Maritime Security and Processes in India: A Need for Review/Revamping

India’s maritime sector is central to the country’s security and economic well-being, given its vast coastline and strategic position. India’s approach to maritime security has evolved in response to new types of threats, learning key lessons from incidents such as the Kargil conflict and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. There have been major positives—through the Coastal Security Scheme and the creation of institutional mechanisms like the National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC). However, gaps in coordination and resources remain. There is, therefore, a need to address these. This would include making the maritime security apparatus more robust, including empowering the NMSC, greater involvement of coastal communities, and adopting smarter technology and data-driven practices to enhance coastal vigilance and response mechanisms.