Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the second edition of the Indian Navy's biannual Commanders' Conference 2026 at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, emphasizing India's role as the First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region. He highlighted the complexity of the current maritime domain due to congestion, deception, and gray-zone activities, calling for elevated monitoring and response mechanisms.
The Minister announced that 2026 will be a historic year for the Indian Navy with plans for the induction or commissioning of 18 warships, representing the largest single-year force accretion in the Navy's history. This reflects the growing maturity of India's domestic naval shipbuilding ecosystem, with recent warships containing over 75% indigenous content meeting global benchmarks. The Navy aims to not only meet domestic requirements but also export warships to friendly foreign nations.
Operational achievements were highlighted, including the Navy's crucial role in securing India's energy imports through maritime routes - approximately 85-90% of crude oil and around 50% of natural gas. Under Operation Urja Suraksha, the Navy ensured safe transit of Indian-flagged merchant vessels, particularly LPG tankers, through the Strait of Hormuz during the West Asia crisis. The presence of Indian warships extends to the South China Sea, Mediterranean, and Atlantic Ocean, demonstrating blue-water force capability.
The Navy's international engagements were noted, including assuming command of Combined Task Force-154 under the Combined Maritime Forces and conducting Operation Southern Readiness in Kochi during India's command tenure, which involved 276 personnel from 27 countries, 76 facilitators and subject-matter experts, and four international organizations. INS Sudarshini's deployment for Lokayan-26 strengthened India's maritime diplomacy and engagement with the Indian diaspora across the United States, Atlantic, and Mediterranean regions.
Women's empowerment initiatives under the "All Ranks, All Roles" approach were commended, including the deployment of women officers on frontline warships and aircraft, and participation in naval navigational expeditions such as the Navika Sagar Parikrama voyage. The Minister reaffirmed government support to the Indian Navy, stating that secure seas directly contribute to India's security and the resolve for a Viksit Bharat 2047.