26 February 2026·PIB

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

In this note

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 [1][2].
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 [1].
UPSC relevance: GS-III (defence indigenisation, PSU role, internal security), Prelims (ship names, builder, steel plants, ministry).

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 [1].
27 Feb 2026: INS Anjadip formally commissioned at Chennai Port by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff [2].

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 [1].
21 Mar 2023: Launch of Androth (2nd ship) at GRSE [3].
13 Jun 2023: Launch of Anjadip (3rd ship of GRSE ASW-SWC) and keel-laying of 7th ship at L&T Kattupalli [4].
2025: Commissioning of INS Arnala and INS Androth (first two of class) [1].
Feb 2026: Commissioning of INS Anjadip, the third in class [1][2].

Class: Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) corvette [1].
Builder: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata — a Defence PSU under Ministry of Defence [1].
Steel supplier: Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) — Maharatna PSU under Ministry of Steel [1].
Source plants: SAIL's integrated steel plants at Bokaro, Bhilai, Rourkela [1].
Total steel for 8 corvettes: ~3,500 tonnes of special-grade (warship) steel [1].
Dimensions: ~77 m length, ~1,400 tonnes displacement [2].
Indigenous content: >80% [2].
Sensors/Weapons: Hull-Mounted Sonar 'Abhay', Lightweight Torpedoes, ASW Rockets [2].
Commissioning venue: Chennai Port, 27 Feb 2026 [2].
Named after: Anjadip Island (off Karwar coast, Karnataka — naval base region).

Strategic / Defence

Plugs critical gap in coastal/littoral ASW — countering hostile submarines in shallow waters near Indian coast [2].
Replaces obsolete Abhay-class (Pauk-II) corvettes, reducing dependence on Soviet-legacy platforms [1].
Configured for sub-surface surveillance, coordinated ASW operations and mine-laying [2].

Economic / Industrial

Demonstrates linkage between public-sector steel (SAIL) and defence shipbuilding (GRSE) — reinforces domestic value chain [1].
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 [2].

Governance / Administrative

Coordinated effort: Ministry of Defence (Navy), Ministry of Steel (SAIL), DPSU GRSE — model of inter-ministerial defence indigenisation [1].

2025: Commissioning of INS Arnala and INS Androth [1].
26 Feb 2026: PIB (Ministry of Steel) statement on SAIL's full supply of warship steel [1].
27 Feb 2026: INS Anjadip commissioned at Chennai by CNS Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi [2].

INS Anjadip is the third ASW-SWC corvette commissioned (after Arnala, Androth) [1].
Built by GRSE Kolkata, NOT Cochin Shipyard or MDL [1].
Steel supplied by SAIL — a Maharatna under Ministry of Steel [1].
Special steel sourced from Bokaro, Bhilai, Rourkela plants [1].
Total ~3,500 tonnes steel for 8 ASW-SWC ships of GRSE [1].
ASW-SWC replaces Abhay-class corvettes [1].
Commissioned on 27 Feb 2026 at Chennai Port [2].
CNS at commissioning: Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi [2].
Indigenous content >80% [2].
Displacement ~1,400 t, length ~77 m [2].
Equipped with Hull-Mounted Sonar 'Abhay', lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets [2].
Anjadip launched on 13 Jun 2023 [4].
Total ASW-SWC programme: 16 ships (8 GRSE + 8 CSL).

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."

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.

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.