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INS Mahendragiri Commissioned: 6th Project 17A Stealth Frigate Joins Eastern Fleet

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
11 Jul 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:July 11, 20266th Project 17A frigateOver 75% indigenous contentCODOG propulsionINS Nilgiri delivered Dec 20, 2024
Bodies:Indian NavyMazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)Warship Design BureauMinistry of Defence
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What This Article Covers

1.INS Mahendragiri, the sixth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate under Project 17A, was commissioned at Visakhapatnam on July 11, 2026, by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

2.Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) with over 75% indigenous content, it features advanced stealth, CODOG propulsion, and modern weapon systems.

3.The frigate is named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats and is the first Indian naval warship to bear this name.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

INS Mahendragiri, the sixth and latest Project 17A stealth frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam on July 11, 2026. This milestone underscores India's growing self-reliance in indigenous warship construction and enhances the Navy's multi-mission capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Commissioning DateJuly 11, 2026
Ship ClassNilgiri-class (Project 17A)
Ship Number in Class6th (4th built by MDL)
BuilderMazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)
Fleet AssignmentEastern Fleet, Visakhapatnam
Indigenous ContentOver 75%
Propulsion SystemCombined Diesel or Gas (CODOG)
Design AgencyWarship Design Bureau
First Vessel DeliveredINS Nilgiri (Dec 20, 2024)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Commissioning Date: July 11, 2026
  • ›Ship Class: Nilgiri-class (Project 17A)
  • ›Target this Data: Commissioning date of INS Mahendragiri - July 11, 2026
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) - builder of the frigate
  • ›Target this Project: Project 17A - Nilgiri-class stealth frigates

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

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which organisation designed the Project 17A stealth frigates for the Indian Navy?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding INS Mahendragiri:

1. It is the first ship of the Nilgiri-class frigates built under Project 17A.

2. It was commissioned into the Indian Navy's Western Fleet at Mumbai.

3. The frigate is powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

What is the indigenous content percentage of INS Mahendragiri?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary strategic significance of commissioning INS Mahendragiri into the Eastern Fleet?

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