Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Rajnath Singh Highlights Indian Navy’s Expanding Blue-Water Maritime Role
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to senior Indian Navy leaders.
He said Indian ships now operate in several faraway seas and oceans.
This shows that India has a blue-water navy that can work far from home.
He asked the Navy to improve how it watches and understands activity at sea.
Busy shipping routes and hidden or unusual activities make the sea harder to monitor.
He praised the Navy for helping merchant ships travel safely through the Strait of Hormuz.
This is important because India brings much of its oil and gas by sea.
Singh also said new Indian warships are made mostly with parts produced in India.
The conference is reviewing the Navy’s readiness and future plans.
Rajnath Singh said Indian warships operate across the South China Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
He called for a major upgrade of India’s maritime surveillance and analytical capabilities.
The minister praised the Navy’s role in escorting Indian-flagged LPG tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
He said maritime security is vital because India imports most of its crude oil and much of its natural gas by sea.
Singh said recently commissioned warships contain more than 75% indigenous content and urged future exports to friendly countries.
- Who
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the senior leadership of the Indian Navy.
- What
- The Navy’s 2026 Commanders’ Conference reviewed operational preparedness, maritime security and future capability development, while Singh highlighted its global presence and called for stronger surveillance.
- When
- September 29 to October 1, 2026.
- Where
- Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- To review the Navy’s readiness and future capabilities and address increasingly complex maritime traffic, congestion, deception and grey-zone activities.
- Conference
- Indian Navy’s three-day biannual Commanders’ Conference 2026
- Location
- Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi
- Maritime presence
- South China Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean
- Security operation
- Operation Urja Suraksha helped secure the transit of Indian-flagged merchant vessels, including LPG tankers, through the Strait of Hormuz
- Energy dependence
- India imports approximately 85–90% of its crude oil and around 50% of its natural gas through maritime routes
- Indigenous content
- Recently commissioned warships contain more than 75% indigenous content
- Conference dates
- September 29–October 1, 2026