India’s Maritime Renaissance: Indigenising Marine Engines for Atmanirbhar Vision

Amrit Kaal in the Puranas signifies a period of divine prosperity and transformation. Through this vision, the Government of India wants to restore India’s maritime sector to its former glory as a world leader in global trade, shipping, and oceanic innovation by 2047. The Indian maritime industry is an essential part of our national ambition. With goals including strengthening port-led growth, bolstering coastal infrastructure, and expanding domestic shipbuilding capability, the Maritime India Vision 2030 presents an ambitious strategy for making India a global maritime leader again as it was in various periods of history from the times of the Indus Valley civilization (3000 BCE). At present, there is a glaring gap in our shipbuilding narrative that over 95% of commercial ships constructed in India are powered by foreign marine engines.
The ideal concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat is threatened by the over-reliance on imported propulsion technology in the maritime sector of India. India’s shipbuilding industry has significantly advanced, but the lack of indigenous marine engine development technology hampers our economic independence and maritime safety, particularly in the era of geopolitical unpredictability and disruptions in global supply chains.

Strategic Imperative for Indigenisation of Marine Engine

As we progress forward under India’s Amrit Kaal vision, adopting indigenously made engines to power indigenously manufactured ships is not only a technological necessity but also a national responsibility. Only then, with the core principle of true sovereignty, can India achieve maritime dominance.
India’s journey towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in technological advancement has been marked by success in numerous sectors, from PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3 primary satellite launching vehicles for space exploration to pharmaceutical manufacturing. However, there is still a substantial deficit of engine technology in every sub-sector of transportation in India, ranging from small vehicle engines to large-scale marine engines, and the only exception is Indian Railways’s manufacturing of Diesel Locomotives in Varanasi, Chittaranjan, and Patiala, surpassing the leading manufacturing countries and increasing exports, one of the essential aspects of industrial development. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, the maritime sector has strategic importance for realising India’s vision of becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047.
India’s maritime sector is currently dependent on foreign technologies, patents, and expertise. Foreign dependence is not merely a technological bottleneck; it is a strategic fragility that affects economic sovereignty and industrial growth potential. As a country of great minds and talent, India aspires to become a manufacturing powerhouse through the vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat.’ One of the biggest obstacles to becoming truly self-reliant is that we  do not have an indigenous engine technology yet.
If we look at India’s space program, the GSLV project ran into all kinds of trouble because we still rely on engines imported from other countries. Initially, India planned to acquire the cryogenic engine technology from Russia, but U.S. sanctions and Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) roadblocks prevented the transfer. This forced ISRO to develop the Vikas engine, an indigenous solution, and a significant step towards self-reliance. However, as India looks to expand its space capabilities, it is now breaking the monopoly of ISRO by encouraging private startups such as ‘Skyroot’ and ‘Agnikul’ and offering them R&D resources and access to launch capabilities. Entities like New Space India Ltd. (NSIL) and IN-SPACe have been empowered to deal with private entities. This is an example of democratisation of space innovation, enabling the participation of potential private players, which could open a new era of innovation in technology. Similarly, there is a need to expand India’s commercial maritime sector by supporting the efforts to make indigenous marine engines.
As per the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, India’s current automotive sector is the fourth-largest in the world by production volume, and it continues to operate largely through technical collaborations and joint ventures with global firms. The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India data indicates that approximately 65–70% of high-value engine components, including turbochargers, engine control units, and advanced fuel injection systems, are either imported or produced under foreign licenses. This reliance on technology endures even though India has a well-established supply chain and more than 20 years of experience in the automotive industry. The automotive sector supports over 37 million direct and indirect jobs and accounts for about 7.1% of India’s GDP, as per Invest India and the Ministry of Heavy Industries. However, crucial advancements in engine technology are still mostly outsourced.  
NITI Aayog and Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety highlight that in the electric motor vehicle sector, India still imports most of its battery management systems and drivetrain components, further underlining the need for an Indigenous push toward Atmanirbhar Bharat.
According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, India’s shipbuilding industry expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 7.8% between 2018 and 2023. Despite this growth, the industry still depends largely on foreign technology. According to the National Maritime Foundation, more than 95% of the marine engines used on the commercial ships built in India are imported or built under foreign patents, primarily from countries like Germany, Finland, Japan, and South Korea.
In the Indian aviation sector, HAL’s efforts have led to the development of platforms like the HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. However, the core engine powering the Tejas, the General Electric F404, is of American origin. According to the Economic Times, GE Aerospace has delivered the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Mk 1A, underscoring the ongoing dependence on foreign propulsion systems even in critical defence applications. 
The Government of India promoting the “Make in India” initiative, demands more than simply assembling parts; it requires gaining expertise in the critical technologies that facilitate these processes. Engines are fundamental to industrial capability, whether they are for automobiles, ships, or planes.  Bharat must gain command over its engines, both in a literal sense and in a metaphorical sense, without compromising its dedication to the development of these fundamental technologies.

Economic opportunities of indigenising the Marine Engine

India’s dependence on imported engines undermines its economic sustainability and creates strategic weaknesses. Commercial and defence initiatives were affected by challenges in procuring engines, leading to delays and increased expenses for Indian shipbuilders during global disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. India must give its domestic marine engine manufacturing top priority if it is to achieve the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat. A committed, long-term investment can enable India to produce marine engines and reduce dependency, as well as strengthen its economic and strategic independence. As reported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India’s overall imports from April to December 2023 amounted to USD 505.15 billion, reflecting a 7.93% decline compared to the same timeframe the previous year, although precise figures regarding engine imports for the fiscal year 2023–24 are still unavailable.
The marine engine sector is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.29%, increasing from its 2024 value of USD 13.31 billion to USD 17.46 billion by 2032. Notably, two-stroke engines maintained a strong market presence in 2023, accounting for over 62.3% of the market share due to their cost-effectiveness and efficiency.   
Developing Indigenous marine propulsion systems is important for India’s ambition to establish itself as a significant contender in the global shipbuilding market, aiming for a 5% market share by 2030, an increase from below 1% at present. Achieving this goal could foster economic development and technological progress, potentially generating around 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs.
Marine engines, especially 2-Stroke medium-speed diesel engines and specialised naval propulsion systems, represent intricate combinations of advanced materials, precise engineering, and complex control systems. Presently, India relies on foreign suppliers for these essential components, which  poses a potential threat to national security. The fundamental naval power of a Nation lies in its control over propulsion system, and hence control over mobility.

Roadmap for Atmanirbharta

We should leverage our existing strengths for the development of the indigenous marine engine. Organisations such as the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory, Gas Turbine Research Establishment, and the Automotive Research Association of India have accumulated valuable expertise in engine technology. This expertise may be harnessed to develop India’s first indigenous marine engine.
Premier institutions of India like IIT Madras (NCCRD), IIT Bombay (Energy Systems Lab), IIT Kharagpur (CORAL), NIT Surathkal (Propulsion Lab), IMU Kolkata (Marine Engineering Workshop), IIT Delhi (Thermofluids Lab), and IISc Bangalore (ICER) can  supply the maritime researchers and ocean engineers R&D facilities. These institutions are producing numerous skilled ocean and maritime engineers annually, who can be mustered through industrial partnerships to drive the maritime industry. By establishing a bond between industry and academia, these institutions can transition from theoretical research to practical development and innovation.