India reinstated as naval superpower with induction of nuclear sub

India has inducted a nuclear-powered submarine into its Navy after a lease agreement with Russia for the Chakra became official today.
Defence Minister A.K. Anthony unveiled the new vessel, which is to be operated by the Indian Navy for 20 years, at the Visakhapatnam shipyard.
The move signifies a significant step in India’s naval capability as it becomes only the sixth Navy in the world to have a nuclear sub. Importantly, one of those other five is China.
India is increasingly building up its land, sea and air defences as the threat from China continues to pervade in the region.
To protect against the threat from China Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma, Chief of the Naval Staff for the Indian Navy, explained to India Today in January that strategic outposts in the surrounding region must be established.
“We are creating infrastructure in the Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands which form our country's strategic outposts," Admiral Verma told IT. "They enhance our country's forward operating capability.”
Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command, told IBN at the same time that India must not only increase its naval presence in the region, but that it must build the infrastructure and ships to go with it.
“49 ships and submarines, which are under construction, would be inducted in the next five years. Out of these, 45 are being built indigenously at the Indian shipyards, while four are being built outside India,” Chopra said.
In support of this strategy, later this year the INS Chakra is expected to be joined by the induction of the Indian-build INS Arihant, another nuclear submarine the government revealed in 2009.