Scorpene-class submarines in India are built at:
Correct answer: (C) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai.
In India, Scorpene-class (Kalvari-class) submarines are built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, under Project-75.
Explanation
Project-75 covers India's indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design. PIB's Ministry of Defence release on Vagir states that these submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, in collaboration with Naval Group, France. That is why the shipyard in the answer is MDL Mumbai, not a general naval shipyard elsewhere. The supplied class list, INS Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, Vagir and Vagsheer, matches the six-submarine Project-75/Scorpene set, with Vagir identified by PIB as the fifth Project-75 Kalvari-class submarine delivered to the Indian Navy.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Garden Reach Shipbuilders, Kolkata is not the Project-75 Scorpene yard; the supplied note links GRSE to frigates and corvettes, while PIB places Scorpene construction at MDL Mumbai.
- (B) Hindustan Shipyard, Visakhapatnam is associated in the supplied note with other naval vessels, but PIB identifies MDL Mumbai as the yard constructing the six Scorpene-design submarines.
- (D) Cochin Shipyard, Kochi is ruled out because the supplied note links it to INS Vikrant, whereas PIB states that Project-75 Scorpene submarines are constructed at MDL Mumbai.
Concept
This tests the Science and Technology/defence-indigenisation pattern of matching a strategic platform with its Indian shipyard and programme. RAS repeats such items because defence manufacturing, technology transfer and Aatmanirbhar Bharat sit at the current-affairs edge of the syllabus.