India successfully test-fired the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile from INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal. The missile demonstrated a 3,500 km strike range and strengthens India’s sea-based nuclear deterrence capability. INS Arighaat was commissioned into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024 as the second Arihant-class submarine, so this update is not merely a missile-test item; it is linked to the sea-based leg of India’s nuclear triad.
For prelims, the core facts are direct: the missile is K-4, the launch platform is INS Arighaat, the area is the Bay of Bengal, and the reported range is 3,500 km. For static GK, connect it with submarine-launched ballistic missiles, the nuclear triad, sea-based deterrence and defence technology. Nuclear triad refers to a country’s ability to maintain nuclear deterrence through land, air and sea-based systems; in this article, the focus is the sea-based component.
For mains, the relevance lies in strategic stability, self-reliant defence capability and survivable deterrence. Submarine-launched missiles matter because submarine-based platforms are treated as secure, survivable and potent systems, making deterrence more credible during a crisis. At the same time, this article should not be read like a welfare scheme, legislation or routine administrative programme. It belongs to Science & Technology and Current Affairs under the defence and space technology topic, and it can be used for both prelims facts and short mains analysis in exams such as RAS and UPSC.