Defence Ministry Signs ₹498.58-Crore INS Betwa Refit Contract

On 11 November 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹498.58-crore contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in New Delhi for the normal refit and re-powering of the Indian Navy’s INS Betwa. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh was present at the signing.

Propulsion and combat upgrades

The Brahmaputra-class frigate will have its steam-based propulsion system replaced with a diesel-engine-based system. The refit also includes a modernised weapon suite to upgrade its combat capabilities. CSL expects the work to take about two years.

The project is expected to involve more than 50 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and create employment across shipbuilding and ancillary industries. The Ministry says it will strengthen domestic capacity for complex naval ship repairs and platform modernisation, in line with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India initiatives.

Important Facts for Exams

• Class and role: INS Betwa is a Brahmaputra-class guided-missile frigate, placing it within a defined Indian Navy warship class.
• Cochin Shipyard and INS Vikrant: INS Vikrant, commissioned in 2022, was constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited as India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier.
• Shipyard ministry responsibility: Cochin Shipyard Limited is a central public-sector enterprise under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, rather than the Ministry of Defence.
• Brahmaputra-class builder: The three ships of the Brahmaputra class were built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, a shipyard based in Kolkata.