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INS Aridhaman (S4) Commissioned as 3rd Arihant-class SSBN, India's Nuclear Triad Strengthened

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
04 Apr 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:INS Aridhaman (S4)April 3, 202638 LWE districts5.9 magnitude earthquake
Bodies:Indian NavyMinistry of Home Affairs (MHA)Supreme CourtNational Centre for Seismology
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What This Article Covers

1.India's third nuclear submarine, INS Aridhaman (S4), was commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Visakhapatnam on April 3, 2026, bolstering the strategic weapons program.

2.The Union Home Ministry reclassified LWE-affected districts into three categories, noting a significant contraction of the red corridor from over 200 districts in 2005 to just two in 2026.

3.The Supreme Court observed that election petitions must be decided based on the material on record, ruling out stalling proceedings for fresh evidence.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

India has formally commissioned its third indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman (S4), enhancing the sea-based leg of its nuclear triad. Concurrently, escalating tensions in the Gulf saw Iran downing a second US jet, and the Home Ministry revised its classification for districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Commissioned SubmarineINS Aridhaman (S4)
Commissioning DateApril 3, 2026
Class of SubmarineArihant-class SSBN
Number of LWE Districts38 (unchanged from 2024-25)
Earthquake Magnitude5.9 (Afghanistan)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Commissioned Submarine: INS Aridhaman (S4)
  • ›Commissioning Date: April 3, 2026
  • ›Target this Data: INS Aridhaman is the 3rd Arihant-class SSBN, commissioned on April 3, 2026.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) manages India's nuclear arsenal, including SSBNs.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: The Supreme Court order states election petitions must be decided on the 'material on record'.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which ministry is responsible for the classification of districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) as mentioned in the news?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the news:

1. INS Aridhaman is India's second indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.

2. The number of districts categorised as affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in 2026 is 38.

3. The Supreme Court has ruled that election petitions can be stalled until fresh evidence is unearthed.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the news, how many districts in India were categorised as affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in 2026?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary strategic significance of commissioning INS Aridhaman, as per the news?

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