Raksha Mantri and West Bengal Chief Minister carry out Bhumi Pujan for five expansion projects of GRSE & YIL virtually from Kolkata

On August 23, 2026, a landmark event unfolded at GRSE Bhavan in Kolkata as Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari virtually presided over the Bhumi Pujan for five strategic defence expansion projects worth approximately Rs 3,500 crore. This ceremony marks a significant milestone in India's journey toward 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence, directly aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision articulated during his 2026 Independence Day address from the Red Fort, where he identified 'Raksha Shakti' as one of the 'Saptadhara' — seven streams of power essential for a developed India. The historical context is crucial: post-independence, India's defence manufacturing remained heavily import-dependent, but the launch of 'Make in India' in 2014 and subsequent policy reforms like the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, Positive Indigenisation Lists, and the establishment of Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have systematically shifted the paradigm. The three Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) projects — at Raichak (South 24-Parganas), Timber Pond in Shalimar (Howrah), and Damodar at Kidderpore Docks (Kolkata) — and two Yantra India Limited (YIL) projects at the Metal and Steel Factory (MSF) in Ishapore represent a coordinated push to eliminate critical bottlenecks in warship construction and strategic metallurgy. GRSE, a 'Navratna' Defence PSU under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, has constructed over 800 vessels since its inception. Its Raichak facility, with a 356-metre waterfront, 8-10 metre draught, and a planned 200-metre dry dock, slipway, and launching pad, will enable construction of next-generation destroyers and commercial Supramax vessels up to 60,000 DWT — a quantum leap in indigenous shipbuilding capacity. The Shalimar and Kidderpore projects, though smaller in investment (Rs 100 crore and Rs 70 crore respectively), complete the value chain by adding medium-vessel repair and electric ferry construction capabilities. Meanwhile, YIL, corporatized in October 2021 from the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board under the Defence Ministry's restructuring, is investing over Rs 750 crore in two Industry 4.0 forging facilities: a 3,000-ton Hydraulic Open Die Forging Press replacing a 1976 vintage 2,650-ton press, and a Radial Forging Plant for super alloys, hollow tubes, railway axles, and nuclear components. These address the 'Capacity Paradox' highlighted by Rajnath Singh — rising global demand for naval and commercial vessels amid declining capacity in traditional shipbuilding nations — positioning India as a potential global hub in design, manufacturing, and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul). The constitutional foundation rests on Article 246 read with the Seventh Schedule (Union List, Entry 2: Defence of India; Entry 31: Industries declared by Parliament to be expedient in public interest), empowering the Centre to legislate and invest in defence production. The economic significance is profound: GRSE's next-gen OPVs already boast 80%+ indigenous content; YIL's 3,000-ton press projects Rs 25.58 crore annual savings with an 11-year payback and 7.3% IRR, while the Radial Forging Plant targets Rs 69 crore annual profit, 10.58% IRR, and 6-year payback. These projects will generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, stimulate MSMEs, save foreign exchange, and strengthen strategic autonomy — as demonstrated by Operation Sindoor, where indigenous platforms proved their mettle. Looking ahead, the success of these expansions will determine whether India can transition from a defence importer to a net exporter, leveraging its engineering talent, IT prowess, steel industry, and skilled workforce to capture global shipbuilding and MRO markets. The government's emphasis on 'Make in India, Make for the World' signals a definitive shift in strategic posture, with GRSE and YIL as key pillars.