India's maritime trade worth $800 billion annually faces escalating threats, with recent Houthi attacks disrupting Red Sea shipping routes affecting 12% of global trade.

Vital Role of Maritime Security in Protecting India's Sea Trade

1. Economic Significance:

• 95% of India's trade by volume and 68% by value passes through sea routes
• Major ports handle cargo worth over $500 billion annually
• Mumbai Port alone contributes 20% to India's total port traffic
• Disruption of even one major shipping lane can cause $14 billion daily losses
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) handles 55% of India's containerized cargo

2. Strategic Sea Lanes:

• Strait of Hormuz carries 40% of India's crude oil imports
• Strait of Malacca handles 25% of all traded goods globally
• Suez Canal route connects India to European markets worth $87 billion
• Cape of Good Hope serves as alternative route during Middle East tensions
• Persian Gulf supplies 85% of India's energy requirements

3. Food and Fisheries Security:

• India is the 2nd largest fish producer globally; fisheries contribute 1.07% to GDP.
• Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing causes ~$9 billion annual losses.
• Maritime security ensures livelihoods of 28 million coastal population.

4. Environmental and Disaster Security:

• Oil spills, illegal dumping, and marine pollution threaten coastal ecosystems.
• Securing sea lanes critical for disaster relief (cyclones, tsunamis).
• Indian Navy & Coast Guard play a role in HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) in Indian Ocean (e.g., Nepal earthquake 2015, Cyclone Idai 2019).

Maritime and Coastal Security Challenges

1. Piracy and Maritime Crime:

• Red Sea attacks increased by 300% in 2023-24 affecting Indian vessels.
• Somali piracy still threatens ships carrying $50 billion worth of Indian goods.
• Drug trafficking through Makran Coast increased by 400% since 2022.
• MV Lila Norfolk hijacking in January 2024 highlighted persistent threats.
• Golden Crescent smuggling routes affect Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts.

2. State and Non-State Threats:

• Chinese naval presence with Regular deployment of 6–8 PLAN submarines under String of Pearls strategy.
• Pakistani maritime terrorism as seen in 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008.
• Sri Lankan fishing vessel infiltrations across Palk Strait, this fuels smuggling.
• Maldivian security concerns affecting southern sea lanes.
• Myanmar's instability creating refugee and security challenges.

Way Forward

1. Technological Enhancement:

• National Committee on Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security recommendations implementation.
• Coastal Surveillance Network Phase-III covering all 7,516 km coastline.
• Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) for real-time tracking.
• Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) system expansion.
• Project Varuna for underwater domain awareness.

2. Institutional Strengthening:

• Sagar Kavach exercises demonstrating multi-agency coordination.
• Coastal Security Scheme allocation of ₹1,500 crores for 2021-26.
• Marine Police Force modernization in 13 coastal states.
• Coast Guard expansion to 200 ships and 80 aircraft by 2025.
• Indian Navy's Mission-Based Deployments in critical sea lanes.

India's maritime security architecture requires integrated technological solutions and enhanced multi-agency coordination. The Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision, combined with initiatives like Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness, will secure India's maritime trade interests.