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Picture Courtesy:  THE HINDU

Context

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), in coordination with the Navy and other central and state agencies, conducted a coastal security exercise 'Sagar Kavach' to assess and validate the effectiveness of the coastal security mechanism.    

What is Coastal Security?

Coastal security involves comprehensive, integrated measures to protect a nation's maritime interests, including territorial waters, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), coastline, and maritime assets, from various sea-based threats.

Importance for India:

• India's total coastline of 7,516.6 km is shared by nine states and four Union Territories (UTs).
• Among the states, Gujarat has the longest coastline, while the Andaman & Nicobar Islands has the longest coastline among the Union Territories.

What are the Key Threats to India's Coastal Security?

India's Coastal Security Architecture

Post 26/11, India established a multi-layered, three-tiered security grid to enhance surveillance and response capabilities.

The Three-Tiered Security Grid

• Layer 1 (Outer Ring): The Indian Navy is responsible for overall maritime security, including patrolling the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and beyond.
• Layer 2 (Middle Ring): The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is tasked with securing the Territorial Waters (up to 12 nautical miles) and the EEZ (up to 200 nautical miles).
• Layer 3 (Inner Ring): The State Coastal/Marine Police (SC/MP) are responsible for patrolling shallow coastal areas, generally up to 12 nautical miles from the coast.

Key Coordination Mechanisms

National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security (NCSMCS): Headed by the Cabinet Secretary, this is the apex body for coordinating all coastal security matters.

Joint Operations Centres (JOCs): Operated by the Indian Navy in Mumbai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, and Port Blair to ensure real-time coordination among agencies.

Coastal Security Scheme (CSS): A scheme by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to strengthen the infrastructure of Marine Police with patrol boats, vehicles, and the establishment of coastal police stations.

Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC): Located in Gurugram, it is the central hub for collating maritime surveillance data from various national agencies. It is jointly operated by the Indian Navy and ICG.

Challenges in Coastal Security

Technological and Infrastructural Gaps

• Surveillance Gaps: Difficulty in achieving 100% gap-free radar coverage, especially for tracking small fishing boats.
• Data Integration: Fragmented data from different sensors (radars, satellites) hinders the creation of a unified operational picture for all stakeholders.
• Modernization: Marine police forces face shortages of modern patrol boats, advanced communication gear, and necessary weaponry.

Human Resource and Coordination Issues

• Manpower & Training: State Marine Police forces face shortages of personnel and lack specialized training in sea patrolling, combat, and maritime law. The National Academy of Coastal Policing (NACP) in Gujarat was established to address this gap.
• Inter-Agency Coordination: Despite established mechanisms, procedural delays and jurisdictional ambiguities can hamper seamless real-time coordination between central and state agencies.
• Community Engagement: Limited integration of fishing communities, who can act as the "eyes and ears" of the security apparatus.

Way Forward to strengthen India's Coastal Defences

Enhancing Surveillance and Technology

• National Maritime Domain Awareness (NMDA) Project: Create an integrated intelligence grid by networking data from various sensors and agencies to provide a comprehensive, real-time operational picture of the entire maritime domain.
• Technological Upgradation: Integrating advanced technologies like AI-based analytics, drones (UAVs), and satellite imagery for smarter surveillance and faster threat detection.

Improving Coordination and Capacity Building

• Regular Joint Exercises: Conducting exercises like 'Sea Vigil' (pan-India) and 'Sagar Kavach' (state-level) frequently to validate SOPs and improve synergy among all agencies.
• Empowering Marine Police: Providing robust training at the NACP, modern equipment, and clear legal authority to the State Marine Police forces.
• Community Integration: Strengthening programs like Community Interaction Programmes (CIPs) to build trust and create a formal mechanism for fishermen to report suspicious activities.  

International Cooperation and Policy Reforms

• SAGAR Vision: Pursuing the vision of 'Security and Growth for All in the Region' (SAGAR) to enhance maritime cooperation and act as a 'Net Security Provider' in the IOR.
• Information Sharing: Strengthening the role of the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) to share real-time maritime information with partner countries.
• Regional Groupings: Deepening engagement through platforms like the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Conclusion

To secure  prosperity and integrity and become a leading Indian Ocean power, India needs to strengthen its maritime security by integrating technology, improving inter-agency coordination, building capacity, involving communities, and promoting international cooperation, aligning with SAGAR vision.

Source: THE HINDU