After the commissioning ceremony, PM Modi also unveiled the new Naval Ensign, or Nishaan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant, at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) on Friday, demonstrating the nation's expanding prowess in indigenous manufacturing and marking a significant turning point toward "Aatmanirbhar Bharat".

In addition, the Prime Minister also introduced the new Naval Ensign (Nishaan), which sheds the colonial past and honours the great maritime tradition of India. He dedicated the new ensign to Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Addressing the gathering, he said, "Here on the coast of Kerala, every Indian is witnessing the sunrise of a new future. This event is held on the INS Vikrant is a tribute to the rising spirits of India on the world horizon."

He claimed that India is now witnessing the realisation of the independence fighters' goal of a strong and competent India.

Commenting on the new national spirit, PM Modi stated that no challenge is too difficult for today’s India. He thanked and commended the work of the Navy, the Cochin Shipyard engineers, the scientists, and especially the project employees. He also mentioned the joyous and auspicious occasion of Onam, which makes the event even more auspicious.

He went on to discuss Indian maritime history and naval prowess, noting that by raising a new flag for the Indian Navy on the historic date of September 2, 2022, India has eliminated all traces and burdens of slavery.

The Prime Minister noted that numerous female Navy troops will be stationed there when Vikrant descends to defend our maritime zone.

He stated that in the past, security issues in the Indo-Pacific area and the Indian Ocean were long overlooked, but that the geostrategic scenario is changing. He continued by saying that a powerful India will open the door to a secure and peaceful world.

INS Vikrant is the most complex warship ever to be built in the country.

The aircraft carrier has been designed by Indian Navy's in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by public sector Cochin Shipyard Limited. INS Vikrant has been built with with state of the art automation features.

With the commissioning of Vikrant, India will have two operational Aircraft Carriers, which will bolster the maritime security of the nation.