India 2018

Defence 135
strategies against the national interests and the ability to inflict a crushing defeat
on the adversary in the event of hostilities. The ways and means of deterrence
by the IN include conventional deterrence by both denial and punishment, by
maintaining a robust military capability and posture to convince potential
aggressors of high costs and limited gains from any aggression or intervention
against India's national interests. India has a long coastline, numerous Island
Territories, a vast Maritime Zone, substantial energy infrastructure and other
vital assets in the littoral area; besides a large vibrant population, significant
portions of which also live in the littoral. Since there are no physical barriers at
sea, security of these areas and assets are inherently vulnerable to sea-borne
threats, and enhancing their security is a prime objective of the IN in the Military
role. The IN has also been designated as the agency responsible for overall
Maritime Security including Coastal Security and Offshore Security.
Whilst countering traditional maritime security threats will remain the
raison d'etre of the IN, the growths of non-traditional threats in the recent years
have necessitated the development of a fresh paradigm for maritime security.
There has been a steady rise in non-traditional threats, in occurrence and scale,
with the lines at times getting blurred with traditional challenges. This is
especially the case where non-traditional threats receive cooperation, support
and sponsorship from traditional entities. India is a maritime nation and the
economy is critically dependent on the seas for conduct of trade. More than 90
per cent of the trade by volume and 77 per cent by value are transported over
the seas. India's reliance on maritime trade for economic growth necessitates
due protection of the merchant marine and sea - borne trade.
Over the past years, India's strategic and security interests in the northern
IOR and surrounding areas from the Strait of Malacca to the Gulf of Aden have
grown. As a responsible nation and benign maritime neighbour, enforcement
of international laws, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the IOR
would continue to remain at the forefront of our international commitments.
Towards this end, the IN is being increasingly called upon to address issues
pertaining to security and stability in the region. The IN, by virtue of its
capability, strategic positioning and presence in the IOR, has been a catalyst for
peace and stability in the region. The complex maritime security environment
in the IOR requires the IN to maintain a high operational tempo and readiness
at all time. Besides a large number of operational deployments, IN has
successfully undertaken exercises with numerous navies of friendly foreign
countries. In addition, the IN also engages with friendly neighbouring countries
to undertake coordinated patrols in common areas of interest. These exercises
and patrols have helped strengthening bilateral relationship, cementing the
professional ties and streamlining inter-operability issues.
As part of its 'Constabulary Role', the IN is involved in operations like
anti-poaching, anti-smuggling, coastal surveillance and anti-piracy.