The 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 significant step in India’s efforts to strengthen its maritime capabilities and indigenous warship-building industry.
The contracts were signed on 2 November 2026 in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), two major defence public sector shipyards, have been selected to execute the programme. Under the agreement, GRSE will construct five corvettes, while Goa Shipyard Limited will build the remaining three warships.
The Next Generation Corvette programme is particularly significant because the vessels will be designed by the Indian Navy and constructed by the selected shipyards through a competitive process. This approach reflects India’s growing focus on developing indigenous naval design capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for advanced military platforms. The project is also expected to strengthen cooperation between public sector shipyards, private defence manufacturers and domestic suppliers.
The eight corvettes will be equipped with advanced weapons, modern missile systems and sophisticated sensor suites, enabling them to operate across air, surface and sub-surface domains. Their capabilities will support a range of naval missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, coastal defence, littoral operations and maritime surveillance. The induction of these vessels is expected to enhance the Indian Navy’s operational flexibility and strengthen its ability to maintain a sustained presence in strategically important maritime areas.
The programme also carries considerable importance for India’s domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem. The construction of eight warships is expected to generate approximately 72 lakh person-days of employment at the shipyards over the next ten years. Additionally, around 460 lakh person-days of employment are anticipated across ancillary industries and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The project is expected to create opportunities for Indian companies involved in shipbuilding, engineering, equipment manufacturing and other defence-related sectors.
The contracts further support the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative by placing Indian shipyards and domestic industrial capabilities at the centre of a major naval acquisition programme. Greater involvement of local manufacturers is expected to strengthen the country’s shipbuilding supply chain while supporting the development of advanced defence technologies within India.
With the addition of eight Next Generation Corvettes, the Indian Navy aims to further improve its maritime combat capabilities and strengthen India’s ability to safeguard its maritime interests. The programme represents an important investment in naval modernisation while reinforcing the country’s long-term ambition to become more self-reliant in the development and production of advanced warships.