Saras Mishra asked: Does India have an Integrated Maritime Policy? If so, then what is the domain of the Indian maritime policy?

Sarabjeet Singh Parmar replies: If by the term ‘integrated maritime policy’ the question implies a single document that covers all aspects of security, safety, energy, economics, etc. pertaining to the maritime domain then the answer is no. However, different policy/strategy documents and initiatives that cover these aspects do exist and are very much available in public domain. One such strategy document and two such initiatives undertaken are as follows:

• Ensuring Secure Seas: Indian Maritime Security Strategy (Indian Navy, 2015). This document lays down strategic guidance for the growth, development, and deployment of the Indian Navy in pursuit of ensuring a safe and secure maritime environment for India. 
• Sagarmala Programme (Ministry of Shipping, 2015). This initiative contains more than 604 projects to be completed and implemented between 2015 and 2035. These projects cover port modernisation, new port development, port connectivity enhancement, port-linked industrialisation and coastal community development.
• Project Mausam (Ministry of Culture, 2014). This initiative is to be implemented by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as the nodal agency, with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and National Museum as associate bodies. The aim is to re-connect and re-establish communications between countries of the Indian Ocean world, thus leading to an enhanced understanding of cultural values and concerns, and national cultures in their regional maritime milieu.

Editor’s Note: Please find below special addresses/talks delivered on themes relating to the subject at IDSA:

• Keynote Address by Foreign Secretary, Dr. S. Jaishankar, at the Second IORA Meeting of Experts for Maritime Safety and Security, IDSA, November 07, 2017.
• “Maritime Security of India: Future Challenges”, Fourth Y.B. Chavan Memorial Lecture by Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd.), IDSA, November 26, 2013.
• “India’s Maritime Domain: Untapped Opportunities”, Talk by Vice Admiral Anup Singh (Retd.), IDSA, October 25, 2013.
• “Role of Indian Navy in Maintaining Peace in Indian Ocean Region”, Special Address by Admiral D. K. Joshi, IDSA, March 05, 2013.

Captain (IN) Sarabjeet Singh Parmar was Research Fellow at IDSA. He is currently Senior Fellow at National Maritime Foundation (NMF), New Delhi.
Posted on December 21, 2018