India’S Maritime Security Architecture and Agencies

India possesses a coastline spanning 7,516.6 km, an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covering over 2.37 million square kilometers, and strategically situated island territories in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. Over 95% of national commercial trade by volume and 68% by value moves through the ocean, making sea lanes vital to economic stability. To protect against threats such as maritime terrorism, piracy, contraband smuggling, and illegal fishing, India maintains a multi-agency maritime security framework.

Three-Tiered Coastal Security Framework

Following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, India structured its coastal surveillance into a three-tier operational mechanism with clearly demarcated zones of responsibility.

Tier-1: State Marine Police

• State Marine Police forces operate under respective coastal state home departments.
• They hold primary jurisdiction over internal waters and territorial seas up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
• Coastal police stations and fast interceptor boats handle near-shore patrolling, port area security, and crime prevention.

Tier-2: Indian Coast Guard (ICG)

• The Indian Coast Guard functions under the Ministry of Defence and patrols the waters between 12 and 200 nautical miles, covering the EEZ.
• ICG acts as the Lead Intelligence Agency for coastal borders.
• It conducts offshore surveillance, anti-poaching operations, anti-smuggling drives, search and rescue duties, and marine pollution response.

Tier-3: Indian Navy

• The Indian Navy holds supreme responsibility for overall maritime defense across territorial waters, the EEZ, and high seas beyond 200 nautical miles.
• The Chief of Naval Staff serves as the Commander-in-Chief of Coastal Defence.
• The Navy coordinates surface ships, submarines, and long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft to secure critical sea lines of communication.

Nodal Coordination Bodies and Strategic Leadership

National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC)

• Created under the National Security Council Secretariat, the NMSC coordinates activities across the Navy, Coast Guard, security agencies, and 13 coastal states and Union Territories.
• Vice Admiral (retd) G. Ashok Kumar assumed charge as India’s first National Maritime Security Coordinator in February 2022.

National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security (NCSMCS)

• Chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, this apex body periodically reviews security infrastructure, policy implementation, and inter-agency coordination.

Maritime Domain Awareness and Technical Infrastructure

Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC)

• Located in Gurugram, IMAC operates as the primary tracking hub jointly administered by the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.
• It integrates data from coastal radar chains, satellite feeds, and the Automatic Identification System to create a real-time common operating picture.

Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)

• Set up in December 2018 at Gurugram, the IFC-IOR acts as a 24/7 information-sharing hub for maritime safety across the Indian Ocean.
• It tracks non-military “White Shipping” and hosts International Liaison Officers from partner nations to counter non-traditional sea threats.

Coastal Radar Network and AIS Chains

• Phase-I and Phase-II of the Coastal Radar Chain deploy static radar sensors along the mainland coast and island territories.
• The Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships manages coastal National Automatic Identification System chains to track vessel movements.

Sectoral Role of Key Maritime Agencies

Regional Diplomatic Initiatives and Security Doctrines

Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)

• SAGAR represents India’s high-level framework for maritime cooperation, capacity building, and joint disaster management with Indian Ocean littoral nations.

Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)

• Launched to promote open and secure maritime lanes, IPOI outlines seven key pillars including Maritime Security, Maritime Ecology, and Resource Management.

Operation Sankalp and Anti-Piracy Patrols

• The Indian Navy deploys warships in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea to protect merchant vessels from piracy and aerial drone attacks.

Key Facts and Data Summary

• India features a total coastline of 7,516.6 km across 9 states and 4 Union Territories.
• The Exclusive Economic Zone of India covers approximately 2.37 million square kilometers.
• India’s coastal security operates on a 3-tier structure comprising Marine Police (0–12 NM), Indian Coast Guard (12–200 NM), and Indian Navy (overall defense).
• The National Maritime Security Coordinator functions under the National Security Council Secretariat.
• The Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region was established at Gurugram on December 22, 2018.
• Over 95% of India’s international trade volume moves via sea routes.
• Four Joint Operation Centres at Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, and Port Blair facilitate real-time operational coordination among coastal security agencies.