Rajnath Singh Calls for Stronger Maritime Surveillance at Navy Commanders' Conference (2026-09-29)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called for a substantial upgrade of India's maritime surveillance and response architecture, pointing to mounting congestion, deception and grey-zone activity at sea and to the country's expanding strategic obligations in the Indian Ocean Region.

Speaking at the second edition of the Indian Navy's biannual Commanders' Conference in New Delhi, Mr. Singh said India had established itself as a "First Responder" and "Preferred Security Partner" in the region, and that maritime monitoring and response mechanisms needed to be raised to a new level. "The entire world is witnessing the growth of both our strategic position and our strategic responsibility in the region," he said.

The Defence Minister drew attention to the Navy's blue-water reach, noting that Indian warships operate as far afield as the South China Sea, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. The service, he said, plays a vital role in providing strategic depth and enabling regional power projection.

Describing 2026 as a historic year for the Navy, Mr. Singh pointed to plans for the induction or commissioning of 18 warships — the largest single-year force accretion in the service's history.

He linked maritime security directly to India's economic and energy interests, citing the Navy's role in escorting Indian-flagged merchant vessels, particularly LPG tankers, through the Strait of Hormuz under Operation Urja Suraksha during the West Asia crisis.

On indigenisation, Mr. Singh said recently commissioned Indian warships carry more than 75% indigenous content, and urged the domestic defence ecosystem to aim at exporting warships to friendly nations. He also praised the Navy's "All Ranks, All Roles" approach and the deployment of women officers on frontline warships and aircraft.

The Defence Minister congratulated the Navy on taking command of Combined Task Force-154 under the Combined Maritime Forces, and noted Operation Southern Readiness, which involved 276 personnel from 27 countries.

The three-day conference, running from September 29 to October 1, brings together the Navy's senior leadership to review operational preparedness, maritime security and future capability development.