# Navy gets first nod for ₹2.41 lakh crore of new platforms, readies Swavlamban 2026

URL: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-20/navy-swavlamban-2026-aon-ships/
Date: 20 October 2026 (2026-10-20)
Source: The Hindu, National
UPSC papers: GS3
Publisher: upsc.help (Pratidin), free and open-source UPSC Civil Services current affairs. Not affiliated with UPSC. Every fact was checked against the source reports by a separate review before publishing.

**In one line:** The Navy says 42 vessels are on order and another 78 ships and submarines and 120 fast interceptor craft, worth about ₹2.41 lakh crore, have cleared the first procurement step, as it prepares its fifth Swavlamban innovation seminar.

At a curtain-raiser in New Delhi on 19 October 2026 for Swavlamban 2026, the Navy's innovation and indigenisation seminar, the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, said 42 naval vessels are already on order. The Navy has also received Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the first step in defence procurement, for 78 ships and submarines and 120 fast interceptor craft, worth about ₹2.41 lakh crore; these are at different stages of procurement. The request for proposal (RFP) for four landing platform docks (LPDs) went to shortlisted shipyards the previous week, and the RFP for the next-generation frigate a couple of weeks before that.

On propulsion, the Navy has begun developing an indigenous diesel engine under the 'Make' category and has AoN for a 24 to 28 megawatt marine gas turbine, including gas turbine generators. Integrated full electric propulsion will be developed under an intergovernmental agreement with the United Kingdom and is earmarked for the four LPDs. Kochhar listed artificial intelligence, cognitive and deception systems, advanced propulsion, surveillance, drones, counter-drone systems and quantum technology as focus areas. He said the Navy has defined requirements in "quantum positioning, quantum detection and quantum communications" and wants to operate in "a GPS-denied environment". He contrasted drones costing $35,000 to 50,000 with missiles costing $2 to 3 million used to shoot them down.

Swavlamban 2026, the fifth edition, will be held on 26 and 27 October at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. Through the iDEX framework the Navy has received over 4,000 proposals from Indian innovators, with about 150 MSMEs and start-ups taking part. AoN has been accorded for projects worth more than ₹3,500 crore and contracts worth over ₹1,900 crore concluded, up from AoNs above ₹2,700 crore and contracts of nearly ₹1,500 crore reported last year. Current challenges include quantum positioning systems, high-power microwave directed-energy weapons, an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle and indigenous ramjet engines for fixed-wing aerial platforms. Kochhar named scale, sophistication, speed and spiral development as guiding principles. The gap between AoN and delivery remains the test: AoN only starts a long procurement process.

## Prelims facts

- The Navy has AoN for 78 ships and submarines and 120 fast interceptor craft worth about ₹2.41 lakh crore; 42 vessels are already on order.
- RFPs have been issued for four landing platform docks and the next-generation frigate; integrated full electric propulsion for the LPDs will be developed with the UK.
- Swavlamban 2026, the fifth edition of the Navy's innovation and indigenisation seminar, is on 26 and 27 October 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
- Through iDEX the Navy has received over 4,000 proposals; AoN exceeds ₹3,500 crore and contracts exceed ₹1,900 crore.
- The Navy seeks quantum positioning, high-power microwave weapons, an extra-large AUV and indigenous ramjets.

## Quick recall

- **How many naval vessels are on order, per the Vice Chief (October 2026)?** 42.
- **What has AoN for 78 ships and submarines and 120 fast interceptor craft?** About ₹2.41 lakh crore of platforms.
- **Dates and venue of Swavlamban 2026?** 26 and 27 October 2026, Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
- **Which edition is Swavlamban 2026?** The fifth.
- **How many iDEX proposals has the Navy received?** Over 4,000, with about 150 MSMEs and start-ups taking part.
- **With which country will integrated full electric propulsion be developed?** The United Kingdom, under an intergovernmental agreement, for the four LPDs.
- **What does SPRINT stand for?** Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through iDEX, NIIO and TDAC.
- **Who founded the Defence Innovation Organisation?** HAL and BEL; it is a Section 8 not-for-profit company.

## Prelims practice question

With reference to the Indian Navy's Swavlamban seminar, consider the following statements:
1. The 2026 edition is the fifth edition of the seminar.
2. It is the forum at which the Prime Minister unveiled the SPRINT challenges in 2022.
3. SPRINT aimed to induct at least 75 indigenous technologies or products into the Navy.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three are correct. Swavlamban 2026 is the fifth edition. At the first Swavlamban, organised by the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation in July 2022, the Prime Minister unveiled the SPRINT challenges, which aimed to induct at least 75 new indigenous technologies or products.

## UPSC previous-year questions this connects to

- UPSC Mains 2022, GS3: What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve maritime security. (https://upsc.help/pyq/q344-maritime-security-challenges-india-organisational-technical-procedural/)
  How to use this story in the answer: Use it to illustrate recent technical and organisational initiatives to strengthen maritime security through indigenous platforms and technologies.
- UPSC Mains 2015, GS3: 'Success of 'Make in India' programme depends on the success of 'Skill India' programme and radical labour reforms.' Discuss with logical arguments. (https://upsc.help/pyq/q102-success-make-india-programme-depends-success-skill/)

## Mains practice question

Indigenisation of naval platforms and technologies is central to India's maritime security. Discuss the progress and the challenges, with reference to recent initiatives of the Indian Navy. (150 words)

### Model answer

The Navy's Vice Chief said on 19 October 2026 that 42 vessels are on order and 78 ships and submarines and 120 fast interceptor craft worth about ₹2.41 lakh crore have Acceptance of Necessity.

## Progress
- **Platforms:** RFPs issued for four landing platform docks and the next-generation frigate.
- **Propulsion:** indigenous diesel engine under the 'Make' category; AoN for a 24 to 28 MW marine gas turbine; electric propulsion with the UK.
- **Innovation:** over 4,000 iDEX proposals; AoN above ₹3,500 crore and contracts above ₹1,900 crore, up from about ₹2,700 crore and ₹1,500 crore last year.
- **Frontier tech:** quantum positioning for GPS-denied operations, high-power microwave weapons, extra-large AUVs, ramjets.

## Challenges
- AoN is only the first step; platforms are at different stages.
- Key propulsion still needs foreign partners.
- Cost asymmetry: $35,000 to 50,000 drones versus $2 to 3 million missiles.

## Way forward
- Faster prototype-to-deployment paths and spiral development, as the Navy itself says.

Turning approvals into hulls on time will decide whether indigenisation delivers security.

## The basics

## Why this matters

A navy is built over decades. Ships take years to design and build, and engines, sensors and weapons often come from abroad. Indigenisation means designing and making these at home, so that supply cannot be cut off in a crisis. The Navy's October 2026 numbers show a large order book and a growing pipeline of start-up ideas.

## From approval to ship

Acceptance of Necessity is only the opening gate of a long process. A simplified view:

## The innovation pipeline

Big shipyards build hulls, but much new technology comes from small firms. The Navy reaches them through iDEX and the Defence Innovation Organisation and its annual seminar, explained in Swavlamban and SPRINT.

## Why quantum now

Satellite navigation can be jammed or spoofed. Quantum positioning would let a ship know where it is without satellites, which is why the Navy has put it on its challenge list.

## Sources

- https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/naval-platforms-worth-2-41-trn-accorded-aon-rfp-out-for-four-lpds-vcns-126101900918_1.html
- https://www.rnamedia.in/navy/swavlamban-2026-navy-turns-to-quantum-positioning-and-ramjets-as-idex-proposals-cross-4000-vice-chief-says/24661
- https://www.thestatesman.com/india/indian-navys-swavlamban-2026-to-focus-on-advanced-technologies-faster-induction-of-indigenous-systems-1503652897.html
- https://www.theweek.in/news/defence/2026/10/19/amid-starlink-flare-up-indian-navy-vice-chief-says-quantum-positioning-work-is-on.html
- https://pmindia.gov.in/?p=12596931
- https://idex.gov.in/idex