Mumbai; Prime Minister Narendra Modi today commissioned the first of the six Scorpene-class submarine Kalvari into the Indian Navy and said its induction was a big step in the country’s defence preparedness.Modi boarded the submarine and unveiled its plaque, after meeting veterans of the first Kalvari who were present at the ceremony.

“Kalvari is an excellent example of our ‘Make in India’ programme,” he said, speaking at the commissioning ceremony here this morning.Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler were among those present at the ceremony.

Modi thanked France for this ‘strategic joint project’ and described the commissioning of the submarine as a “matter of pride” for 125 crore Indians.”It is a matter of pride for me to commission this submarine. Kalvari’s induction in the Navy is a big step in defence preparedness,” Modi said.

Kalvari is named after the dreaded tiger shark, a deadly deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean.”The power of Kalvari, that of a tiger shark, will strengthen our Navy,” the prime minister said.