Navy must upgrade maritime surveillance amid growing gray zone issues: Rajnath Singh

Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh addresses the Indian Navy Commanders Conference at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi on September 29, 2026. Photo: X/@SpokespersonMoD via ANI.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (29 September 2026) called for a major upgrade to India’s maritime surveillance and response architecture amid growing congestion, fraud and gray zone activities at sea, arguing that the country’s strategic responsibilities in the Indian Ocean region are growing alongside its naval power.

Addressing the second annual Indian Navy Commanders’ Conference 2026 here, Mr. Singh said India has become a “first responder” and a “preferred security partner” in the Indian Ocean region and stressed the need to take maritime monitoring and response mechanisms to a new level.

“The whole world is witnessing the growth of both our strategic position and our strategic responsibility in the region,” he said.

The defense minister highlighted the Indian Navy’s blue water capability, noting that Indian warships were deployed as far as the South China Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. He said the Navy plays a key role in providing strategic depth and enabling regional power projection.

“2026, a historic year”

Mr Singh said 2026 was a historic year for the navy, with plans to induct or commission 18 warships, which would represent the biggest one-year increase in force in its history.

He also highlighted the importance of maritime security to India’s economic and energy security, citing the Navy’s role in ensuring the safe transit of Indian-flagged merchant vessels, especially LPG tankers, through the Strait of Hormuz as part of Operation Urja Suraksha amid the West Asian crisis.

Highlighting indigenous shipbuilding, Mr. Singh said the recently commissioned Indian warships contained more than 75% indigenous content and urged the domestic ecosystem to shift towards export of warships to friendly countries.

He also praised the Navy’s “All Ranks, All Roles” approach and the deployment of female officers on front-line warships and aircraft.

Mr. Singh congratulated the Navy for assuming command of Combined Task Force-154 under the Combined Maritime Forces and highlighted Operation Southern Readiness, which involved 276 personnel from 27 countries.

The three-day conference, which runs from September 29 to October 1, brings together the Navy’s top leadership to review operational readiness, maritime security and future capability development.

Published – 29 Sep 2026 19:50 IST