President Draupadi Murmu on Wednesday said the Indian Navy’s single-minded focus is to become a self-sufficient force by 2047, providing impetus to pursue innovation in “mission mode”.
Stating that 63 ships are currently being built in India, President Bhandari said that India is one of the 6 countries in the world that has the ability to design, build and operate both ballistic missile nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers.
President Bhandari said this at the operational demonstration (op-demo) of the Indian Navy organized at Puri beach on the occasion of Navy Day, which is celebrated to commemorate the attack on Karachi port during the Indo-Pakistani war in 1971.
“The seamless integration of advanced technology, strategic prowess and sheer courage on display today aptly demonstrates our Navy’s evolution as a combat-ready, future-ready and credible force,” Murmu said.
“As India’s economy grows and our interests and influence expand across the globe, I am confident that the Indian Navy will continue to ensure the maritime security required to enable our emergence into a developed India by 2047,” Murmu added.
Murmu praised the Navy’s efforts to provide growth opportunities to “women power”. “The Navy was the first service to recruit female fire fighters and it continues to ensure that all ranks and all roles, including combat operations, are available to all women,” she said.
Recalling India’s glorious maritime past, the President said the country’s shipbuilding skills and ability to harness monsoon wind patterns enabled the country to dominate maritime trade.
The op-demo covered several aspects of naval operations by ships, submarines, aircraft, marine commandos and Indian Army personnel. It was intended to focus on the Navy’s rich maritime history and showcase the valor and courage of its personnel and their determination to protect national maritime interests “anytime, anywhere, anyhow”. It showcased the state-of-the-art ships and aircraft of the Indian Navy.