I. Introduction: INS Arighat, India's Nuclear Groundbreaker

- The Indian Navy recently commissioned its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), named INS Arighat. 

- Built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project, this submarine showcases India's growing defensive technological prowess.

II. Why does INS Arighat Makes Headlines?

- The INS Arighat made headlines primarily for its role in enhancing India's nuclear triad capabilities.

- A nuclear triad refers to the ability of a country to launch nuclear weapons from the land, air, and sea.

- INS Arighat is an essential addition and boosts the country’s nuclear triad alongside its predecessor, INS Arihant, which became fully operational in 2018.

III. A Peek into the Capabilities of INS Arighat

- Despite equaling INS Arihant's size and displacement, INS Arighat outmatches it in terms of the number of K-15 missiles it can carry.

- Powered by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor developed with Russian assistance, it showcases global cooperative efforts in India's defence sector.

- One of its standout features is the four large vertical launch system (VLS) tubes that carry the Sagarika SLBMs (K-15), missiles with a range of over 700 km.

IV. Future Developments: Arrival of INS Aridhaman

- There's a lot to look forward to with the impending commissioning of the third submarine INS Aridhaman next year. 

- This 7,000-tonne behemoth is set to carry K-4 missiles with a striking range of 3,500 km, further augmenting India’s underwater strategic deterrence.

V. Importance of SSBNs in National Defence

- An SSBN, standing for "Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear," refers to a submarine type that carries nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles.

- These submarines are pivotal to deterrence operations as their difficult detection and high survivability ensure they can evade an enemy's first-strike and launch retaliatory actions.

VI. The Backbone: DRDO’s Role in Defence Technology Development

- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), established in 1958, has been the backbone of India's technological advancements in defence. 

- Beginning as a merger of the Indian Army's Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO), it has grown into a robust network of 52 laboratories.

- Today, DRDO counts on the support of over 5000 scientists and about 25,000 other scientific, technical, and supporting personnel. 

- They are committed to developing varied and complex defence technologies like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, advanced computing, and more.

VII. Conclusion: A Leverage in India's Naval Defence

- With the addition of the INS Arighat to India's naval fleet, the country emphasises its stake in securing militaristic and defensive power on a global stage. 

- Strengthening the nuclear triad, these advancements highlight India's pursuit for balanced, deterrent defence capability.