India commissions nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine INS Aridaman

• India commissioned its third indigenously-built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridaman.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh came out with a cryptic social media post. Singh, in a tweet, simply said “Shabd nahi, Shakti hai Aridhaman”, which can be translated as “Aridhaman isn’t just a word, it is power”.

• India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) programme is a closely guarded project. 

• INS Arihant is India’s first home-made nuclear submarine. 

• It was launched in July 2009 and was quietly commissioned in 2016. 

• The Navy commissioned its second indigenous SSBN, INS Arighaat, in August 2024. 

• The SSBN stands for ship submersible ballistic nuclear or nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.

• The SSBN programme is a key element of India’s nuclear deterrence capability.

• INS Aridaman has been commissioned after months of sea trials. 

• The induction of INS Aridaman is seen as a major milestone to enhance India’s strategic strike capabilities.

• Following this, work will focus on a fourth nuclear-powered submarine. 

• While India has proven air and land-launched nuclear capabilities, it is now focusing on boosting its underwater nuclear prowess.

• India is among a select group of countries that possess nuclear-powered submarines. 

• The countries that have such assets are the US, Russia, the UK, France and China.