INS Anjadip - built with indigenous SAIL steel to join Indian Navy fleet

1. At a Glance

• INS Anjadip is the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) corvette commissioned into the Indian Navy, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata, using indigenous special-grade steel supplied by SAIL [S1][S2].
• Strategic significance: showcases convergence of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence, indigenisation of warship-grade steel (DMR-grade), and replacement of legacy Soviet-era Abhay-class vessels [S1].
• UPSC relevance: GS-III (defence indigenisation, PSU role, internal security), Prelims (ship names, builder, steel plants, ministry).

2. Why in the News

• 26 Feb 2026: Ministry of Steel announced SAIL supplied the entire ~3,500 tonnes of special-grade steel for all 8 ASW-SWC corvettes of the GRSE project, including INS Anjadip [S1].
• 27 Feb 2026: INS Anjadip formally commissioned at Chennai Port by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff [S2].

3. Background & Evolution

• ASW-SWC Project: 16 corvettes ordered — 8 from GRSE (Kolkata) and 8 from Cochin Shipyard (CSL), to replace ageing Abhay-class ASW corvettes of Soviet (Pauk-II) origin [S1].
• 21 Mar 2023: Launch of Androth (2nd ship) at GRSE [S3].
• 13 Jun 2023: Launch of Anjadip (3rd ship of GRSE ASW-SWC) and keel-laying of 7th ship at L&T Kattupalli [S4].
• 2025: Commissioning of INS Arnala and INS Androth (first two of class) [S1].
• Feb 2026: Commissioning of INS Anjadip, the third in class [S1][S2].

4. Core Static Facts

• Class: Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) corvette [S1].
• Builder: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata — a Defence PSU under Ministry of Defence [S1].
• Steel supplier: Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) — Maharatna PSU under Ministry of Steel [S1].
• Source plants: SAIL's integrated steel plants at Bokaro, Bhilai, Rourkela [S1].
• Total steel for 8 corvettes: ~3,500 tonnes of special-grade (warship) steel [S1].
• Dimensions: ~77 m length, ~1,400 tonnes displacement [S2].
• Indigenous content: >80% [S2].
• Sensors/Weapons: Hull-Mounted Sonar 'Abhay', Lightweight Torpedoes, ASW Rockets [S2].
• Commissioning venue: Chennai Port, 27 Feb 2026 [S2].
• Named after: Anjadip Island (off Karwar coast, Karnataka — naval base region).

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Strategic / Defence - Plugs critical gap in coastal/littoral ASW — countering hostile submarines in shallow waters near Indian coast [S2]. - Replaces obsolete Abhay-class (Pauk-II) corvettes, reducing dependence on Soviet-legacy platforms [S1]. - Configured for sub-surface surveillance, coordinated ASW operations and mine-laying [S2].

Economic / Industrial - Demonstrates linkage between public-sector steel (SAIL) and defence shipbuilding (GRSE) — reinforces domestic value chain [S1]. - Substitutes imported DMR (Defence-grade) plates earlier sourced from Russia/EU, saving forex.

Scientific / Technological - Use of indigenous DMR-grade steel (high tensile, low temperature toughness) developed by SAIL with DRDO's DMRL collaboration. - Sonar Abhay: indigenous hull-mounted active-cum-passive sonar [S2].

Governance / Administrative - Coordinated effort: Ministry of Defence (Navy), Ministry of Steel (SAIL), DPSU GRSE — model of inter-ministerial defence indigenisation [S1].

6. Recent Developments

• 2025: Commissioning of INS Arnala and INS Androth [S1].
• 26 Feb 2026: PIB (Ministry of Steel) statement on SAIL's full supply of warship steel [S1].
• 27 Feb 2026: INS Anjadip commissioned at Chennai by CNS Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi [S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• INS Anjadip is the third ASW-SWC corvette commissioned (after Arnala, Androth) [S1].
• Built by GRSE Kolkata, NOT Cochin Shipyard or MDL [S1].
• Steel supplied by SAIL — a Maharatna under Ministry of Steel [S1].
• Special steel sourced from Bokaro, Bhilai, Rourkela plants [S1].
• Total ~3,500 tonnes steel for 8 ASW-SWC ships of GRSE [S1].
• ASW-SWC replaces Abhay-class corvettes [S1].
• Commissioned on 27 Feb 2026 at Chennai Port [S2].
• CNS at commissioning: Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi [S2].
• Indigenous content >80% [S2].
• Displacement ~1,400 t, length ~77 m [S2].
• Equipped with Hull-Mounted Sonar 'Abhay', lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets [S2].
• Anjadip launched on 13 Jun 2023 [S4].
• Total ASW-SWC programme: 16 ships (8 GRSE + 8 CSL).

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Defence — indigenisation, Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing, role of DPSUs.
• GS-III: Internal security — coastal security and ASW capability.
• Possible stems:
• "Indigenous warship-grade steel production has been a quiet enabler of India's defence self-reliance. Discuss with examples."
• "Examine the role of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) in achieving Aatmanirbhar Bharat in shipbuilding."
• "Anti-Submarine Warfare in shallow waters is a distinct strategic challenge for India. Evaluate."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Project 17A (Nilgiri-class frigates) — flagship indigenous frigate programme.
• Project 75 / 75I submarines — undersea capability buildup.
• SAIL & Maharatna/Navratna classification — PSU governance.
• DMR-grade steel & DMRL (DRDO lab, Hyderabad) — defence metallurgy.
• Cochin Shipyard Ltd & Mazagon Dock Ltd — peer DPSU shipbuilders.
• Sagarmala & Coastal Security architecture — post-26/11 framework.
• INS Vikrant (IAC-1) — flagship of indigenisation.
• Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 — procurement framework.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Anjadip is third commissioned, but third launched at GRSE — order of launch vs commissioning often confused.
• Builder is GRSE Kolkata, not Cochin Shipyard (CSL builds the other 8 ASW-SWC).
• SAIL is under Ministry of Steel, not Ministry of Heavy Industries.
• Predecessor class is Abhay-class (not Khukri or Veer class).
• ASW-SWC is a corvette, not a frigate or OPV; designed for shallow/littoral waters.
• Named after Anjadip Island (Karwar), not a person.

11. Sources

• [S1] INS Anjadip - built with indigenous SAIL steel to join Indian Navy fleet — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2233347 — (tier 1)
• [S2] Commissioning of INS Anjadip at Chennai — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2233666 — (tier 1)
• [S3] Launch of 'Androth', second ship of ASW SWC (GRSE) project, 21 Mar 23 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1909308 — (tier 1)
• [S4] Launch of 'Anjadip' third ship of ASW SWC (GRSE) and keel laying of 7th ship at L&T Kattupalli, 13 Jun 23 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1932044 — (tier 1)