What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve maritime security. (Answer in 150 words)

India’s long coastline, island territories, busy ports and energy routes create a wide maritime security environment vulnerable to both state and non-state threats.

Major challenges

• Terrorist infiltration, piracy, armed robbery, trafficking, illegal fishing and smuggling threaten coastal and port security.
• Unregulated small vessels, cyberattacks on port systems, marine pollution and disputes in the Indian Ocean complicate surveillance.
• Chokepoint dependence and geopolitical competition increase risks to trade and energy.

Organisational and technical measures

• The Indian Navy has primacy in maritime security, while the Coast Guard, coastal police, customs and intelligence agencies coordinate through maritime information systems.
• Coastal radar chains, AIS, satellite surveillance, information-fusion centres, vessel registration and joint patrols improve domain awareness.
• Sagar Prahari Bal, port security and community fishermen networks strengthen the last mile.

Procedural measures

• Regular exercises, standard operating procedures, layered patrolling, identity checks, inter-agency protocols and international information sharing improve response.

Maritime domain awareness; Coast Guard; AIS; radar chain; information fusion; coastal police; port security.