Indian Navy commissions INS Malvan, second of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

📌 Summary:

• INS Malvan, the second indigenously designed and built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), was commissioned at Karwar on 22 July 2026
• It is the second of eight ASW-SWCs built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), Kochi, and the sixth of 16 such craft entering the Navy; it has over 80% indigenous content, reinforcing Aatmanirbhar Bharat in warship building
• Roles: underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and mine warfare — bolstering coastal defence, littoral security and Maritime Domain Awareness
• Named after the coastal town of Malvan (Maharashtra), linked to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's maritime heritage; crest bears the Bagh Nakha (Tiger's Claw); motto is "Silent Claws"
• The Chief of the Air Staff, presiding, stressed protecting sea lines of communication for unimpeded trade and called for tri-service jointness

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Internal Security — maritime security, coastal/littoral defence, and indigenisation of defence shipbuilding under Aatmanirbhar Bharat

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Mahe-class = Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd
• INS Malvan: over 80% indigenous content; commissioned at Karwar; 2nd of eight ASW-SWCs
• Crest emblem: Bagh Nakha (Tiger's Claw); motto: "Silent Claws"

🔑 Key Term: Maritime Domain Awareness — comprehensive understanding of the maritime environment to safeguard security, trade and sovereignty at sea