBFC), has formally begun lending operations, sanctioning loans worth about ₹4,300 crore, marking a key step in strengthening the country’s maritime finance ecosystem. The loan sanctions were approved at the company’s 51st board meeting held on December 30, 2025. With this, SMFCL has entered the maritime lending space in line with its board-approved strategy. The move follows an ...

India strengthens maritime ‘Atmanirbharata’ as VLGC Shivalik joins Indian fleet: Sarbananda Sonowal

October 6, 2025 10:04 PM

India strengthens maritime ‘Atmanirbharata’ as VLGC Shivalik joins Indian fleet: Sarbananda Sonowal

Marking a major milestone in India’s maritime and energy sectors, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday received the country’s third Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) - Shivalik - under the Indian flag at Visakhapatnam Port. The event underscores India’s growing maritime self-reliance and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Built in South Korea and named after the Himalayan range, Shivalik is an 82,000 CBM state-...

Two Japan navy helicopters crash, one body found, 7 missing

April 21, 2024 11:10 AM

Two Japan navy helicopters crash, one body found, 7 missing

Two Japanese navy helicopters crashed into the sea during a training exercise, killing at least one of the eight crew members on board, the defence minister said on Sunday. The two SH-60 patrol helicopters were conducting anti-submarine exercises on Saturday night near Torishima in the remote Izu island group, off the southern coast of central Japan. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told a press conference the cause of the crash is under investigation. The two flight recorders had been disco...