Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

The Indian Ocean, linking Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, has become the epicentre of 21st-century geopolitics. Nearly 80% of global oil trade and 60% of maritime trade transit through its critical sea lanes, including the Straits of Hormuz, Malacca, and Bab-el-Mandeb. For India situated at its centre with a 7,500-km coastline—the region is both a geostrategic opportunity and a security challenge demanding multidimensional preparedness.

Body :

Strategic Significance of the Indian Ocean

• Energy Lifeline: Over 65% of global oil and 50% of container traffic pass through the IOR, making it vital for global energy security.
• Economic and Resource Potential: The region hosts rich hydrocarbon deposits, fisheries, and seabed minerals, sustaining millions of livelihoods.
• Geopolitical Theatre: With the rise of the Indo-Pacific construct, major powers like the US, China, Japan, and Australia are intensifying their strategic engagement.
• India’s Centrality: India’s geographic location and historical maritime ties make it the natural net security provider in the IOR.

Evolving Maritime Security Challenges

• Geopolitical Rivalries: The expanding Chinese presence under the String of Pearls strategy and its naval base in Djibouti challenge India’s influence.
  • The competition between QUAD and BRI frameworks reflects a deepening power contest.
• Piracy and Maritime Crime: Somalia-based piracy, human trafficking, and arms smuggling continue to threaten maritime routes, despite global patrols.
• Terrorism and Non-traditional Threats: The 2008 Mumbai attacks exposed vulnerabilities in coastal security.
  • Sea routes are increasingly used for drug trade and terror financing.
• Environmental and Climate Risks: Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, oil spills, and coral reef destruction endanger marine ecosystems.
  • Rising sea levels pose existential threats to small island states.
• Technological and Cyber Challenges: Growing dependence on undersea cables, autonomous vessels, and maritime AI systems exposes new cyber vulnerabilities.

India’s Preparedness and Strategic Initiatives

• Naval Modernisation and Capability Building: Induction of INS Vikrant, nuclear submarines under the Arihant class, and Project 75(I) for advanced submarines.
  • Mission SAGAR and Indian Navy’s HADR operations reflect India’s role as a responsible maritime power.
• Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): Establishment of the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) and coastal radar chains enhances real-time surveillance.
• Regional Cooperation and Diplomacy: Active engagement through QUAD, IORA, BIMSTEC, and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
  • Defence cooperation with Seychelles, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka for joint patrols and logistics support.
• Infrastructure and Connectivity: Development of Andaman & Nicobar Command as a tri-service theatre.
  • Sagarmala and Project Mausam reinforce India’s maritime connectivity and cultural diplomacy.
  • Strategic access to Chabahar Port (Iran) and Duqm (Oman) enhances operational reach.

Conclusion:

The Indian Ocean is no longer just a conduit of trade but a strategic arena defining global power hierarchies. India’s central location, naval strength, and democratic credibility position it as a key stabilising force in the region. To safeguard its strategic interests, India must blend hard power modernisation with cooperative maritime diplomacy, ensuring that the Indian Ocean remains a zone of peace, prosperity, and stability.