India to commission new diesel electric submarine
Photo: Reuters/Shailesh AndradeIndia will commission its third diesel electric submarine, the INS Karanj, today.
India will commission its third diesel electric submarine, the INS Karanj, today.
The Kalvari-class submarine, a smaller vessel than nuclear-powered submarines, is designed for area surveillance, intelligence gathering and mining operations. The Karanj is the third of six Kalvari-type submarines that India plans to add to its navy and the first built entirely by an Indian company.
The submarine exemplifies the “Make in India” strategy pursued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The initiative seeks to increase investment in domestic industries—in manufacturing, it aims to create 100 million new jobs by 2022. Defence also forms a key industry in this program, and the nation’s 2021-22 defence budget allocates 64% of its “modernisation budget” for purchases exclusively from the domestic sector.
The “Make in India” strategy aims to reduce Indian dependence on exports from countries like the US and China. Through a robust domestic defence industry, Modi is seeking to increase India’s self-reliance and subsequently to gain bargaining power on the global stage. Expect more announcements regarding investment in domestic industries such as automobiles, energy, and information technology so as to further reduce dependency on foreign imports.
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