India has a long coastline of 7516 km, which makes the significance of coastal security paramount. India’s development is closely linked to its maritime and therefore it is critical to ensure the security of coastal areas. India’s coastal architecture has taken a more robust shape after the 26/11 attack and includes the Indian Coast Guard, Coastal Surveillance Network, Marine Police, and National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security, etc. Coastal security is an indispensable part of India’s security architecture due to the following reasons:

• Important for internal security: Due to large and unmanned coastlines, infiltration is relatively easier from the sea. Terrorists and illegal migrants take to sea routes where security measures are comparatively lax, enabling them to ‘move, hide and strike’ with relative ease.
• Protection of strategic assets: The Indian coast has a number of strategic installations such as naval bases, nuclear power plants, satellite and missile launching ranges, and ports. These strategic installations are vital for the security, development, and prosperity of the country, making them high-value targets for terrorists.
• Trade routes and mineral reserves: India’s sea dependence on oil is about 93%, which includes India’s offshore oil production and petroleum exports. Further, 95% of India’s trade by volume and 68% of trade by value comes via the Indian Ocean. The beach and dune sands in India contain heavy minerals (HMs) like ilmenite, rutile, garnet, zircon, monazite, and sillimanite.
• Geostrategic interests: India aims to become a ‘net security provider’ in the Indian Ocean region. Also, it is seen as the lynchpin for the Indo-Pacific strategy by the West to counter China.

India could safeguard its internal and external interests only if it enhances its capability by strengthening its coastal as well as maritime security. However, there remain certain loopholes in India’s present coastal security architecture:

• The lackadaisical approach of the State governments: Under the Coastal Security Scheme, the Coastal states and Union Territories are required to establish coastal police stations, raise marine police, and procure boats to patrol the shallow coastal waters. However, the slow pace of construction of coastal police stations and limited personnel allotment by most of the states has resulted in suboptimal development and utilization of the coastal security architecture.
• The multiplicity of agencies: There are approximately 15 agencies involved in various facets of coastal security. This results in poor coordination leading to issues like inadequate utilization of resources, duplication of efforts, and inconsistent implementation of coastal security initiatives. The multiplicity of agencies also results in ambiguity of jurisdictions of various bodies.
• Disproportionate focus on terrorism: Indian security agencies have tended to predominantly focus on the terrorism threat. This has placed less emphasis on non-traditional challenges such as human trafficking, IUU fishing, climate-induced crises, the threat of piracy, and maritime pollution.
• Marine police as the weak link: Marine police duties require special skills such as seafaring and sea combat, the ability to handle boats, etc. Presently, the marine police force is manned by personnel derived from the central pool of the state police. Thus, the force consistently falls short on human resource capabilities.

However, to address these gaps, the government has undertaken a few steps. In 2022, the country’s first National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) was appointed. It will ensure cooperation and harmonized functioning between the various agencies and stakeholders tasked to ensure the protection of India’s vast coastline.