Defence Ministry launches indigenous Diving Support Craft DSC A24

The launch of DSC A24 at Titagarh, Kolkata marks a watershed moment in India's journey towards naval self-reliance under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. This fifth and final Diving Support Craft (DSC) completes a strategic project that began with the Defence Ministry's recognition of critical gaps in underwater operational capabilities. Historically, India depended on foreign platforms for specialized diving support, creating vulnerabilities in maintenance, spare parts availability, and operational sovereignty. The DSC Project, conceptualized under the Make-in-India framework, represents a paradigm shift from import-dependent procurement to indigenous design and construction. These vessels, built at Titagarh Rail Systems' shipyard in Kolkata, showcase India's growing shipbuilding prowess — a sector identified as strategic under the Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020. Each DSC features superior stability through optimized hull form, enhanced deck area for diving equipment and personnel, and improved sea-keeping characteristics enabling operations in rough seas — critical for India's vast maritime zones including the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands. The constitutional dimension is significant: Article 246 read with the Seventh Schedule (Union List, Entry 2) places naval defence exclusively under Parliament's legislative competence, while Article 300A protects property rights in defence assets. The project aligns with the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020's 'Buy Indian-IDDM' (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category, reflecting policy evolution from the earlier Defence Procurement Procedure. Key stakeholders include the Ministry of Defence (policy), Indian Navy (end-user), Titagarh Rail Systems (shipyard), and DRDO labs like NSTL Visakhapatnam (design validation). The economic impact extends beyond defence — shipbuilding has a 1:6.48 employment multiplier effect per the National Shipbuilding Policy, creating skilled jobs in welding, naval architecture, and systems integration. Strategically, these DSCs enhance India's underwater domain awareness (UDA) in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), countering growing extra-regional naval presence. They support submarine rescue, mine countermeasures, and seabed infrastructure inspection — capabilities vital for protecting undersea cables carrying 95% of India's internet traffic. Future implications include potential export to friendly IOR nations under the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, technology spin-offs for commercial offshore sector, and a template for more complex indigenous platforms like the Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) and Multi-Role Support Vessels (MRSV). The project's timely completion despite COVID-19 disruptions demonstrates maturing project management in Indian defence PSUs and private yards — a critical capability as India targets $25 billion defence exports by 2029.