What is the reason the Indian army has ordered special patrol boats from Goa Shipyards?

According to press reports, the Indian Army signed a contract with Goa Shipyard Limited for supply of 12 Fast-Patrol Boats for surveillance and patrolling of large water bodies. These patrol boats will be predominantly used in high altitude regions too. The indication is that they would be positioned to patrolling the Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh; a war zone.

The contract was signed around 8 months after intrusions by Chinese soldiers into Indian territories. One of the key areas they intruded was in the Pangong Tso lake. Nearly two-thirds of the lake is controlled by China, with the rest under Indian control. Both countries have not vacated positions and things could get tougher as winter sets in.

Clearly, one thing is evident from the order for the patrol boats. It indicates that India is gearing up for the coming summer months when China could make another bid to alter the status quo. The Line of Actual Control or LAC between India and China has long been a fluid line and has been open to interpretation differently by both countries.

The order also reinforces two more things. Firstly, it is clear that India is not taking the Chinese threat lying down, nor is it likely to get bogged down in peace overtures. Secondly, the order to a domestic company also means that the application of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat plan for defence is well and truly on at this point of time.