Syllabus: GS3/Internal Security
Context
- The 8th High-Level Meeting (HLM) between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) was held in New Delhi.
About
- The discussions centered on strengthening cooperative engagements in the fields of marine pollution response, maritime search & rescue, and maritime law enforcement, along with enhanced capacity building & technical assistance initiatives.
- Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work closely in addressing contemporary maritime challenges, ensuring safety, security, and environmental stewardship in the shared maritime domain.
| Indian Coast Guard (ICG) – ICG is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India with jurisdiction over its territorial waters including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. – Established in 1977 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India. – Parent Agency: Ministry of Defence. – Headquarters: New Delhi. – Head: Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG). |
India’s Maritime Zone
- India’s maritime zone refers to the maritime boundaries and areas under its jurisdiction in the surrounding seas and oceans.
- India has a coastline of 7,517 Km including island territories.
- Territorial Waters (12 Nautical Miles): Within this zone, India exercises full sovereignty, and it includes the country’s coastal areas and ports.
- Contiguous Zone (24 Nautical Miles): In this zone, India can take action to prevent or punish infringements on customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws within its territory or territorial sea.
- Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): The EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
- Within this zone, India has the exclusive rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources, such as fisheries and hydrocarbons.
Maritime Security
- It involves protecting the nation’s sovereignty from threats arising from the oceans and seas.
- Threats include protecting coastal areas, safeguarding the available ocean resources such as fish, offshore oil and gas wells, port facilities, etc.
- It also means maintaining freedom at sea for movement of our ships and facilitating and protecting trade.
- Following are the elements of maritime security:
- International and national peace and security;
- Protection of sea lanes of communication Sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence;
- Protection from crime at sea;
- Access and security to the resources at sea;
- Security of seafarers and fishermen;
- Environmental protection.
Need to Strengthen Maritime Security in IOR
- Trade & energy lifelines: More than 80 % of the world’s seaborne oil trade goes through the Indian Ocean choke points – 40 % passes through the Strait of Hormuz, 35 % through the Strait of Malacca and 8 % through the Bab el-Mandab Strait.
- Disruptions here could severely impact India’s economy.
- Geopolitical contestation: Major-power activity (notably China’s expanding presence and infrastructure investments) alters the strategic balance.
- Fragmented maritime governance: Many littoral states lack capacity for surveillance, law enforcement, and HADR (humanitarian & disaster response).
- Diverse asymmetric threats: Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, trafficking, piracy resurgence and attacks on commercial shipping complicate security.
- Blue Economy Potential: The IOR offers opportunities in fisheries, seabed minerals, renewable energy, and tourism—requiring secure seas for sustainable exploitation.
Conclusion
- India’s maritime security initiatives reflect a blend of military capability, infrastructure readiness, regional partnerships, and legal-institutional frameworks.
- As maritime threats evolve, India’s approach—anchored in SAGAR—aims to secure sea lanes, protect coastal communities, and maintain a rules-based order in the IOR.
Source: PIB
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