Maarg Manthan · Topic 21.9

Indigenous Aircraft Carriers and Naval Modernisation (INS Vikrant, INS Vikramaditya)

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Defence and Security Current Affairs · Topic 21.9

INS Vikrant is India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, designed by the Indian Navy's Directorate of Naval Design and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, and commissioned by the Prime Minister on 2 September 2022. It displaces about 45,000 tonnes, is about 262 metres long and operates fighters and helicopters using the STOBAR method. INS Vikramaditya, the other carrier in service, is the former Russian Admiral Gorshkov and was commissioned in November 2013. Together they give the Indian Navy two carrier battle groups, and naval modernisation also covers Kalvari-class submarines, Project 17A frigates and the 26 Rafale-M fighters ordered in 2025.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Defence and Security Current Affairs

At a Glance

INS Vikrant Indigenous carrier, commissioned 2 September 2022
Builder Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi
INS Vikramaditya Ex-Admiral Gorshkov, commissioned November 2013
Launch method STOBAR with a ski-jump
Aircraft MiG-29K now, 26 Rafale-M ordered in 2025
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Defence and Security Current Affairs

Where Does It Fit?

This topic covers the sea-power side of the macro. Indigenous warship building shows the results of the indigenisation drive in a field where India has a long record, and the carrier is the visible symbol of the blue-water Navy. Previous topic: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Defence Standardisation Initiatives. Next topic: Tejas Kaveri failed)…">Light Combat Aircraft and Other Indigenous Defence Platforms.

What Are the Facts About India’s Aircraft Carriers?

Feature	INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya
INS Vikrant (IAC-1)	Designed in India and built at Cochin Shipyard Limited. Keel laid in 2009, launched in 2013 and commissioned on 2 September 2022. About 45,000 tonnes and 262 metres long. A high indigenous content was reported, with steel from Indian producers
Name	It carries forward the name of the earlier INS Vikrant, India’s first carrier, bought from Britain and commissioned in 1961, which served in the 1971 war
INS Vikramaditya	Former Soviet and Russian Admiral Gorshkov, bought from Russia and commissioned in November 2013. About 44,500 tonnes. It operates MiG-29K fighters
Launch method	STOBAR, short take-off but arrested recovery, with a ski-jump ramp for take-off and arrester wires for landing, unlike catapult-based CATOBAR carriers
Air wing	MiG-29K fighters, Kamov-31 early warning helicopters, MH-60R and other helicopters
New naval ensign	A new ensign that dropped the St George’s Cross and drew on Maratha naval symbols was introduced at the commissioning of Vikrant

Which Other Naval Projects Matter?

Rafale-M: an agreement for 26 Rafale-M carrier-capable fighters was signed with France in April 2025, reported at over Rs 50,000 crore, with deliveries planned in the next several years as an interim step before an indigenous deck fighter
Kalvari-class: six Scorpene-design submarines under Project 75 were built at Mazagon Dock with French help, and the sixth, INS Vagsheer, was commissioned in January 2025
Project 75I: a follow-on submarine programme with air-independent propulsion under the Strategic Partnership model, with details and timing still being finalised in the sources checked
Project 17A: stealth frigates of the Nilgiri class built at Mazagon Dock and Garden Reach, with INS Nilgiri commissioned in January 2025
Nuclear submarines: INS Arihant, INS Arighaat and a third boat reported in 2026 form the sea-based deterrent, as in India’s Missile Systems in the News (Agni-V, Agni-Prime, BrahMos, K-Series Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles)

What Else Should You Remember?

Third carrier: the Navy has long sought three carriers, but reports in 2025 said that a second indigenous carrier may replace Vikramaditya instead of adding a third hull, and later reports mentioned bigger designs. The status is unsettled
Deck fighter: a Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter is under development in India for later years
Warship building: Indian shipyards have built a large share of warships under construction, and the Navy has said it aims for a high share of indigenous ships
Design: the Directorate of Naval Design handles in-house design of ships, and designs have grown from frigates to carriers
Pace: the Navy has said it plans to commission many new ships over the next years, as reported
Role of carriers: carriers give air power at sea, protect sea lanes and project presence in the Indian Ocean, where Chinese naval activity has grown
Criticism: carriers are costly and vulnerable to missiles and submarines, and the Navy shares a limited defence budget with the Army and Air Force
Link to industry: the shipbuilding drive follows the policy in Defence Indigenization and Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence Production
Link to aircraft: the Air Force counterpart is covered in Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and Other Indigenous Defence Platforms

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Builder and date: Cochin Shipyard Limited and 2 September 2022 for INS Vikrant
History: Vikramaditya was a Russian ship and Vikrant is indigenous
Method: STOBAR versus CATOBAR
Projects: which submarine or frigate class belongs to which project number
Common errors: calling Vikramaditya indigenous, or saying that Vikrant uses catapults

As an analytical point, carriers are justified only with a full strike group, escorts, tankers and trained aircrew. A large indigenous hull is a strong industrial achievement, but combat value rests on the air wing and supporting ships.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Carriers Names, builders, dates
Projects P-75, P-17A, P-75I
Strategy Indian Ocean presence

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the main indigenous fighter and other platforms of the Air Force. Next topic: Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and Other Indigenous Defence Platforms.

Key People and Terms

STOBAR Short take-off but arrested recovery
CATOBAR Catapult launch with arrested recovery
IAC Indigenous Aircraft Carrier
CSL Cochin Shipyard Limited
Rafale-M Naval version of Rafale
SSBN Nuclear ballistic missile submarine

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

INS Vikrant commissioned: 2 September 2022, built by Cochin Shipyard.
INS Vikramaditya: 2013, ex-Admiral Gorshkov.
Method: STOBAR with ski-jump.
Rafale-M: 26 jets, agreement in April 2025.
Last Kalvari-class boat: INS Vagsheer, January 2025.

Do Not Confuse With

Vikrant and Vikramaditya Indigenous carrier versus Russian-origin carrier
STOBAR and CATOBAR Ramp take-off versus catapult launch
P-75 and P-75I Scorpene-class versus follow-on programme

Memory Hook

Vikrant is born in Kochi, Vikramaditya came from Russia.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about maritime strategy and indigenisation. These points give a frame.

Value Sea control and presence
Costs Budget share and vulnerability
Way ahead Submarines, escorts and deck aircraft

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Assess the strategic importance of indigenous aircraft carrier construction for India’s maritime security.”

How to Answer

Facts INS Vikrant and Vikramaditya.
Value Indian Ocean presence.
Limits Cost and vulnerability.
Way Balanced fleet with submarines.

GS Relevance

Prelims: carrier names, builders, commissioning dates, naval projects. GS Paper 3: defence indigenisation, maritime security. GS Paper 2: India and the Indian Ocean region.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was INS Vikrant commissioned?

INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, was commissioned by the Prime Minister on 2 September 2022 at Kochi. It was built by Cochin Shipyard Limited to a design from the Directorate of Naval Design, displaces about 45,000 tonnes and is about 262 metres long.

What is the difference between INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya?

INS Vikrant was designed in India and built at Cochin Shipyard Limited, and joined the Navy in September 2022. INS Vikramaditya is the former Russian carrier Admiral Gorshkov, bought from Russia and commissioned in November 2013. Both use the STOBAR method and MiG-29K fighters at present.

What is STOBAR?

STOBAR means short take-off but arrested recovery. Aircraft take off using a ski-jump ramp on the bow and land by catching arrester wires on deck. India's carriers use this method. A CATOBAR carrier launches aircraft with catapults, which allows heavier aircraft but needs a more complex system.

Which fighters will operate from INS Vikrant?

INS Vikrant currently operates MiG-29K fighters, and India signed an agreement in April 2025 for 26 Rafale-M carrier fighters, reported at over Rs 50,000 crore. A Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter is being developed in India for later years, but its timeline is still uncertain.

Will India get a third aircraft carrier?

The Navy has long wanted three carriers, but reports in 2025 said a second indigenous carrier may replace INS Vikramaditya instead, and other reports mentioned larger or nuclear-powered designs. No final government approval for a third hull was confirmed in the sources checked, so the position should be treated as undecided.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 INS Vikramaditya was built by Cochin Shipyard Limited.

False

It is the former Russian Admiral Gorshkov.

2 INS Vikrant was commissioned in September 2022.

True

On 2 September 2022.

3 India's carriers use CATOBAR launch.