Content

1. Indian Navy to Commission Anjadip(ASW-SWC)
2. Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) & India’s Quality-Led Manufacturing Push

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Indian Navy to Commission Anjadip (ASW-SWC)

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Why is it in News?

• The Indian Navy is commissioning INS Anjadip, the 3rd vessel of the 8-ship ASW Shallow Water Craft project, on 27 February 2026 under the Eastern Naval Command.
• The induction strengthens India’s shallow-water Anti-Submarine Warfare capability and marks progress in indigenous warship construction by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Relevance

GS Paper III

• Security: Maritime security, coastal defence, submarine warfare.
• Defence indigenisation & Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Infrastructure: Ports, EEZ security.
• Science & Technology in defence systems.

Project & Platform Specifics

• 3rd vessel under 8-ship ASW Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) project.
• Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers.
• Inducted into Eastern Naval Command.
• Length: 77 metres.
• Maximum speed: ~25 knots.
• Propulsion: Water-jet system (suited for shallow draught operations).
• Primary sensor: Indigenous Hull Mounted Sonar (HMS) “Abhay”.
• Armament:
  • Lightweight torpedoes (short-range ASW engagement).
  • ASW rocket launchers (area saturation capability).

Quantified Maritime Context

• India’s coastline: ~11,098.81 km.
• India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): ~2.37 million sq km.
• ~95% of India’s trade by volume and ~70% by value moves by sea.
• 12 major ports + 200+ non-major ports vulnerable to submarine infiltration in crisis scenarios.
• Bay of Bengal accounts for critical energy and container traffic towards East Asia.

Strategic Threat Matrix (Submarine Dimension)

• Diesel-electric submarines (SSK) operate effectively in <200 m depth zones.
• Shallow water creates:
  • High acoustic reverberation.
  • Reduced sonar detection ranges.
• China operates 50+ submarines (mix of nuclear & diesel-electric).
• Increased PLAN submarine port calls in Indian Ocean since 2013.
• Dedicated shallow-water ASW platforms fill gap not efficiently covered by:
  • 6 Scorpene-class submarines.
  • 7–8 ASW corvettes (Kamorta class).

Capability Gap Being Addressed

Before ASW-SWC:

• Frigates/destroyers (~3,000–7,000 tonnes) not optimal for shallow waters.
• Limited number of dedicated ASW corvettes (~4 Kamorta-class operational).

ASW-SWC Contribution:

• Specialised shallow-water detection role.
• High manoeuvrability due to water-jet propulsion.
• Faster coastal response cycle.
• Harbour defence reinforcement.

Technological Significance

• Indigenous HMS “Abhay”:
  • Reduces dependence on imported sonar systems.
• High indigenous content (recent naval platforms ~70–75% indigenous as per MoD data).
• Enhances:
  • Indigenous underwater acoustics capability.
  • Naval systems integration ecosystem.
• Water-jet propulsion:
  • Lower cavitation.
  • Improved control in low-depth zones.

Economic Security Linkage

• India imports ~85% of crude oil (major portion via sea).
• LNG terminals and offshore platforms concentrated along coast.
• Any submarine-based disruption impacts:
  • Energy security.
  • Trade insurance premiums.
  • Port operations.

Industrial & Aatmanirbhar Dimension

• Built domestically by GRSE (Defence PSU).
• Boosts:
  • Indigenous warship design capability.
  • MSME vendor ecosystem (hundreds of suppliers per naval platform).
• Reflects shift from import-heavy 1990s to largely indigenous surface fleet construction.

Prelims Pointers

• ASW-SWC = Shallow Water Craft (not frigate/destroyer).
• Length: 77 m.
• Speed: 25 knots.
• GRSE = Kolkata-based Defence PSU.
• EEZ of India: ~2.37 million sq km.
• Eastern Naval Command HQ: Visakhapatnam.
• Diesel-electric submarines are quieter than nuclear submarines in coastal waters.

Practice Question

• “India’s maritime security architecture requires specialised shallow-water capabilities to counter emerging submarine threats.” Examine in light of recent naval inductions. (15M)

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Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) & India’s Quality-Led Manufacturing Push

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Context

Piyush Goyal (Minister of Commerce and Industry of India) at the National Quality Conclave (Feb 2026) reiterated PM’s “Zero Defect, Zero Effect” vision as the core of India’s manufacturing strategy for:

• $30–35 trillion economy by 2047  
• $2 trillion exports target (within 6–7 years)
  • $1 trillion merchandise
  • $1 trillion services
• Leveraging 9 FTAs covering 38 developed countries (≈ two-thirds of global GDP/trade)

Institutional Anchors:

• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
• Quality Council of India (QCI)

Relevance

GS Paper III

• Industrial policy.
• Export competitiveness.
• MSME development.
• Environmental sustainability (CBAM).
• Technology in manufacturing.

Static Background

“Zero Defect, Zero Effect” (ZED)

• Launched in 2014 to:
  • Ensure Zero Defect → high-quality, globally competitive products.
  • Ensure Zero Effect → minimal environmental footprint.
• Primarily MSME–focused.
• Linked with:
  • Make in India
  • Atmanirbhar Bharat
  • Export Promotion Mission
  • National Manufacturing Policy (2011 – 25% GDP manufacturing target, not achieved)

Quality Architecture in India

• BIS Act, 2016 – Mandatory standards & QCOs.
• National Accreditation Board (under QCI).
• WTO compliance:
  • SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary)
  • TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade)
• REACH (EU chemicals regulation)
• CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – EU)

Data & Evidence  

• India:
  • 4th largest economy 
  • Manufacturing share ≈ 15–17% of GDP (stagnant)
• Global trade share:
  • ~2% of global merchandise exports
• MSMEs:
  • ~30% of GDP
  • ~45% of exports
  • 11+ crore employment (MoMSME data)
• FTAs:
  • UAE CEPA (2022)
  • Australia ECTA (2022)
  • Ongoing: EU, UK, Canada etc.

Quality Gap Indicators:

• High rejection rates in pharma & agri exports due to SPS non-compliance.
• Textile sector faces sustainability scrutiny (water use, carbon intensity).

Multi-Dimensional Analysis

I. Constitutional / Legal Dimension

• Article 19(1)(g): Freedom of trade subject to reasonable restrictions (standards & safety).
• Article 21: Right to life includes right to safe products (Consumer Protection Act, 2019).
• Article 51(c): International law obligations → WTO TBT/SPS compliance.
• Environmental standards under:
  • Environment Protection Act, 1986
  • Air/Water Acts
• Legal shift: From voluntary to mandatory Quality Control Orders (QCOs).

II. Governance / Administrative Dimension

Five-Pillar Roadmap Announced:

1. SOP-based strict compliance from raw material to finished goods.
2. Skilling & re-skilling (reduce wastage, enhance productivity).
3. Gap analysis & benchmarking with global best practices.
4. Streamlined testing & certification.
5. Modern shared testing infrastructure in clusters.

Administrative Innovations:

• 20+ cities consultations.
• 14 manufacturing clusters.
• 50+ regulators involved.
• “Gunvatta Manthan” dialogue mechanism → participatory governance.

Shift:

• From inspection raj → quality ecosystem approach.
• From dual quality (export vs domestic) → uniform high standards.

III. Economic Dimension

A. Export Competitiveness

• FTAs give market access but:
  • Non-tariff barriers increasing.
  • Quality determines real market penetration.

High-Potential Sectors:

• Textiles, Leather, Footwear, Pharmaceuticals

Without quality:

• Tariff concessions ineffective, Trade deficits persist.

B. Productivity & Cost

• Quality reduces:
  • Rejections, Logistics returns, Warranty costs
• Enhances:
  • Brand India, Value addition, Movement up Global Value Chains (GVCs)

C. $30–35 Trillion Economy Target

Requires:

• 8–9% sustained real growth.
• Manufacturing expansion to 22–25% of GDP.
• Quality-led capital deepening.

IV. Social / Ethical Dimension

• Consumer dignity → No second-grade domestic products.
• Replacing “chalta hai” mindset with excellence culture.
• Employment quality:
  • Skilled labour > informal low-skill labour.
• Inclusivity:
  • MSMEs access global markets.
  • Reduces regional disparities.

Ethical Business Governance:

• ESG compliance.
• Transparency in certification.

V. Environmental Dimension (Zero Effect)

• Sustainability embedded in exports.
• CBAM exposure:
  • Steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers.
• Textile sector:
  • Water-intensive.
  • Chemical discharge concerns.

Shift required:

• Energy efficiency
• Circular economy
• Cleaner production technologies

VI. Technology Dimension

• Automation in testing labs.
• Digital conformity assessment.
• AI-driven quality control.
• Blockchain for supply chain traceability.
• Industry 4.0 adoption.

VII. Security / Strategic Dimension

• Quality = strategic credibility.
• Pharma reliability → health diplomacy.
• Defence exports require stringent quality standards.
• Supply chain resilience.

Challenges / Structural Gaps

Institutional

• Fragmented regulatory ecosystem.
• Overlapping certifications.
• State-level enforcement gaps.

MSME Constraints

• High compliance costs.
• Limited testing infrastructure.
• Awareness deficit.

Federal Issues

• States vary in industrial inspection regimes.
• Lack of harmonised enforcement.

Capacity Constraints

• Shortage of accredited labs.
• Skill mismatch in workforce.

Global Pressures

• Rising green protectionism.
• CBAM compliance costs.
• ESG audit burdens.

Critical Evaluation

Strengths:

• Institutionalisation via DPIIT + QCI.
• Cluster-based consultations.
• FTA alignment with quality push.

Risks:

• Over-regulation could hurt MSMEs.
• Compliance-heavy model may increase informalisation.
• Infrastructure creation without behavioural change ineffective.

Way Forward 

1. National Quality Roadmap – legally harmonised standards.
2. Unified digital quality portal (single-window certification).
3. Cluster-based common testing labs (PPP mode).
4. ZED incentives linked to PLI schemes.
5. Carbon accounting support fund for MSMEs.
6. State-level Quality Missions aligned with Ease of Doing Business.
7. Skill India + Apprenticeship integration with quality modules.
8. Export Rejection Data Dashboard for real-time corrective action.

Alignment:

• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation)
• SDG 12 (Responsible Production)
• Article 38 (Social Order)
• Cooperative federalism.

Prelims Pointers

• ZED focuses on MSMEs.
• QCI is not a constitutional/statutory body; it is a public-private partnership.
• BIS Act, 2016 replaced 1986 Act.
• SPS and TBT are WTO agreements.
• CBAM is EU’s carbon border tax mechanism.
• Manufacturing share in GDP ~15–17% (not 25%).

Practice Question

• “Quality, not cost arbitrage, will determine India’s export competitiveness in the coming decades.” Discuss in the context of recent policy initiatives. (15M)