New Delhi, Nov. 11 -- The Ministry of Defence has signed a Rs 498.58 crore contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Normal Refit and Re-powering of INS Betwa, a project expected to involve more than 50 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and generate employment across the domestic shipbuilding and ancillary industries.

The contract was signed in New Delhi on November 11, 2026, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

The project will strengthen indigenous capabilities in naval ship repair and maintenance, particularly in complex propulsion system transformation and the modernisation of naval platforms. It will involve replacing INS Betwa's existing steam-based propulsion system with a diesel-engine-based sys...