New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commission India's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi on September 2.

Prime Minister Modi will visit Karnataka and Kerala on September 1 and 2.

"In what will mark a significant step towards self-reliance in the defence sector, the Prime Minister will commission the first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier as INS Vikrant," the PMO said in a statement

Designed by Indian Navy's in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Vikrant has been built with state-of-the-art automation features.

It is the largest ship ever built in maritime history of India.

The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is named after its illustrious predecessor, India's first Aircraft Carrier which had played a vital role in the 1971 war.

It has a large number of indigenous equipment and machinery, involving major industrial houses in the country as well as over 100 MSMEs.

With the commissioning of Vikrant, India will have two operational Aircraft Carriers, which will bolster the maritime security of the nation.

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During the event, the Prime Minister will also unveil the new Naval Ensign (Nishaan), doing away with the colonial past and befitting the rich Indian maritime heritage.