PM Modi celebrates Diwali with soldiers on INS Vikrant

"I am fortunate that this time I am celebrating this holy festival of Diwali among all you brave soldiers of the Navy", the PM said.

INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, is 262 metres long and has a full displacement of about 45,000 tonnes. Built at a cost of nearly ₹20,000 crore, the ship represents 76% indigenous content, symbolising India’s progress toward self-reliance under the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. The project was executed in three phases between 2007 and 2019, with construction led by Cochin Shipyard Limited.

The carrier is equipped with a high degree of automation for navigation and operations and can host around 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, and MH-60R helicopters, as well as indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Navy variants. With INS Vikrant, India joins a select group of nations capable of designing and building aircraft carriers indigenously.