Question - What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiative taken to improve the maritime security? UPSC CSE 2022 Main GS 3.
Answer
Some of the maritime security challenges in India are:
Threats from state and non-state actors: India faces threats from both state and non-state actors in the maritime domain. These include China's assertive behaviour and territorial claims in the East and South China Seas, Pakistan's support to terrorism and proxy wars, sea pirates and smugglers operating in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), and transnational criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking, etc.
Increasing militarisation of strategic choke points: India depends on the sea lanes of communication (SLOCs) for its trade and energy security. However, these SLOCs pass through several strategic chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca, the Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Suez Canal, which are vulnerable to disruption or blockade by hostile forces. Moreover, some of these chokepoints are witnessing increasing militarisation by regional and extra-regional powers, such as China's establishment of a naval base in Djibouti and its presence in Gwadar and Hambantota ports.
Vast unpoliced regions of the Indian Ocean: The Indian Ocean is the third-largest ocean in the world, covering an area of about 68.56 million sq km. However, due to the vastness of the ocean and the limitations of surveillance and enforcement capabilities, many regions of the ocean remain unpoliced or under-policed. This creates opportunities for illegal activities such as piracy, smuggling, poaching, etc. to flourish.
Lax maritime domain awareness (MDA): MDA is the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could affect the security, safety, economy, or environment of a country. India has taken several steps to enhance its MDA, such as setting up a coastal surveillance network, a national command control communication and intelligence network, an information management and analysis centre, etc. However, there are still gaps and challenges in achieving a comprehensive and integrated MDA, such as lack of coordination among various agencies, inadequate sharing of information and intelligence, insufficient coverage of remote areas and high seas, etc.
Increasing naval competition among littoral states and major maritime users: The Indian Ocean is home to many littoral states that have diverse interests and aspirations in the maritime domain. Some of these states are developing their naval capabilities and expanding their maritime presence to protect their interests or project their influence. Moreover, some major maritime users such as the US, China, Japan, Australia, etc. are also increasing their naval engagements and activities in the IOR to secure their strategic and economic interests. This creates a complex and dynamic maritime environment that poses challenges for India's maritime security.
Some of the organisational, technical, and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security are:
Organisational initiatives: These include setting up various organisations and mechanisms to coordinate, monitor, and implement maritime security policies and plans. Some examples are:
The National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC), appointed in 2021 under the National Security Advisor (NSA), to streamline maritime governance and enable development of the maritime sector.
The National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security (NCSMCS), chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, to review coastal security arrangements and provide policy guidance.
The Joint Operations Centre (JOC) at Mumbai under Headquarters Western Naval Command (HQWNC), designated as the apex body for coastal defence.
The Coastal Security Scheme (CSS), implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), to strengthen security infrastructure and capabilities of police of coastal states.
The Sagarmala Programme, launched by the Ministry of Shipping in 2015, to promote port-led development and harness India's coastline and inland waterways.
Technical initiatives: These include acquiring or developing various technologies and platforms to enhance surveillance and response capabilities in the maritime domain.
Some examples are:
The Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN), comprising a chain of static sensors
having radars, an Automatic Identification System (AIS), day/night cameras and meteorological sensors at 46 locations to achieve near gap-free surveillance of the entire coastline.
The National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network (NC3I Network), which links 51 naval and coast guard stations to enable real-time information sharing and decision making.
The Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC), which is the nodal centre
for maritime data fusion and analysis and generates a common operational picture of the maritime domain.
The National Maritime Domain Awareness (NMDA) Project, which aims to integrate all maritime stakeholders and sensors into a single network to provide a comprehensive MDA.
The Naval Satellite Rukmini (GSAT-7), which provides communication and surveillance capabilities over the Indian Ocean Region.
Procedural initiatives: These include adopting or revising various rules, regulations, and protocols to ensure compliance and coordination among various agencies and stakeholders in the maritime domain.
Some examples are:
The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for coastal security operations,
issued by the MHA in 2016, to define the roles and responsibilities of various agencies and provide guidelines for information sharing, joint patrolling, boarding operations, etc.
The Coastal Security Bill, drafted by the MHA in 2013, to provide a legal framework for coastal security and empower the ICG and coastal police to enforce maritime laws.
The Coastal Shipping Agreement, signed by India and Bangladesh in 2015, to facilitate coastal trade and transit of goods between the two countries.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Conventions and Protocols, ratified by India,
to ensure safety, security, and environmental protection in the maritime domain.