In a majestic address of self-reliance and patriotism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali 2025 with Indian Navy personnel aboard India’s first domestically constructed aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
The conference celebrated India’s burgeoning indigenous defence manufacturing capacity as well as rapidity of the nation in attaining Atmanirbhar Bharat.
INS Vikrant: The Spirit of Atmanirbhar
Describing the event on board as “a remarkable moment,” PM Modi stated that INS Vikrant is not just a navy ship but a proof of 21st-century India’s innovation, talent, and dedication. He termed the scene as extraordinary—”with the great sea on one side and India’s armed forces’ might on the other.”
He recalled that the Navy adopted a new flag inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, symbolizing the spirit of a confident, self-reliant India moving beyond colonial legacies.
India’s Defence Manufacturing Doubled in a Decade
He emphasized India’s defence industry achieving historical milestones in the last 11 years. India’s defence industrial base tripled according to the PIB report, crossing ₹1.5 lakh crore in 2024.
He mentioned that since 2014, more than 40 indigenous warships and submarines have been handed over to the Navy, with nearly a new ship being inducted on average once in every 40 days.
On India’s increased international influence, he further stated that Indian-made missiles such as BrahMos and Akash are increasingly sought even globally, placing India among new defence exporting countries.
Indian Navy: Protector of the Indian Ocean
Prime Minister Modi mentioned India’s Navy as its Indian Ocean guardian that defends essential international energy and trade sea lines. The region is home to more than 66% of world supply of crude as well as 50% container traffic. He added that Navy defends India’s maritime interests while also serving international security as well as humanitarian relief purposes. Referring to PIB’s announcement, India’s Navy was involved in relief operations like Operation Neer in Maldives (2014) as well as disaster assistance operations in Mozambique, Myanmar, Indonesia, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka.
Eradicating Maoist Terrorism and Fast-Tracking Development
Prime Minister also lauded Indian security forces’ courage for having managed to combat Maoist terrorism. He added that affected districts had come down from 125 in 2014 to as low as 11 in 2025, bringing with them peace as well as development to long-stricken regions.
He highlighted that places that used to suffer from extremism are now experiencing unprecedented economic growth, infrastructure build-outs, and Diwali festivals after a gap of several decades.
Nation-Building via Bravery and Vision At the end of his address, PM Modi added that India’s armed forces are not defenders alone but constructors of nations, epitomizing power, strength, and spirit of development. He stated, “The mountain summits on which our troops are standing would be as India’s victory pillars and powerful waves of oceans down below them would resound India’s victory. In that din, a single united voice would be heard—
‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai!
