Why in News? 

The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Androth, the second of its Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on October 6, 2025. The ceremony, which will be presided over by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, marks a significant step in bolstering India's coastal defence capabilities. This new vessel, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, is part of a larger project to enhance India's indigenous shipbuilding and maritime security, especially in shallow littoral waters.

Key Points

• Indigenous Construction: The warship is a testament to the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative, as it has over 80% indigenous content.
• Strategic Role: Androth is designed to detect and neutralize enemy submarines and underwater threats in coastal waters, where larger warships may face operational limitations.
• Legacy and Naming: The ship is named after Androth Island, the largest island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, and carries forward the legacy of its predecessor, INS Androth (P69), which served the Navy for over 27 years.
• Advanced Features: The vessel is equipped with an advanced weapon and sensor suite, modern communication systems, and waterjet propulsion, which provides high maneuverability for operations in shallow waters.
• Series of Ships: Androth is the second of sixteen ASW-SWC ships planned for the Indian Navy, following the commissioning of INS Arnala, the first ship of the series, in June 2025.

Important Terms

• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW): A branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, submarines, aircraft, and other platforms to find, track, and deter or destroy enemy submarines.
• Shallow Water Craft (SWC): A class of naval vessels specifically designed to operate in littoral or coastal waters, which are typically too shallow for large, deep-draft warships.
• Aatmanirbhar Bharat: A policy vision of the Indian government to make the country self-reliant in various sectors, including defence manufacturing.