Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the new Administrative & Training building at the Naval War College (NWC) in Goa on March 5, 2024. The state-of-the-art facility, named 'Chola,’ pays tribute to the maritime empire of the Chola dynasty in ancient India. Singh praised the Navy for creating a "world-class training centre," emphasizing India's maritime prowess.
Singh highlighted a shift in addressing threat perceptions, covering both land-based and maritime challenges under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He stressed the importance of India's role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and its emergence as a "key security partner."
The Defence Minister emphasized India's commitment to a "rules-based maritime order" in the IOR, ensuring autonomy for neighbouring countries. He commended the Navy's readiness and its role as the "first responder" in the region.
Singh underlined the Navy's role in strengthening economic and security cooperation with maritime neighbours, aligning with the "Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)" vision. He praised the Navy's anti-piracy and anti-trafficking operations, addressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
The inauguration included two major piers at Naval Base, Karwar, capable of hosting aircraft carriers and various vessels. These developments are part of Project Seabird, the "largest Naval infrastructure project" in India, aimed at increasing the Navy's capacity.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar highlighted the evolving security challenges, emphasizing the importance of higher military education. The new training facility is expected to serve as a hub for "maritime education and collaboration."
The Defense Minister interacted with project personnel, and an inaugural special postage stamp was released to commemorate the event. Singh inspected the Guard of Honour and dedicated the Chola building to the Armed Forces.
