A New Milestone in Naval Power
INS Androth Strengthening India’s Coastal Defence: The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Androth at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, marking a significant step toward enhancing India’s coastal security. This addition reflects India’s growing focus on self-reliant naval capabilities under the broader vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Design and Construction
INS Androth is the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), following INS Arnala. Both vessels belong to a fleet of eight ships being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata. These ships are designed to operate in shallow coastal waters, where larger warships cannot maneuver easily.
Static GK fact: GRSE is one of India’s leading shipyards and has also built major warships such as the INS Kamorta and INS Kavaratti.
Role and Operational Capabilities
INS Androth is built to perform anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and coastal defence operations. It also plays a vital role in Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) — missions that ensure coastal security during peace and crisis periods.
The ship’s compact design allows high maneuverability and swift response to threats in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and nearshore areas. It is equipped with state-of-the-art sonar systems, modern navigation equipment, and indigenous weapon systems developed to detect and neutralize enemy submarines.
Static GK fact: India’s EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from its coastline.
Symbolic Naming and Heritage
The vessel is named after Androth, the northernmost island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, symbolizing India’s maritime strength in the Indian Ocean. The naming tradition follows a pattern where ships of the ASW-SWC class are named after coastal towns and islands of India.
Static GK Tip: The Lakshadweep Islands consist of 36 islands, and Kavaratti serves as their administrative capital.
Importance for India’s Maritime Strategy
The commissioning of INS Androth boosts India’s deterrence capability against undersea threats from hostile submarines. It enhances coastal security, especially along the Eastern Seaboard, where maritime traffic and energy routes are crucial.
By strengthening its ASW fleet, India ensures better protection of its ports, naval bases, and shipping routes. The ship’s induction also supports India’s goal of becoming a Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Static GK fact: The Indian Navy’s motto is “Sham No Varunah”, meaning “May the Lord of the Oceans be Auspicious Unto Us.”
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
INS Androth Strengthening India’s Coastal Defence:
| Topic | Detail |
| Commissioned Ship | INS Androth |
| Commissioning Location | Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam |
| Ship Type | Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) |
| Builder | Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata |
| Class | Arnala-class ASW-SWC |
| Named After | Androth Island, Lakshadweep |
| Capabilities | Maritime Surveillance, Search and Rescue, Anti-Submarine Missions, LIMO |
| First Ship in the Class | INS Arnala |
| Number of Ships in Series | 8 |
| Strategic Importance | Strengthens coastal defence and anti-submarine warfare capabilities |
