Shri Rajnath Singh lauded the Indian Navy's efforts to attain 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' by ordering 39 of the 41 ships and submarines from Indian shipyards. He called the INS Vikrant indigenous aircraft carrier a major step toward Aatmanirbharta (Aatmanirbharta means self-reliance). 

The Raksha Mantri emphasised the importance of keeping the Indo-Pacific area open, safe, and secure, calling it the Indian Navy's top goal. He claimed that India's interests are inextricably connected to the Indian Ocean. The area is critical to the global economy. "Problems such as piracy, terrorism, illicit smuggling of weaponry and drugs, human trafficking, illegal fishing, and environmental devastation are all equally to blame for harming the marine realm." As a result, the Indian Navy's position in the Indo-Pacific area becomes critical," he said.

The INS Visakhapatnam is 163 metres long, 17 metres wide, and has a displacement of 7,400 tonnes. The ship is driven by four Gas Turbines in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) arrangement capable of speeds exceeding 30 knots. The ship is named after Visakhapatnam, the 'City of Destiny,' a historic city in Andhra Pradesh on the east coast. It has a total complement of roughly 315 people.

The ship has stealth characteristics that result in a lower Radar Cross Section (RCS) accomplished by hull shape, full beam superstructure design, plated masts, and radar absorbent materials on exposed decks.

The ship is equipped with Surface-to-Surface and Surface-to-Air missiles. It is outfitted with a surveillance radar that feeds target data to the ship's gunnery fire systems. Rocket launchers, torpedo launchers, and anti-submarine warfare helicopters developed in-house give anti-submarine warfare capabilities.