This is also interesting.
Maybe SSNs will give it that range to cover Indian Ocean. So India is foregoing Diesel Electrics.
Makes sense from a strategic point of view (an all out war perhaps) but doesn't still answer how they'd answer Chinese presence in Indian Ocean.
I don't think the Submarines just come near the surface ships, raise a flag or give signal. Seems like India is assuming the worst and planning for an all out war.
And this means India is sure that it won't be competing with China in numbers or tonnage. So India isn't confident that its budget won't grow significantly the coming decade?
Why even guard the Indian Ocean then?
India might also be assuming that China will do Island construction in Indian Ocean or do something similar.