The Indian Navy launched DSC A24 on 1 August 2026, the fifth and final vessel of its Diving Support Craft project.
The launch took place at the Titagarh Rail Systems Limited shipyard in Kolkata.
The five-ship programme was contracted by the Ministry of Defence on 12 February 2021.
The craft support diving operations, including underwater search, salvage and rescue tasks.
These three terms describe different milestones and are frequently confused. A vessel is launched when its hull first enters the water, at which point much of the internal fitting-out remains to be done. It is delivered when the builder hands it over to the navy after trials confirm it meets specification. It is commissioned when it is formally inducted into naval service, receives the prefix INS and hoists the naval ensign. A ship may be launched a year or more before it is commissioned, which is why news reports of a launch do not mean the vessel is operational.
Simple Analogy: Launching is moving into a house still being finished; commissioning is the day you formally take up residence with everything working.
General Awareness > Indian Navy: Ships and Shipbuilding
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General Awareness > Current Affairs
A vessel providing the platform and equipment for naval diving, underwater search, salvage and rescue operations.
The point at which a vessel's hull first enters the water, before fitting-out is complete.
Formal induction of a vessel into naval service, when it receives the INS prefix and hoists the naval ensign.
The stage after launch during which internal systems and equipment are installed and tested.