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

The Hindu

Context and Core Focus

The article reviews the historical evolution, strategic logic, and future trajectory of India’s maritime policy, situating it within India’s geography, civilisational history, and changing regional and global power dynamics. Drawing upon scholarly perspectives, it argues that India’s maritime outlook has shifted from a continental and inward-looking posture to a more outward-oriented, Indo-Pacific–centred strategic vision.

The central concern is whether India can translate conceptual clarity and strategic ambition into institutional capacity, sustained naval power, and regional leadership.

Key Arguments Presented

1. Geography and Civilisational Foundations

The article argues that:

• India’s peninsular geography and long coastline historically positioned it as a maritime civilisation
• Ancient and medieval seaborne trade networks reflect India’s early maritime engagement
• Despite this legacy, modern India remained strategically continental for decades

Maritime neglect is framed as a historical anomaly, not a geographical inevitability.

2. Post-Independence Continental Bias

A major argument is that:

• Security concerns on land borders with Pakistan and China dominated strategic thinking
• The Himalayas, rather than the oceans, became the central security reference point
• Maritime power was seen as secondary to land warfare and territorial defence

This bias delayed naval modernisation and maritime institutional development.

3. Strategic Turnaround Since the Late Cold War

The article highlights a shift since the 1990s:

• Economic liberalisation increased dependence on sea-borne trade and energy imports
• Naval diplomacy and maritime cooperation expanded in the Indian Ocean Region
• The Navy transitioned from a coastal defence force to a net-security provider

Maritime strategy is now linked to economic security and regional stability, not merely defence.

4. Indo-Pacific as the New Strategic Frame

The author argues that:

• India’s maritime policy is now embedded within the Indo-Pacific construct
• The rise of China, especially its naval expansion and port infrastructure, has sharpened India’s focus
• Strategic partnerships with ASEAN, Japan, Australia, and the US reflect this reorientation

The Indo-Pacific is presented as both an opportunity and a strategic compulsion.

5. Governance, Capacity, and Institutional Gaps

The article cautions that:

• Strategic clarity must be matched by shipbuilding capacity, port infrastructure, and maritime governance
• Inter-ministerial coordination and long-term funding remain weak
• Maritime strategy risks remaining declaratory if institutional follow-through falters

Author’s Stance

The author adopts a measuredly optimistic but cautionary stance:

• Largely supportive of India’s maritime reorientation
• Appreciative of intellectual and doctrinal clarity achieved in recent decades
• Alert to the gap between ambition and execution

The tone is analytical rather than celebratory.

Biases and Editorial Leanings

1. Strategic-Elite Perspective

The article:

• Privileges naval, diplomatic, and strategic viewpoints
• Pays limited attention to coastal communities, fisheries, and maritime livelihoods

This tilts the narrative toward high strategy.

2. Indo-Pacific Consensus Bias

There is:

• Broad acceptance of the Indo-Pacific framework as necessary and beneficial
• Limited critique of its potential to entangle India in great-power rivalry

3. State-Centric Orientation

The analysis:

• Focuses on state power and naval capacity
• Underplays non-traditional maritime threats such as environmental degradation and piracy beyond strategic framing

Pros and Cons of the Argument

Pros

• Integrates history, geography, and strategy coherently
• Explains India’s maritime turn in economic and security terms
• Useful for aspirants seeking a long-term strategic narrative
• Avoids alarmism while acknowledging challenges

Cons

• Limited discussion of resource constraints and trade-offs
• Underrepresentation of civilian maritime sectors
• Less engagement with internal governance reform

Policy Implications

1. National Security and Defence

• Maritime power must be treated as core, not auxiliary, to national security
• Sustained naval modernisation and indigenous shipbuilding are essential

2. Economic and Trade Policy

• Secure sea lanes are critical for trade, energy security, and supply chains
• Port development and logistics integration must complement naval strategy

3. Regional Diplomacy

• India’s leadership in the Indian Ocean Region requires consistency and capacity
• Multilateral maritime governance can enhance legitimacy

Real-World Impact

• Strengthens India’s role as a stabilising maritime actor
• Enhances deterrence without overt militarisation
• Positions India as a credible Indo-Pacific stakeholder

For aspirants, the article provides a macro-strategic lens linking geography, economy, and security.

UPSC GS Paper Alignment

GS Paper II – International Relations

• Indo-Pacific strategy
• Regional groupings and maritime diplomacy

GS Paper III – Security and Economy

• Maritime security
• Trade routes, energy security, and defence preparedness

GS Paper I – Geography

• Role of geography in shaping strategy
• Indian Ocean and global sea lanes

Balanced Conclusion and Future Perspective

The article convincingly argues that India’s maritime policy has moved from neglect to strategic centrality, driven by economic integration, regional instability, and great-power competition. However, the sustainability of this shift depends on institutional depth, fiscal commitment, and civilian-maritime integration. India’s future as a maritime power will not be determined solely by doctrine or diplomacy, but by its ability to convert geographical advantage into durable maritime capacity. The oceans offer India both opportunity and obligation; managing both wisely will define its strategic trajectory in the decades ahead.