ICGS Ajit Commissioned at Goa Shipyard: Key Facts on the Indigenous Fast Patrol Vessel

The Indian Coast Guard commissioned the indigenous Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ICGS Ajit at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) on 9 October 2026. This was a completed event as of 10 October 2026. The shipyard had handed the vessel over to the Coast Guard earlier, on 25 August 2026. ICGS Ajit matters for current affairs because it adds a locally built patrol vessel to the Coast Guard fleet and carries a propulsion feature described as a first for this class of FPV in India.

What happened and when

Handover and commissioning are separate steps, so exam notes should keep the two dates apart. The commissioning date comes from a GKToday report dated 10 October 2026. The handover date is reported by both GKToday and SSBCrack, whose article was last updated on 26 August 2026.

Key specifications of ICGS Ajit

Size, speed and crew

• Length: 51.43 metres.
• Displacement: about 330 tonnes (GKToday); SSBCrack gives a range of roughly 320–330 tonnes.
• Speed: more than 27 knots. SSBCrack adds that some references note up to 28 knots.
• Endurance: 1,500 nautical miles.
• Crew: six officers and 35 sailors, per both reports. SSBCrack notes that sources vary slightly on the complement.
• Indigenous content: more than 65%.

Propulsion: the feature to remember

Twin marine diesel engines drive the vessel through controllable pitch propellers (CPP). Both sources describe this as a first-of-its-kind feature for this class of FPV in India. SSBCrack explains that CPP allows speed and direction changes without altering engine RPM.

Unit note

One knot equals one nautical mile per hour. A nautical mile is 1,852 metres.

Where it will serve and what it will do

GKToday says ICGS Ajit will be based at Okha in Gujarat. It will operate along Gujarat's coastline and in adjoining offshore areas, including the Arabian Sea. Its assigned roles are:

• maritime surveillance;
• search and rescue;
• anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations;
• fisheries protection;
• response to marine pollution.

SSBCrack also lists Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance and coastal security among the vessel's roles.

Adamya-class background

According to SSBCrack, ICGS Ajit belongs to the Adamya-class series of eight FPVs designed and built by GSL. The Ministry of Defence signed the contract with GSL in March 2022 under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, at a total cost of about ₹473 crore. SSBCrack describes Ajit and Aparajit as the last two ships in the series. It names Adamya, Akshar, Amulya, Akshay and Achal among the earlier ships.

Exam-relevant context

These points are supported by the sources. This post does not claim that any question on them will appear in an exam.

• The Indian Coast Guard was established on 1 February 1977 and works under the Ministry of Defence.
• Its statutory framework is the Coast Guard Act, 1978.
• Functions under the Act include protecting offshore installations, assisting fishermen, preventing and controlling marine pollution, and supporting customs authorities in anti-smuggling work.
• GSL is a shipbuilding company based in Goa. SSBCrack describes it as a Defence PSU and a Mini-Ratna.
• SSBCrack links the vessel to the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.

Evidence limits to keep in mind

• The commissioning on 9 October 2026, the presiding officer and the Okha basing rest on a single supplied source, GKToday. No second supplied source confirms them.
• The SSBCrack article is dated August 2026 and covers the handover only. It says the vessel was expected to complete final formalities before full operational deployment. It does not describe the commissioning.
• SSBCrack says the armament "typical of the class" is a 30 mm CRN-91 gun and two 12.7 mm remote-controlled machine guns. It does not confirm that ICGS Ajit carries exactly this fit, so treat it as class-level information.
• Displacement, top speed and crew figures differ slightly between reports, as noted above.

Quick answers

When was ICGS Ajit commissioned?

On 9 October 2026 at Goa Shipyard Limited, according to GKToday.

Is the handover the same as commissioning?

No. GSL handed over the vessel on 25 August 2026, and it was commissioned about six weeks later.

Where will ICGS Ajit be based?

At Okha in Gujarat, per GKToday.