India has scripted history by becoming the first country in South Asia to induct into its Navy a domestically built aircraft carrier.
The 45,000-tonne Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant, capable of accommodating 30 military aircraft, was commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a grand ceremony in the southern port city of Kochi on Friday.
With the formal commissioning, India has joined an elite group of nations -- the US, the UK, Russia, China and France -- that can design and build such large aircraft carriers, reports AP.
"INS Vikrant is the reflection of our Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant) mission, Modi said at the event.
"Today, India has entered the list of countries that can build such large warships indigenously. Vikrant has infused new confidence," he added.
INS Vikrant has been christened after her illustrious predecessor, India’s first Aircraft Carrier that played a stellar role in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
The warship has been built at a cost of 2.5 billion US dollars over the past 13 years.
Modi also unveiled the new naval ensign that has India's national flag on the upper canton. "In adopting the new naval ensign, India has removed a burden of slavery off its chest," he said.
The Indian Navy's maritime fleet now has two aircraft carriers, 10 destroyers, 12 frigates and 20 corvettes.
