Role of Navy and Coast Guard in the Indian Ma...

Role of Navy and Coast Guard in the Indian Maritime Security

Author Name : Research Scholar Harpreet Singh

ABSTRACT

Maritime security is a continual process which requires monitoring, surveillance, and response mechanisms in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Indian Coast Guard is a very important coastal security force that is responsible for the coastal security of the country. The Indian Coast Guard faces many internal and external threats in an insecure environment around the Indian maritime zones. The Mumbai 26/11 attacks which was initiated through the maritime routes from Pakistan to India. That kind of destruction has improved Coast Guard and the accompanying security apparatuses.

As we all know that India is a maritime nation-state therefore, establishing the maritime security is a critical to India. India has a large coastline of 7516 km long. Therefore, India has needed much to worry about its maritime security. To tackle these challenges like traditional and non-traditional security threats, internal and external threats, and piracy, drug trafficking etc, India deployed its Coast Guards.

As a coastal security force, the Indian Coast Guards are responsible for the overall maritime security of the country.  The Indian Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement agency and is responsible for stop illegal activities such as human smuggling, drug trafficking, terrorism and other maritime crime into the sea. At that time, India had given the responsibilities for coastal security to the State Maritime Police. In this paper, we will examine the role of Indian political leadership, Indian navy, Indian maritime police and Coast Guard for establishing maritime security of India. The Coast Guard had also been made responsible for cooperation and coordination between coastal and state maritime police. This responsibility had given it with an important role in the maritime security of India.

Key Words:- Role of Indian Political Leadership, Role of Maritime Police, Role of Navy and Coast Guard for establishing Indian Maritime Security.