India, May 21 -- The Indian Navy formally inducted and named the Ancient Stitched ship as INSV Kaundinya today at a ceremonial event held at Naval Base, Karwar. The Hon'ble Minister of Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presided over the event as the Chief Guest, marking the culmination of an extraordinary project that celebrates India's rich shipbuilding heritage.

INSV Kaundinya is a stitched sail ship, based on a 5th century CE ship depicted in the paintings of Ajanta Caves. The project was initiated through a tripartite agreement signed in Jul 2023 between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and M/s Hodi Innovations, with funding from the Ministry of Culture. Following the keel laying in September 2023, the vessel's construct...