India Signs ₹53,866 Crore Deal for 8 Navy Corvettes

India signs ₹53,866.50 crore contracts with GRSE and GSL to build eight next-generation corvettes for the Navy, strengthening indigenous warship manufacturing and creating employment across shipyards and supporting industries.

The Ministry of Defence has 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 agreement marks a major step towards strengthening India's indigenous warship design and manufacturing capabilities.

The contracts were signed on November 2, 2026, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi. Under the agreement, Kolkata-based GRSE will construct five corvettes, while GSL will build the remaining three vessels.

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According to the Ministry of Defence, the project is the first in which warships will be indigenously designed by the Indian Navy and constructed by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) selected through a competitive process. The initiative is expected to strengthen domestic capabilities in warship design and construction while expanding the participation of Indian shipbuilding companies and industrial partners.

The next-generation corvettes will be equipped with advanced missiles, weapons systems and sensor suites. These capabilities will enable the vessels to undertake missions across air, surface and sub-surface domains, supporting a range of maritime security and combat operations.

Their induction is expected to enhance the Indian Navy's ability to safeguard maritime trade routes, conduct anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations, and strengthen coastal defence. The vessels will also support littoral combat operations, maritime presence and surveillance missions, contributing to the protection of India's maritime interests.

The project is also expected to provide a significant boost to the country's indigenous shipbuilding ecosystem. It will encourage collaboration among defence public sector undertakings, private shipyards and Indian industrial partners, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This wider participation is expected to strengthen domestic supply chains and create opportunities for Indian manufacturers involved in defence production.

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The construction programme is projected to generate approximately 72 lakh person-days of employment in shipyards over the next ten years. Ancillary industries and MSMEs are expected to account for an additional 460 lakh person-days of employment during the same period.

The Ministry said the project would promote the use of Indian-made materials and equipment, indigenous technologies and domestic technical expertise. The contracts reinforce the government's focus on Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing and the Make in India initiative, while supporting the Navy's operational requirements through locally designed and constructed platforms.