India is at the cusp of a transformative era in maritime capabilities, as Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh announced on August 22, 2025, during the launch of the third chapter of the GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme (GAINS 2025) in Kolkata. The initiative seeks to accelerate shipbuilding for defence and civil sectors by fostering innovative solutions in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and efficiency enhancement, with funding up to INR 5 lakh per selected firm for project reports and potential contracts for winners. Aligned with Make in India and Start-up India, GAINS 2025 builds on previous editions’ successes in generating startup proposals for advanced shipbuilding and green technologies, including unmanned vessels, while emphasizing government procurement support and prototype development to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing. A familiarization webinar was held on the launch date, with shipyard visits scheduled for August 28-29, September 3-4, and September 11-12, 2025.