Subject: Internal Security

The International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) decision to move the longitudinal marking for high-risk piracy areas from 65°E to 78°E in 2012 has significant implications for India's maritime security paradigm.

Strategic Implications

• The shift brought the High Risk Area (HRA) closer to India's western coast, necessitating enhanced maritime surveillance and security measures in the Arabian Sea.
• The recent surge in piracy incidents (250% increase from 2 incidents in 2023 to 7 in 2024) demonstrates the growing security challenges in these waters.
• This has led to India's transformation from a "securing seas" to "ensuring security" approach, exemplified by operations like Operation Sindoor in the Northern Arabian Sea.

Economic Impact

• The extension of HRA has resulted in increased:
  • Insurance premiums for vessels operating in these waters.
  • Operational costs due to additional security measures.
  • Trade disruptions (study indicates 10% rise in piracy attacks leads to 2.8% decline in bilateral trade).
• Shipping companies are forced to undertake costly route diversions, affecting India's maritime commerce efficiency.

Strategic Response Measures

• Naval Deployment: Enhanced presence of surface combatants, submarines, and naval aviation assets in the Arabian Sea.
• Maritime Domain Awareness: Strengthened surveillance through:
  • Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).
  • Coordination with international maritime security agencies.
• Diplomatic Initiatives: Forging security partnerships with like-minded nations to ensure freedom of navigation.

Operational Challenges

• Extended responsibility for securing larger maritime zones.
• Need for continuous modernization of naval assets.
• Requirement for enhanced coordination between various maritime security agencies.

The repositioning of the HRA has catalyzed India's evolution as a prominent maritime security provider in the region. This is evident through initiatives like "SAGAR" (Security And Growth for All in the Region) and enhanced naval capabilities demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, which effectively deterred adversarial naval activities through strategic deployment of carrier battle groups and live-fire exercises.