India’s naval fleet — the Indian Navy’s array of aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, and support ships — is one of the most exam-tested defence topics in competitive GK, where every INS (Indian Naval Ship) carries significant strategic, historical, and technological importance.
From INS Vikrant — India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2022 — to INS Arihant — India’s first nuclear submarine and the cornerstone of India’s nuclear triad — the fleet tells the story of India’s evolving maritime power. Questions on ship names, types, significance, and commissioning details appear regularly in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, NDA, CDS, and State PSC exams.
⚡ Quick Facts
- INS Vikrant (IAC-1) — commissioned September 2, 2022; India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier; built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi; named after the original INS Vikrant that fought in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
- INS Vikramaditya — the other carrier; ex-Russian Admiral Gorshkov; acquired 2004, refitted at Sevmash (Russia), commissioned November 2013; carries MiG-29K fighters.
- INS Arihant — India’s first nuclear submarine (SSBN); commissioned 2016; completed India’s nuclear triad (land + air + sea) when it completed its first deterrence patrol in November 2018.
- Project 75 (Scorpène) — 6 submarines built at MDL Mumbai with French technology; Kalvari (2017) → Khanderi (2019) → Karanj (2021) → Vela (2021) → Vagir (2023) → Vagsheer (2024).
- INS Tabar — Talwar-class frigate; famously sank a Somali pirate “mother vessel” in the Gulf of Aden in November 2008.
Two aircraft carriers, both operational: INS Vikrant (IAC-1) = India’s indigenous carrier, built at Cochin Shipyard, commissioned September 2, 2022. INS Vikramaditya = Russian-origin (ex-Admiral Gorshkov), acquired and refitted, commissioned November 2013. Common exam trick: “India’s first aircraft carrier” = the original INS Vikrant (1961, decommissioned 1997, ex-HMS Hercules). “India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier” = the new INS Vikrant (2022). These are three different ships with overlapping names.
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⚓ Indian Naval Ships (INS) — Complete List
| # ↕ | Ship Name ↕ | Type / Class | Displacement ↕ | Origin | Commissioned ↕ | Key Exam Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | INS Vikramaditya | Carrier STOBAR | 45,400 t | Russia (ex-Admiral Gorshkov) | Nov 2013 | Acquired from Russia; refitted at Sevmash; carries MiG-29K fighters; named after legendary emperor |
| 2 | INS Vikrant (IAC-1) 1st Indigenous Carrier | Carrier STOBAR | 45,000 t | India (Cochin Shipyard, Kochi) | 2 Sep 2022 | India’s FIRST INDIGENOUS aircraft carrier; commissioned by PM Modi; 76% indigenous content; 1971 war namesake |
| 3 | INS Vikrant (original) | Carrier | 19,500 t | UK (ex-HMS Hercules) | 1961 (decom. 1997) | India’s FIRST ever aircraft carrier; blockaded East Pakistan ports in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War |
| 4 | INS Visakhapatnam | Destroyer Proj 15B | 7,400 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | 2021 | 1st of Project 15B class; India’s most modern destroyer; BrahMos + SAM + torpedoes |
| 5 | INS Mormugao | Destroyer Proj 15B | 7,400 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | 2022 | 2nd Project 15B destroyer; named after Goa’s main port (Mormugao) |
| 6 | INS Imphal | Destroyer Proj 15B | 7,400 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | 2023 | 3rd Project 15B destroyer; named after Manipur’s capital Imphal |
| 7 | INS Surat | Destroyer Proj 15B | 7,400 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | 2024 | 4th and final Project 15B destroyer; completes Visakhapatnam-class |
| 8 | INS Delhi | Destroyer Proj 15 | 6,700 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | 1997 | Lead ship of Delhi-class; India’s first guided missile destroyer built in India |
| 9 | INS Mysore | Destroyer Proj 15 | 6,700 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | 1999 | 2nd Delhi-class destroyer; named after Karnataka’s city of palaces |
| 10 | INS Mumbai | Destroyer Proj 15 | 6,700 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | 2001 | 3rd and final Delhi-class destroyer; named after India’s financial capital |
| 11 | INS Talwar | Frigate Talwar | 4,000 t | Russia (Nevskoye Design Bureau) | 2003 | 1st of 6 Talwar-class frigates; Russian-built; Project 11356; anti-submarine + anti-surface |
| 12 | INS Trishul | Frigate Talwar | 4,000 t | Russia | 2003 | 2nd Talwar-class frigate; Trishul = Trident (Lord Shiva’s weapon, Sanskrit) |
| 13 | INS Tabar Anti-Piracy Fame | Frigate Talwar | 4,000 t | Russia | 2004 | Famous for sinking Somali pirate “mother vessel” in Gulf of Aden, November 2008 |
| 14 | INS Teg | Frigate Talwar | 4,000 t | Russia (follow-on batch) | 2012 | 4th Talwar-class; Teg = Sword (Punjabi); second batch Talwar-class |
| 15 | INS Tarkash | Frigate Talwar | 4,000 t | Russia (follow-on batch) | 2012 | 5th Talwar-class; Tarkash = Quiver (of arrows); same name as India–USA anti-terror exercise |
| 16 | INS Trikand | Frigate Talwar | 4,000 t | Russia (follow-on batch) | 2013 | 6th and final Talwar-class frigate; Trikand = Three-pronged (Sanskrit); completes Talwar series |
| 17 | INS Nilgiri Most Advanced Frigate | Frigate Proj 17A | 6,670 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | 2025 | Lead ship of Project 17A; India’s most advanced stealth frigate; indigenous; BrahMos + advanced sensors |
| 18 | INS Himgiri | Frigate Proj 17A | 6,670 t | India (GRSE Kolkata) | 2026 (expected) | 2nd Project 17A stealth frigate; Himgiri = Himalayan peaks (Hindi) |
| 19 | INS Udaygiri | Frigate Proj 17A | 6,670 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | In trials | 3rd Project 17A frigate; Udaygiri = Rising Sun Hills; named after Andhra Pradesh hills |
| 20 | INS Dunagiri | Frigate Proj 17A | 6,670 t | India (GRSE Kolkata) | Upcoming | 4th Project 17A frigate; Dunagiri = Himalayan peak in Uttarakhand |
| 21 | INS Arihant (S2) 1st Nuclear Sub | SSBN Nuclear | ~6,000 t | India (ATV Project, indigenous) | 2016 | India’s FIRST nuclear submarine; “Destroyer of Enemies” (Sanskrit); K-15 + K-4 SLBMs; triad completed Nov 2018 |
| 22 | INS Arighat (S3) | SSBN Nuclear | ~7,000 t | India (ATV Project, indigenous) | 2024 | India’s 2nd nuclear submarine; “He Who is Fearless” (Sanskrit); larger than Arihant; K-15 + K-4 missiles |
| 23 | INS Aridhaman (S4) | SSBN Nuclear | ~8,000 t | India (under construction) | Under construction | India’s 3rd SSBN (under construction); larger; K-4 + possibly K-5 ICBM; enhanced deterrence |
| 24 | INS Chakra (II) | SSN (Attack, leased) | ~9,000 t | Russia (Akula-class, leased) | 2012–2021 | Leased Akula-class nuclear attack submarine from Russia; decommissioned 2021; Chakra III lease under negotiation |
| 25 | INS Kalvari 1st P75 Sub | SSK Scorpène (P75) | 1,600 t | India/France (MDL Mumbai + DCNS) | Dec 2017 | 1st Project 75 Scorpène; “Tiger Shark” in Malayalam; MDL Mumbai; French tech transfer; also name of India’s first ever submarine (1967) |
| 26 | INS Khanderi | SSK Scorpène (P75) | 1,600 t | India/France (MDL Mumbai) | Sep 2019 | 2nd P75 submarine; Khanderi = “Sea Monster” (Marathi); named after Maratha naval fort near Mumbai |
| 27 | INS Karanj | SSK Scorpène (P75) | 1,600 t | India/France (MDL Mumbai) | Mar 2021 | 3rd P75 Scorpène submarine; named after Karanj island (near Mumbai); KKK-VVV pattern |
| 28 | INS Vela | SSK Scorpène (P75) | 1,600 t | India/France (MDL Mumbai) | Nov 2021 | 4th P75 Scorpène; Vela = constellation (Sanskrit); first of V-named trio |
| 29 | INS Vagir | SSK Scorpène (P75) | 1,600 t | India/France (MDL Mumbai) | Jan 2023 | 5th P75 Scorpène; Vagir = “Sand Shark” (Sanskrit); near-silent operation |
| 30 | INS Vagsheer Final P75 | SSK Scorpène (P75) | 1,600 t | India/France (MDL Mumbai) | Jan 2024 | 6th and FINAL P75 Scorpène; Vagsheer = “Sea Tiger” (Sanskrit); completes Project 75 |
| 31 | INS Sindhuraj | SSK Kilo-class | ~3,000 t | Russia (Kilo-class) | 1997 | One of several Russian Kilo-class submarines; ageing fleet; Sindhu = Indus River (Sanskrit) |
| 32 | INS Kamorta | Corvette P28 ASW | 3,300 t | India (GRSE, Kolkata) | 2014 | 1st of 4 Kamorta-class ASW corvettes; first indigenous ASW corvette; GRSE Kolkata; named after Andaman island |
| 33 | INS Kadmatt | Corvette P28 ASW | 3,300 t | India (GRSE, Kolkata) | 2016 | 2nd Kamorta-class ASW corvette; named after Kadmat island in Lakshadweep |
| 34 | INS Kiltan | Corvette P28 ASW | 3,300 t | India (GRSE, Kolkata) | 2017 | 3rd Kamorta-class; carbon composite superstructure reduces radar cross-section; named after Lakshadweep island |
| 35 | INS Kavaratti | Corvette P28 ASW | 3,300 t | India (GRSE, Kolkata) | 2020 | 4th and FINAL Kamorta-class; named after Kavaratti — capital of Lakshadweep; completes P28 class |
| 36 | INS Sumitra | Corvette OPV | 2,200 t | India (GSL, Goa) | 2014 | Offshore Patrol Vessel; anti-piracy + maritime patrol; deployed in Gulf of Aden; built by Goa Shipyard |
| 37 | INS Vigraham | Corvette OPV | 2,200 t | India (GSL, Goa) | 2023 | Offshore Patrol Vessel; Goa Shipyard; maritime patrol and surveillance |
| 38 | INS Chakra (I) | SSN Charlie-class (leased) | ~9,500 t | USSR (Charlie-class, leased) | 1988–1991 | India’s FIRST experience with nuclear submarine; leased from USSR; returned after 3 years; precursor to Arihant programme |
| 39 | INS Delhi (lead ship) | Destroyer Delhi-class | 6,700 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | 1997 | Lead ship of Project 15; India’s first guided missile destroyer built entirely in India |
| 40 | INS Viraat | Carrier (decom.) | 28,700 t | UK (ex-HMS Hermes) | 1987–2017 | India’s longest-serving aircraft carrier (30 years); ex-HMS Hermes; carried Sea Harriers; decommissioned 2017 |
| 41 | INS Tarangini | Sail Training | ~500 t | India (GRSE, Kolkata) | 1997 | India’s sail training ship (tall ship); goodwill ambassador; circumnavigated the globe; Tarangini = waves (Sanskrit) |
| 42 | INS Sarvekshak | Survey Vessel | ~1,900 t | India | 1981 (refitted) | Ocean hydrographic survey vessel; charts India’s coastal waters; Sarvekshak = Surveyor (Sanskrit) |
| 43 | INS Rajput | Destroyer Kashin-class | 3,900 t | Russia (Kashin-class) | 1980 (decom. 2021) | First guided missile destroyer of India; Russian Kashin-class; decommissioned after 41 years of service |
| 44 | INS Shivalik | Frigate Proj 17 | 6,200 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | 2010 | Lead ship of Project 17 Shivalik-class; India’s FIRST stealth frigate; indigenous; predecessor to P17A |
| 45 | INS Satpura | Frigate Proj 17 | 6,200 t | India (MDL Mumbai) | 2011 | 2nd Shivalik-class stealth frigate; Satpura = Satpura mountain ranges (MP); P17 class predecessor to P17A |
📅 Key Indian Naval Milestones
| Year | Milestone | Ship / Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Indian Naval Service established by the British | Precursor to the Indian Navy |
| 1950 | Royal Indian Navy renamed Indian Navy | Post-republic reorganisation |
| 1961 | INS Vikrant commissioned — India’s first aircraft carrier | Ex-HMS Hercules (UK); 1961–1997 |
| 1967 | India’s first submarine commissioned | INS Kalvari (INS Kalvari I) — Soviet Foxtrot-class; name revived for P75 |
| 1971 | INS Vikrant blockades East Pakistan ports | Bangladesh Liberation War; decisive naval action |
| 1988 | INS Chakra I (Charlie-class nuclear sub leased from USSR) | India’s first nuclear submarine experience |
| 1997 | INS Vikrant decommissioned; INS Delhi commissioned | End of first Vikrant era; first Indian-built guided missile destroyer |
| 2008 | INS Tabar sinks Somali pirate vessel | Gulf of Aden; anti-piracy fame |
| 2013 | INS Vikramaditya commissioned | Ex-Admiral Gorshkov (Russia); November 2013 |
| 2016 | INS Arihant commissioned — first indigenous nuclear submarine | Completed nuclear triad (land + air + sea) |
| 2017 | INS Kalvari (P75 series) commissioned; INS Viraat decommissioned | First Scorpène sub; longest-serving carrier retired |
| 2018 | INS Arihant completes first nuclear deterrence patrol | Nuclear triad operationalised; announced by PM Modi |
| 2022 | INS Vikrant (IAC-1) commissioned — first indigenous aircraft carrier | September 2, 2022; Cochin Shipyard; PM Modi |
| 2024 | INS Arighat commissioned — 2nd nuclear submarine; INS Vagsheer — final P75 | India’s 2nd SSBN; Project 75 completed |
| 2025 | INS Nilgiri (P17A) commissioned — most advanced stealth frigate | Lead ship of Project 17A series |
⚖️ Compare Two Ships
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
INS Vikrant (IAC-1) = India’s FIRST INDIGENOUS aircraft carrier — designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, Kerala; ~45,000 tonnes; commissioned September 2, 2022 by PM Modi; 76% indigenous content; named after the original INS Vikrant of 1971 war fame. INS Vikramaditya = a refitted Russian aircraft carrier (ex-Admiral Gorshkov) — purchased from Russia in 2004, refitted at Sevmash shipyard Russia, and commissioned in November 2013. Key exam rule: Vikrant = indigenous; Vikramaditya = Russia-acquired.
INS Arihant completed India’s nuclear triad — India now delivers nuclear weapons from land (Agni ballistic missiles), air (nuclear-capable aircraft: Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000), and sea (INS Arihant’s K-15 Sagarika + K-4 SLBMs). “Arihant” = “Destroyer of Enemies” (Sanskrit). The triad was operationalised when INS Arihant completed its first nuclear deterrence patrol in November 2018, announced by PM Modi. India became the 6th country with an operational nuclear triad. INS Arighat (2nd SSBN, commissioned 2024) means “He Who is Fearless.” Both, along with the under-construction INS Aridhaman, all begin with “Ari” (= enemy in Sanskrit).
Project 75 (P75) produced India’s 6 Scorpène-class conventional submarines — all built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai with technology transfer from DCNS (now Naval Group) of France: INS Kalvari (Dec 2017) → Khanderi (Sep 2019) → Karanj (Mar 2021) → Vela (Nov 2021) → Vagir (Jan 2023) → Vagsheer (Jan 2024). Mnemonic: KKK-VVV. “Kalvari” = Tiger Shark (Malayalam). Project 75I (P75I) is the successor — 6 more advanced submarines with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), allowing longer submerged operation without surfacing.
INS Tabar, a Talwar-class stealth guided missile frigate (Russian-built), became famous in November 2008 when it engaged and sank a Somali pirate “mother vessel” in the Gulf of Aden during anti-piracy operations. The Gulf of Aden mission has been India’s longest sustained naval deployment. INS Tabar is part of the 6-ship Talwar-class series (3 original batch + 3 follow-on). Note: “Tarkash” (5th Talwar-class ship, means Quiver of Arrows) shares its name with the India–USA NSG anti-terror exercise — don’t confuse the two.
India’s nuclear submarine programme operates under the classified Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project — spanning from the 1970s to INS Arihant’s commissioning (2016). It involved DRDO, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and the Indian Navy. The pressurised water reactor (PWR) powering Arihant was developed indigenously — a significant achievement as only a handful of countries had this capability. India’s first nuclear submarine experience came from leasing a Charlie-class submarine from the USSR in 1988 (briefly known as INS Chakra I, returned 1991).
Two carriers: “Vikrant = Indigenous (Cochin, 2022); Vikramaditya = Russia (Gorshkov, 2013)”
P75 Scorpène order (KKK-VVV): Kalvari (2017) → Khanderi (2019) → Karanj (2021) → Vela (2021) → Vagir (2023) → Vagsheer (2024)
Nuclear submarines (all “Ari” = enemy): Arihant (2016, 1st = Destroyer of Enemies) → Arighat (2024, 2nd = He Who is Fearless) → Aridhaman (3rd, under construction)
Project 15B destroyers (VMIS): Visakhapatnam (2021) → Mormugao (2022) → Imphal (2023) → Surat (2024)
Shipyards: MDL Mumbai = destroyers + Scorpène subs; GRSE Kolkata = corvettes + frigates; CSL Kochi = Vikrant carrier; GSL Goa = OPVs
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INS Vikrant (IAC-1), commissioned on September 2, 2022 by PM Narendra Modi, is India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier. It was built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi, Kerala \u2014 India’s largest shipyard. With a displacement of ~45,000 tonnes, it carries MiG-29K fighters and helicopters. It was named after the original INS Vikrant that blockaded East Pakistan during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Nuclear triad means the capability to deliver nuclear weapons from three platforms \u2014 land (Agni ballistic missiles), air (nuclear-capable aircraft like Su-30MKI and Mirage 2000), and sea (submarine-launched ballistic missiles). INS Arihant completed the sea-based leg when it completed its first operational deterrence patrol in November 2018 \u2014 announced by PM Modi. India became only the 6th country to have a complete nuclear triad.
All six Project 75 Scorp\u00e8ne-class submarines were built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, with technology transfer from DCNS (now Naval Group) of France. The submarines are: Kalvari (2017), Khanderi (2019), Karanj (2021), Vela (2021), Vagir (2023), and Vagsheer (2024). The Scorp\u00e8ne design is known for its quiet operation and advanced sensor suite. Project 75I \u2014 the successor programme with 6 more submarines featuring Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) \u2014 is under procurement.
INS Vikramaditya was originally the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov (formerly Kiev-class modified to Carrier Cruiser). India signed a deal to acquire and refurbish it in 2004. The vessel was comprehensively refitted at the Sevmash shipyard in Russia and commissioned into the Indian Navy on November 16, 2013. It is named after Vikramaditya \u2014 the legendary emperor of ancient India and metaphor for supreme power.
INS Tabar, a Talwar-class stealth guided missile frigate, became famous in November 2008 when it engaged and sank a Somali pirate “mother vessel” in the Gulf of Aden during anti-piracy operations. The vessel fired warning shots and, when the pirates responded with gunfire, sank the pirate vessel. This was one of the most celebrated actions by an Indian naval vessel in recent times and highlighted India\u2019s naval reach and anti-piracy capability.
✅ Key Takeaways
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
INS Vikrant (IAC-1 — Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1) is India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier, commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 2, 2022 at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Kerala. With a displacement of approximately 45,000 tonnes, it is one of the largest warships ever built in India. The ship is named after the original INS Vikrant — India’s first aircraft carrier (1961–1997) — which famously blockaded East Pakistan during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The new Vikrant uses 76% indigenous content, making it a symbol of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) in defence manufacturing.
India’s nuclear triad consists of three nuclear delivery platforms: land (Agni series ballistic missiles), air (nuclear-capable aircraft including Su-30MKI and Mirage 2000), and sea (submarine-launched ballistic missiles). The sea-based leg is provided by India’s Arihant-class submarines — INS Arihant (commissioned 2016) and INS Arighat (commissioned 2024). India completed its nuclear triad when INS Arihant completed its first operational deterrence patrol in November 2018. A third SSBN, INS Aridhaman, is under construction. India is one of only six countries (USA, Russia, UK, France, China, India) with a complete operational nuclear triad.
Project 75 (P75) is India’s Scorpène-class conventional submarine programme — it produced six submarines built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), Mumbai, with technology transfer from DCNS (now Naval Group) of France. The six submarines are Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, Vagir, and Vagsheer — all commissioned between 2017 and 2024. Project 75I (P75I) is the successor programme — it plans to build six advanced submarines with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, which allows the submarine to operate underwater for longer without surfacing. P75I is under procurement and finalisation as of 2026.
Indian naval ships appear in UPSC Prelims (Current Affairs + Defence), SSC CGL, NDA, CDS, and all defence recruitment exams. Common patterns include: INS Vikrant as first indigenous carrier (Cochin Shipyard, September 2022), INS Vikramaditya as Russian-origin carrier (ex-Gorshkov, 2013), INS Arihant as first nuclear submarine (2016; nuclear triad), INS Arighat as second SSBN (2024), Project 75 Scorpène submarines (6 vessels; MDL Mumbai; French tech), INS Tabar anti-piracy fame (Somali pirates, 2008), INS Delhi-class destroyers (first guided missile destroyers made in India), and Project 15B Visakhapatnam-class destroyers (most modern). This page covers all major naval GK patterns for 2026 exams.
