Maritime & Coastal Security — Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Sagarmala & Blue Economy

Overview

India's maritime domain is vast and strategically critical. With a coastline of 7,517 km (5,423 km mainland + 2,094 km island territories), an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of approximately 2.01 million sq km, and nine coastal states and four Union Territories, the maritime frontier presents both immense economic opportunity and serious security challenges.

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks (2008) -- in which ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists infiltrated India via the sea route from Karachi, travelling 433 nautical miles -- exposed critical gaps in India's coastal and maritime security architecture. The attacks killed 166 people and fundamentally transformed India's approach to maritime defence, leading to the creation of a multi-layered coastal security framework involving the Navy, Coast Guard, and state coastal police.

India's maritime interests encompass: protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) through which over 90% of India's trade by volume passes, security of offshore energy assets (ONGC platforms, undersea cables), prevention of smuggling and drug trafficking, combating piracy, island security (Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep), and advancing the blue economy.

For UPSC, maritime security is a GS-3 staple and frequently appears in Mains questions on internal security, defence capabilities, and India's strategic interests.

India's Maritime Geography

Coastline and EEZ

Strategic Location

• India sits astride key international shipping lanes connecting the Persian Gulf, East Africa, and Southeast Asia
• The Strait of Malacca (east) and Strait of Hormuz (west) are critical chokepoints for India's energy imports
• About 55% of India's crude oil imports transit the Strait of Hormuz
• The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) carries approximately 80% of global oil trade and one-third of bulk cargo

Maritime Threats

Terrorism via Sea Route

• The 26/11 Mumbai attacks (26 November 2008) remain the defining case study for maritime terrorism targeting India
• Ten LeT operatives departed from Karachi, hijacked Indian fishing trawler MV Kuber in international waters, and landed at Badhwar Park and Cuffe Parade in Mumbai using inflatable dinghies
• The attack exposed: inadequate coastal radar coverage, gaps in AIS (Automatic Identification System) tracking of fishing vessels, poor coordination among Navy, Coast Guard, and state marine police, and absence of a unified maritime command

Piracy

• While Somali piracy peaked in 2011 (237 attacks) and has declined sharply due to international naval patrols, the threat has shifted
• The Gulf of Guinea (West Africa) has emerged as a piracy hotspot
• India deploys naval vessels for anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden under Operation Sankalp and has escorted thousands of merchant vessels since 2008

Smuggling and Drug Trafficking

• Maritime routes are used for smuggling of arms, gold, narcotics, and counterfeit currency
• Heroin from the Golden Crescent is trafficked via dhows and fishing vessels through the Arabian Sea to India's western coast (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala)
• The Indian Navy and Coast Guard regularly intercept drug shipments; seizures exceeding thousands of crores in value have been made in the Arabian Sea

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing

• Threatens marine biodiversity and livelihoods of Indian fishermen
• Foreign fishing vessels occasionally intrude into India's EEZ
• India-Sri Lanka fisheries dispute in the Palk Strait remains a recurring bilateral issue

Indian Navy — Capabilities and Maritime Defence

Force Structure

Carrier Battle Groups (CBGs)

• India is one of the few countries operating two carrier battle groups simultaneously
• INS Vikrant achieved fully operational status in November 2023
• Each CBG comprises an aircraft carrier, escort destroyers/frigates, submarines, and support vessels
• CBGs provide power projection, sea control, and air defence across the Indian Ocean

Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC)

• India's only tri-service theatre command, established in 2001 at Port Blair
• Strategic location near the Strait of Malacca -- controls the maritime chokepoint between the Indian and Pacific Oceans
• Monitors shipping traffic, conducts surveillance, and provides rapid response capability for the eastern Indian Ocean

Indian Coast Guard (ICG)

Role and Mandate

Established in 1978 under the Coast Guard Act, 1978, the ICG operates under the Ministry of Defence and is responsible for:

• Protection of India's maritime interests and enforcement of maritime law
• Safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore terminals, and installations
• Marine environmental protection (oil spill response, marine pollution control)
• Assistance to fishermen in distress and search and rescue (SAR) operations
• Anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations in the coastal zone

Organisational Structure

ICG vs Indian Navy -- Jurisdiction

Coastal Security Framework — Post-26/11 Reforms

Three-Tier Coastal Security Architecture

The post-26/11 framework established a layered defence model:

Coastal Police Stations

• Under the Coastal Security Scheme (CSS), Phases I and II, the Government of India operationalised 204 coastal police stations across coastal states and UTs
• Infrastructure provided: 204 boats, 37 jetties, 284 four-wheelers, 554 two-wheelers, 97 check-posts, 58 out-posts, and 30 barracks
• Coastal police are the first responders for near-shore security incidents

Coastal Surveillance Network

Joint Operations Centres

• Joint Operation Centres (JOCs) established at Mumbai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, and Port Blair
• Coordinate information sharing and rapid response among Navy, Coast Guard, state police, and intelligence agencies
• National Maritime Domain Awareness (NMDA) project aims to create a comprehensive picture of all activities in India's maritime zones

Island Security

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

• 572 islands (of which 38 are permanently inhabited), stretching over 800 km in the Bay of Bengal
• Closest point to Indonesia (Indira Point) is only about 150 km from Sumatra
• Strategic significance: overlooks the Strait of Malacca, through which an estimated 60,000+ vessels transit annually
• India has been developing military infrastructure: upgraded airstrips (INS Baaz at Campbell Bay, INS Kohassa at Shibpur), expanded naval and Coast Guard presence
• ANC (Andaman & Nicobar Command) is the tri-service theatre command responsible for security

Lakshadweep Islands

• 36 islands (10 inhabited) in the Arabian Sea, about 200-400 km off the Kerala coast
• Strategic location along major shipping lanes in the western Indian Ocean
• INS Dweeprakshak is the naval base at Kavaratti
• Vulnerable to smuggling routes (gold, narcotics) from the Middle East

SAGAR Doctrine and Maritime Diplomacy

SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region)

• Announced by PM Modi in March 2015 during a visit to Mauritius
• Vision: Indian Ocean as a shared space for cooperative security, capacity building, and humanitarian collaboration
• Pillars: safeguarding territory and interests, deepening economic cooperation with maritime neighbours, strengthening collective response to natural disasters and piracy, and promoting rules-based maritime order

MAHASAGAR Vision (2025)

• During an official visit to Mauritius in 2025, PM Modi announced MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)
• Represents a strategic evolution from regional Indian Ocean focus to a global maritime vision emphasising the Global South

Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

• Launched by the Indian Navy in 2008 as a voluntary initiative to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the Indian Ocean littoral states
• The 9th IONS Conclave was held at Visakhapatnam in February 2026, with participation from 33 countries
• India assumed the Chairmanship of IONS from the Royal Thai Navy in 2026, marking India's return to the helm after 16 years
• IONS working groups cover: HADR, information sharing, maritime security, and interoperability

Exercise MILAN

• Multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy, first held in 1995 at the Andaman & Nicobar Islands
• Originally part of India's Look East Policy; expanded under Act East Policy and SAGAR doctrine
• MILAN 2026 was held alongside the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 and the 9th IONS Conclave at Visakhapatnam -- a major demonstration of India's maritime multilateralism

Other Key Naval Exercises

Sagarmala Programme

Overview

Launched in March 2015 by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sagarmala promotes port-led development along India's coastline.

Key Components

Progress (as of March 2025)

• 839 projects worth Rs 5.5 lakh crore identified; 272 projects completed (investment ~Rs 1.41 lakh crore)
• Results: 118% growth in coastal shipping, 700% surge in inland waterway cargo movement
• Nine Indian ports now rank among the world's top 100

Major Ports in India

India has 13 major ports (the 13th being Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra, approved in June 2024):

Sagarmala 2.0

• Announced with budgetary support of Rs 40,000 crore
• Focus on shipbuilding, ship repair, recycling, and port modernisation
• Targets leveraging investments of Rs 12 lakh crore over the next decade

Blue Economy

Definition and Scope

The blue economy encompasses sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. It includes fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, offshore energy (wind, tidal), seabed mining, coastal tourism, and marine biotechnology.

India's Blue Economy Potential

Deep Ocean Mission (2021)

• Approved with budget of Rs 4,077 crore for 5 years
• Key components: development of Matsya 6000 (manned submersible for 6,000 m depth), deep-sea mining technology, ocean climate change advisory services, marine biodiversity conservation
• India aims to become one of the few nations with deep-sea exploration capability

Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs)

• SLOCs are the primary maritime routes used for international trade and naval logistics
• Over 90% of India's international trade by volume (and ~70% by value) travels via sea
• Critical SLOCs for India pass through: Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb, Mozambique Channel, and Cape of Good Hope
• Protection of SLOCs is a core mandate of the Indian Navy
• China's String of Pearls strategy -- development of ports in Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Gwadar (Pakistan), Djibouti (military base), and Kyaukphyu (Myanmar) -- raises concerns about strategic encirclement of India

Exam Strategy and Previous Year Relevance

Maritime and coastal security is a growing area in UPSC Mains. Key themes include:

• Post-26/11 coastal security reforms and their effectiveness
• India's naval capability development (two-carrier navy, nuclear submarines)
• Blue economy as a driver of economic growth
• SAGAR/MAHASAGAR doctrine and India's role as a net security provider
• Comparison of coastal police, Coast Guard, and Navy roles
• Sagarmala and port-led development

Mains question patterns:

• "Discuss the challenges to India's maritime security. How has India strengthened its coastal security apparatus post-2008?"
• "What is the Blue Economy? Discuss its potential for India's sustainable development."
• "Critically examine India's SAGAR doctrine in the context of growing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean."

Prelims focus: Coastline length, EEZ, number of major ports, Coast Guard Act, Sagarmala pillars, IONS, ANC.

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