INS Samarthak, Navy’s first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel, commissioned at Karwar; first major warship built by a private Indian shipyard
On 16 October 2026, Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan commissioned INS Samarthak, the first of the Indian Navy’s Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs), built by L&T Shipyard with over 75% indigenous content, at Karwar.
Summary
INS Samarthak, the first of class Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) of the Indian Navy, was commissioned on 16 October 2026 at Karwar in the presence of Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan and Chief of the Naval Staff Adm Krishna Swaminathan. Designed and built by L&T Shipyard, the ship is the first major warship built by an Indian private shipyard and has over 75% indigenous content. The name Samarthak means ‘The Proponent’; the ship will help test and train new indigenous sensors and weapons and can carry out maritime surveillance, offshore patrolling and HADR tasks.
Key facts
- Ship
- INS Samarthak – first of class Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV)
- Commissioned
- 16 October 2026, Karwar (Karnataka)
- Chief Guest
- Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan
- Navy Chief present
- Adm Krishna Swaminathan
- Builder
- L&T Shipyard – first major warship by an Indian private shipyard
- Indigenous content
- Over 75%
- Meaning of name
- ‘The Proponent’
- Roles
- Trials of new sensors/weapons, surveillance, offshore patrol, HADR
Practice MCQs 4 questions
INS Samarthak, commissioned into the Indian Navy in October 2026, is the first of which class of ships?
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Correct answer: A — Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs)
Which shipyard designed and built INS Samarthak, the first major warship built by an Indian private shipyard?
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Correct answer: B — L&T Shipyard
INS Samarthak was commissioned on 16 October 2026 at which naval location?
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Correct answer: C — Karwar
Consider the following statements about INS Samarthak: 1. It has over 75% indigenous content. 2. Its name means ‘The Proponent’. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2