India’s maritime policy: how it has evolved and what lies ahead

UPSC Prelims + Mains Study Note

1. At a Glance

• India is a peninsular nation flanked by the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean, with a 7,516-km coastline, 1,382 islands, and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of ~2.37 million sq km — making maritime affairs existential, not optional. [1]
• The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) accounts for ~90% of India's trade by volume and is the transit corridor for energy imports from West Asia — maritime security is thus inseparable from economic security. [3]
• India's maritime policy has evolved from a purely coastal-defence posture (post-1947) to a regional net-security-provider role anchored in the SAGAR doctrine (2015) and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. [2][4]
• Tested in GS-II (bilateral/multilateral relations, India's neighbourhood), GS-III (infrastructure, security), and occasionally Essay Paper (geopolitics).

2. Why in the News

• MAHASAGAR Initiative launched in March 2025 — a successor/upgrade to SAGAR, themed "Collective Maritime Approach towards Countering Common Challenges." [1]
• INSV Kaundinya — Indian Navy's stitched-sail vessel built with ancient Indian techniques — departed on its maiden voyage to Muscat, Oman on 29 December 2025, symbolising India's ancient maritime heritage revival. [5]
• Quad "At-Sea Observer Mission" — first-ever, launched under QUAD framework in 2024, marking a milestone in multilateral maritime security cooperation. [3]
• Release of The Routledge Handbook of Maritime India (edited by A.S. Raju & R. Srinivasan) in January 2026 prompted renewed policy discourse. [5]
• IPOI (Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative) pillars continued active operationalisation through 2025. [2][4]

3. Background & Evolution

4. Core Static Facts

Key Doctrines / Frameworks

• SAGAR = Security and Growth for All in the Region — launched 2015, Mauritius — PM Modi's foundational maritime vision. [1]
• MAHASAGAR = Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — 2025 expansion of SAGAR; theme: countering common challenges collectively. [1]
• IPOI — 7 pillars: (1) Maritime Security; (2) Maritime Ecology; (3) Maritime Resources; (4) Capacity Building & Resource Sharing; (5) Disaster Risk Reduction; (6) Science, Technology & Academic Cooperation; (7) Trade Connectivity & Maritime Transport. [4]

Key Programmes

• IOS SAGAR Programme: Indian Naval Ship hosts personnel from Friendly Foreign Countries for joint training and operations; 44 personnel from 9 friendly nations sailed on INS Sunayna as first IOS SAGAR mission. [1]
• National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC): established to coordinate inter-agency maritime security.
• EEZ: ~2.37 million sq km; India has rights over its resources under UNCLOS.
• Coastline: 7,516 km (mainland); 1,382 islands.
• Indian Ports: handle ~95% of trade by volume, ~70% by value.

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• Sagarmala Programme targets reducing logistics costs (currently ~13–14% of GDP vs. global average ~8%) through port modernisation, coastal shipping, and inland waterways. [2]
• Blue Economy constitutes ~4% of India's GDP; MAKV 2047 aims to grow this through fisheries, offshore energy, marine tourism, and deep-sea mining. [2]
• India is among the world's top 10 ship-breaking nations (Alang, Gujarat) — an important but environmentally contentious maritime industry. [2]
• Maritime sector employs ~1.5 million persons; seafarer training and certification a key human capital priority.

Geopolitical / Strategic

• QUAD (India–USA–Japan–Australia) has elevated maritime security cooperation; first-ever At-Sea Observer Mission (2024) tests interoperability. [3]
• China's String of Pearls strategy (ports in Pakistan-Gwadar, Sri Lanka-Hambantota, Myanmar, Bangladesh) encircles India — driving India's Necklace of Diamonds counter-framework. [1]
• IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) — India is a founding member; 23 member states; India uses IORA to institutionalise Blue Economy norms.
• IPOI is India's alternative to China's Maritime Silk Road — open, rules-based, non-coercive. [4]
• India–France–UAE trilateral maritime partnership and India–Australia maritime cooperation deepening. [1]

Environmental

• Indian Ocean is among the fastest-warming ocean basins — threatens fisheries, coral ecosystems, and coastal communities.
• IPOI Pillar 2 (Maritime Ecology) specifically targets marine pollution, sustainable fisheries, and blue carbon. [4]
• Deep-sea mission (Samudrayaan) under Ministry of Earth Sciences: submersible Matsya 6000 to explore polymetallic nodules at 6,000-m depth.
• Plastics and ship-source pollution remain critical governance gaps in the IOR.

Scientific / Technological

• INSV Kaundinya voyage (Dec 2025) — stitched-vessel built with ancient techniques — demonstrates maritime heritage research linked to strategic soft power. [5]
• India developing coastal surveillance radar network and Automatic Identification System (AIS) chains with IOR partners.
• Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), launched 2018 at Gurugram: real-time maritime domain awareness (MDA) hub; 50+ partner nations and multinational maritime forces. [1]
• Navy's P-8I Poseidon aircraft and MH-60R Romeo helicopters enhance blue-water ISR.

Legal / Constitutional

• UNCLOS (1982) — India a signatory; defines India's Territorial Sea (12 NM), Contiguous Zone (24 NM), EEZ (200 NM), and Continental Shelf rights.
• Maritime Zones Act, 1976 — domestic legislation operationalising UNCLOS provisions.
• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification under Environment Protection Act governs coastal development.
• Anti-Piracy Bill (passed 2022) — India's first dedicated domestic law on piracy, enabling prosecution of pirates in Indian courts.

Administrative

• Maritime security is fragmented across Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Customs, Fisheries, State Marine Police — coordination via NMSC a key reform.
• Sagarmala Development Company (SDC): special purpose vehicle under Ministry of Ports; implements port-led industrialisation projects. [2]
• Maritime States Development Council (MSDC): platform for Centre–state coordination on port development.

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• March 2025: MAHASAGAR doctrine articulated — PM Modi's upgraded vision for collective IOR security, successor to SAGAR (2015). [1]
• 2024: IOS SAGAR operational debut — INS Sunayna sails with 44 personnel from 9 nations; AIKEYME (Africa–India Key Maritime Engagement) launched alongside. [1]
• 2024: QUAD At-Sea Observer Mission — first-ever exercise, testing maritime domain coordination among Quad partners. [3]
• December 2025: INSV Kaundinya departs for Muscat — Navy's stitched-sail vessel, signalling ancient Indian maritime tradition and soft-power outreach. [5]
• 2024: Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2024 — India reaffirmed commitment to open, rules-based Indo-Pacific; Raksha Mantri emphasised sustainable development and mutual security. [4]
• Ongoing 2024–25: Sagarmala reaches 150+ projects operationalised; MAKV 2047 implementation tracking through 300+ strategic initiatives. [2]
• 2024–25: IFC-IOR expanded partner network; white-shipping information sharing agreements signed with additional IOR nations.

7. Prelims Hooks (high-density factual bullets)

1. SAGAR stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region — articulated by PM Modi in Mauritius in 2015. [1]
2. MAHASAGAR (2025) is the expanded successor doctrine to SAGAR, themed "Collective Maritime Approach towards Countering Common Challenges." [1]
3. Sagarmala Programme implementing ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (not Ministry of Defence). [2]
4. IPOI was launched at the East Asia Summit, Bangkok, November 2019 — not at a QUAD or G20 meeting. [4]
5. IPOI has exactly 7 pillars — Maritime Security, Ecology, Resources, Capacity Building, Disaster Risk Reduction, S&T Cooperation, Trade Connectivity. [4]
6. IFC-IOR (Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region) is located at Gurugram, established 2018. [1]
7. First-ever QUAD At-Sea Observer Mission was conducted in 2024. [3]
8. India's Anti-Piracy Act was passed in 2022 — India's first dedicated piracy legislation. [1]
9. INSV Kaundinya is an Indian Navy stitched-sail vessel that departed for Muscat, Oman on 29 December 2025. [5]
10. India's EEZ spans approximately 2.37 million sq km under UNCLOS provisions.
11. IOS SAGAR inaugural mission: INS Sunayna with 44 personnel from 9 nations. [1]
12. Maritime Zones Act, 1976 is the domestic law operationalising India's UNCLOS maritime zone claims.
13. AIKEYME = Africa India Key Maritime Engagement — launched alongside IOS SAGAR in 2024. [1]
14. Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV) formulated after 150+ stakeholder consultations and analysis of 50 global benchmarks. [2]
15. India's coastline (mainland): 7,516 km; number of islands: 1,382.

8. Mains Relevance

GS Paper Mapping:

Plausible Mains Questions:

1. "India's maritime strategy has evolved from a 'continental' mindset to a 'blue water' vision. Critically analyse the SAGAR and MAHASAGAR doctrines in this context, and assess India's effectiveness as a net-security provider in the Indian Ocean Region." (GS-II / GS-III)

2. "The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) reflects India's effort to build a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. How does it differ from China's Maritime Silk Road, and what are its implementation challenges?" (GS-II)

3. "Maritime security in India suffers from fragmented institutional architecture. Examine the coordination gaps and suggest a unified governance framework." (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. SAGAR vs. MAHASAGAR confusion: SAGAR (2015, Mauritius) is the original doctrine; MAHASAGAR (March 2025) is the upgraded collective-security iteration. They are not the same thing — MCQs may test the year and location of each.

2. Ministry confusion for Sagarmala: Sagarmala is under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways — NOT the Ministry of Defence or Ministry of External Affairs.

3. IPOI launch venue: IPOI was launched at the East Asia Summit (Bangkok, 2019) — aspirants confuse it with QUAD summits or G20.

4. IFC-IOR location: Located at Gurugram (Haryana) — commonly confused with being a naval base or located in a port city.

5. UNCLOS vs. Maritime Zones Act: UNCLOS (1982) is the international convention; India's Maritime Zones Act, 1976 predates it (India was proactive) and is the domestic enabling legislation — the year difference (1976 vs. 1982) is a frequent MCQ trap.