<h2>Keel Laying and Plate Cutting for New Fast Patrol Vessels</h2> <p>On <strong>06 April 2026</strong>, the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of Defence — India's defence ministry responsible for policy, procurement and administration of the armed forces (GS2: Polity)">Ministry of Defence</span> conducted the keel‑laying ceremony for <span class="key-term" data-definition="Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) — small, high‑speed warship used for coastal patrol, interdiction and surveillance (GS3: Defence)">Fast Patrol Vessel‑4</span> (yard number 16504) and the plate‑cutting ceremony for <span class="key-term" data-definition="Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) — small, high‑speed warship used for coastal patrol, interdiction and surveillance (GS3: Defence)">Fast Patrol Vessel‑7</span> (yard number 16507) at <span class="key-term" data-definition="Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) — premier Indian shipyard that builds warships and submarines for the navy and coast guard (GS2: Polity)">Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)</span>, Mumbai. These vessels belong to the 14‑ship <strong>FPV project</strong> (yards 16501‑14) for the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Indian Coast Guard — maritime security agency tasked with coastal surveillance, law enforcement and search‑rescue (GS2: Polity)">Indian Coast Guard</span>. </p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>Keel laid for <strong>FPV‑4</strong> and plate cut for <strong>FPV‑7</strong> – marking the start of construction.</li> <li>Ships will feature <strong>AI‑based predictive maintenance systems</strong> and <strong>multipurpose drones</strong> for enhanced surveillance.</li> <li>Indigenous components include gearboxes from <strong>M/s Triveni, Mysore</strong> and water‑jets from <strong>M/s MJP India</strong>.</li> <li>Each vessel has a displacement of approximately <strong>340 tonnes</strong> and is water‑jet propelled for high manoeuvrability.</li> <li>Project aligns with the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Aatmanirbhar Bharat — Government of India’s self‑reliance initiative aimed at boosting indigenous production across sectors (GS3: Economy)">Aatmanirbhar Bharat</span> drive, enhancing self‑reliance in maritime defence.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <p>The FPVs are designed for coastal security, law‑enforcement duties, and rapid response in the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Indian Ocean Region — strategic maritime zone spanning from the eastern coast of Africa to the western Pacific, crucial for trade and security (GS1: Geography)">Indian Ocean Region</span>. Their water‑jet propulsion provides speeds exceeding 30 knots, crucial for interdiction missions. The integration of AI‑driven maintenance reduces downtime, while onboard drones extend surveillance reach up to 15 km. </p> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>Understanding this development helps aspirants in multiple GS papers: <br/> - <strong>GS 2 (Polity)</strong>: role of the <span class="key-term" data-defini