For centuries, the seas have shaped India's engagement with the world. However, despite the country's vast coastline, its naval and commercial fleets have not grown to their full potential.
At the ‘Sagar Sankalp – Reclaiming India’s Maritime Glory’, a high-level maritime defence dialogue organised by THE WEEK in association with leading warship maker Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Commodore Sanjay Deshpande (Retd), deputy managing director, Titagarh Naval Systems Limited, outlined how government initiatives, growing investments in shipbuilding and greater private-sector participation could help revive India’s maritime sector and position the country as a major shipbuilding and maritime power in the coming decades.
He pointed out that as global supply chains evolve and the Indo-Pacific emerges as a centre of global economic gravity, India is once again rediscovering its maritime destiny.
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"India today stands at the threshold of a new maritime era. With bold national initiatives and historic investments in shipbuilding, ports and maritime infrastructure, India is not merely participating in the global maritime economy. We are now preparing to shape it."
Over the past decade, the Government of India has undertaken a series of transformative initiatives that are fundamentally reshaping the country's maritime sector, Commodore Deshpande noted.
Listing the various projects initiated by the government, including financial assistance offered to shipyards and builders, he said these represent a strategic reimagining of India's maritime economy.
"The maritime domain has become increasingly important from a strategic perspective. The Indo-Pacific region today carries the majority of global maritime trade, making the safety of sea lanes of communication essential for economic stability and prosperity. India's role in ensuring stability in this region has grown significantly. We have to be prepared to assume this role," he said.
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Commodore Deshpande said the ongoing modernisation of the Indian Navy reflects the country's commitment to safeguarding maritime interests and maintaining a secure and open maritime environment. "A noteworthy feature of this modernisation is the increasing emphasis on indigenous design and manufacturing. Today, many of India's naval platforms are designed and built domestically, an achievement that reflects the success of national initiatives such as Make in India. This approach not only strengthens national security but also drives technology development, industrial growth and employment generation," he noted.
Pointing out that India has enormous opportunities in the maritime domain, he said strengthening this sector will have ripple effects across the economy.
The success of India's maritime ambitions ultimately depends on collaboration and partnerships between the Indian Navy and maritime agencies, public and private shipyards, research institutes and technology developers, domestic suppliers and global partners, he said, and added that this is essential for building a resilient maritime ecosystem.
"As we look towards the future, the opportunity before India is truly historic. With its strategic geography, strong policy support and an increasingly capable industrial base, India has all the ingredients needed to become a global maritime manufacturing hub. By strengthening indigenous shipbuilding capability, investing in advanced technologies and fostering deeper collaboration across the maritime ecosystem, India can significantly expand its role in global shipbuilding and maritime innovations."
According to him, India's maritime future will not be built by policy alone; it will be built by the collective ambition of government, industry and maritime institutions working together.