INS Mahendragiri (F38) Commissioned: Project 17A Frigate
Why in the news
The Navy readied its sixth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate for commissioning with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh present.
Key facts
- Command: Eastern Fleet, Eastern Naval Command.
- Namesake: Mahendragiri range, Eastern Ghats, Odisha; the state’s second-highest peak (about 1,501 m).
- Build: CODOG propulsion, 149 m long, delivered 30 April 2026, roughly 17 months after INS Nilgiri (December 2024).
- Economy: 200+ MSMEs, about 4,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs.
About Project 17A
Successor to the Shivalik-class (Project 17), the first stealth frigate class; Project 17B is being designed next.
Exam angle
- Class: Nilgiri-class (Project 17A); builder, designer and command are common asks.