Indian Navy Second Diving Support Vessel Nipun Commissioning
Source:PIB ↗
આ શા માટે મહત્વનું છે
Understanding indigenous defence manufacturing is crucial for UPSC candidates, as it highlights India's push to reduce import dependence. Specialized vessels like Nipun reflect the modernization of the Indian Navy, directly linking to strategic maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region and disaster/submarine rescue capabilities.
સારાંશ
The Indian Navy is preparing to commission 'Nipun', its second indigenously constructed Diving Support Vessel (DSV). Built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, Nipun underscores India's commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. The vessel is designed to execute deep-sea diving, underwater salvage, and critical submarine rescue operations by deploying Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs). With over 80% indigenous material, Nipun not only enhances the Indian Navy's operational capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region but also bolsters the domestic defence industrial base.
મુખ્ય મુદ્દા
- Indigenous Construction: Nipun is the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) indigenously designed and built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam.
- Strategic Capabilities: It is equipped with advanced deep-sea diving systems, facilitating underwater inspection, testing, and complex salvage operations.
- Submarine Rescue Operations: The vessel will act as a primary platform for deploying Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs), which is crucial for rescuing stranded submarine crews.
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat Push: Featuring over 80% indigenous content, the project significantly boosted local defence manufacturing, integrating numerous domestic MSMEs and reducing import dependency.
મહત્વપૂર્ણ શબ્દો
Diving Support Vessel 'Nipun'
The second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel built indigenously for the Indian Navy by HSL. It is a specialized platform equipped for deep-sea diving, underwater salvage, and critical submarine rescue operations.
UPSC context
GS-3 Defence Technology. Tests knowledge of India’s maritime operational capabilities and indigenization of naval platforms.
Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)
A specialized submersible used to search for and rescue personnel from disabled submarines. India operates advanced DSRVs on both coasts, capable of mating with submerged submarines for underwater evacuation.
UPSC context
GS-3 Science & Tech. Crucial for assessing India's underwater rescue readiness, maritime security, and strategic submarine operations.
Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL)
A Visakhapatnam-based public sector shipyard under the Ministry of Defence. Recently awarded Mini Ratna Category-I status, it builds and repairs naval vessels, including the highly specialized Nistar-class DSVs.
UPSC context
GS-3 Defence Manufacturing. Important for understanding India's domestic shipbuilding infrastructure and defense public sector enterprise capacities.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Defence)
India's initiative to achieve self-reliance and reduce import dependence in defense manufacturing. It promotes domestic production through positive indigenization lists, defense corridors, and mandates like the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
UPSC context
GS-3 Indigenization of Technology. Tests understanding of policies boosting domestic defense production and ensuring strategic autonomy.
પ્રિલિમ્સ ટ્રેપ
"Nipun is an indigenous Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) designed to dive up to 650m to rescue stranded submariners."
Nipun is an indigenous surface-level 'mother ship' (Diving Support Vessel). The actual DSRVs it deploys to dive and rescue submariners are UK-acquired untethered submersibles.
સંલગ્ન સ્થિર ખ્યાલો
How do Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) function in naval emergencies?
- Mother Ship Dependence: DSRVs depend on surface mother ships (like INS Nipun) for transport, launch, command, and post-rescue crew decompression.
- Mating Mechanism: They dive and form a watertight seal ('mate') with a distressed submarine's escape hatch, allowing crew transfer without exposure to extreme water pressure.
- Elite Global Capability: Operating DSRVs places India in a select group of roughly 12 nations with independent, dedicated submarine rescue frameworks.
Which key Indian shipyards are responsible for major naval construction projects?
- Mazagon Dock (Mumbai): Builds Scorpene-class submarines (Project 75) and stealth guided-missile destroyers (Project 15B).
- Garden Reach (Kolkata): Specializes in advanced stealth frigates (Project 17A) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) shallow water crafts.
- Hindustan Shipyard (Visakhapatnam): Constructs specialized vessels like the Nistar-class Diving Support Vessels and Fleet Support Ships for the Navy.
આંતર-વિષય પેટર્ન
Dual-Seaboard Maritime Strategy
Deploying INS Nistar on the East coast and Nipun on the West ensures full IOR coverage, directly paralleling India's dual-carrier (Vikramaditya/Vikrant) strategic posture across maritime frontiers.
Deep Ocean Mission Synergies
Naval ROVs and saturation diving systems overlap technically with the Ministry of Earth Sciences' Deep Ocean Mission (Samudrayaan), showing inter-ministerial convergence on subsea technologies.
Expect a multi-statement question swapping the roles of indigenous Nistar-class DSVs (surface) with the UK-acquired DSRVs (submersible).
સંલગ્ન PYQ · 3
સંલગ્ન PYQ · 3
- 2026PrelimsGS1
Which of the following items of defence hardware is/are manufactured in India ? 1. Su-30 MKI Fighter Jets 2. T-90 MK-III Tanks 3. Akula Class Submarine Select the answer using the code given below :
- 2022MainsGS3
What are the maritime security challenges in India ? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security.
- 2026PrelimsGS1
Which of the following statements with regard to India's Deep Ocean Mission is/are correct? 1. It was launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India. 2. Matsya-6000 has been designed to carry 3 people for deep sea exploration. 3. Samudrayaan is a project under this mission. Select the answer using the code given below :
