The Indian Ocean as cradle of a new blue economy

The Hindu

I. AUTHOR’S CENTRAL ARGUMENT

The author argues that the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is uniquely positioned to become the cradle of a new, inclusive, and sustainable blue economy. Given the climate crisis, ecological stress, and geopolitical contestation, the IOR demands a cooperative, rules-based, and sustainability-centred approach. India, owing to its geography, civilisational links, and normative leadership, should anchor this transition—moving beyond extractive models toward resilience, equity, and environmental stewardship.

The core thesis is that the blue economy must be people-centric, climate-compatible, and multilateral, with India playing a convening and norm-setting role rather than pursuing dominance.

II. KEY ARGUMENTS PRESENTED

1. Indian Ocean’s Global Centrality
   – Hosts vital sea lanes, fisheries, biodiversity, and coastal populations.
   – Disproportionately vulnerable to climate change impacts such as sea-level rise, warming, and acidification.
2. Limits of Traditional Ocean Governance
   – UNCLOS and existing frameworks are necessary but insufficient to address contemporary challenges like climate finance, sustainability, and equitable growth.
3. Blue Economy as a Development Paradigm
   – Encompasses fisheries, marine biotechnology, renewable energy, ports, tourism, and ocean-based livelihoods.
   – Must balance economic growth with ecological integrity.
4. Need for Cooperation over Competition
   – Rejects militarisation and zero-sum geopolitics in the IOR.
   – Advocates commons-based governance, resilience, and shared prosperity.
5. India’s Leadership Role
   – India’s historical maritime connections, democratic values, and South-South credibility position it as a facilitator.
   – India should champion capacity-building, climate finance, and inclusive partnerships.
6. Security Linked to Sustainability
   – Maritime security is inseparable from ecological security.
   – Climate stress can amplify instability, illegal fishing, and transnational crime.
7. From Rhetoric to Implementation
   – Calls for translating blue economy narratives into actionable, multilateral initiatives rooted in science and equity.

III. AUTHOR’S STANCE AND POSSIBLE BIASES

1. Normative and Idealistic Orientation
   – Strong preference for cooperation, multilateralism, and moral leadership.
2. India-Centric but Non-Hegemonic Framing
   – Positions India as a benign leader; underplays how neighbours may still perceive power asymmetries.
3. Understatement of Geopolitical Rivalries
   – Strategic competition, especially involving China, is acknowledged but softened.
4. Limited Economic Trade-off Analysis
   – Environmental sustainability is prioritised over hard questions of growth versus conservation.

IV. PROS OF THE ARTICLE (Strengths)

1. Integrates Climate, Economy, and Security
– Presents a holistic understanding of the blue economy beyond mere resource extraction.

2. Emphasises Equity and Inclusion
– Highlights concerns of island states and coastal communities.

3. Norm-Setting Vision for India
– Moves beyond power politics to leadership through rules and cooperation.

4. Strong Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals
– Frames oceans as commons requiring stewardship.

5. High Relevance for Contemporary Policy Debates
– Climate finance, maritime governance, and South-South cooperation are timely themes.

V. CONS OF THE ARTICLE (Critical Gaps & Limitations)

1. Insufficient Geopolitical Realism
– Competition over ports, sea lanes, and influence is more intense than acknowledged.

2. Limited Operational Detail
– Lacks specificity on institutional mechanisms, financing models, or timelines.

3. Economic Viability Underexplored
– Sustainable blue economy projects require large capital and technology transfers, which are not fully addressed.

4. Over-Reliance on India’s Moral Authority
– Leadership also requires capacity, consistency, and follow-through.

5. Regulatory and Enforcement Challenges Ignored
– Monitoring illegal fishing, pollution, and compliance remains a major hurdle.

VI. POLICY IMPLICATIONS (UPSC GS-II & GS-III Relevance)

1. Maritime Governance (GS-II)
   – Need to strengthen multilateral institutions for ocean governance beyond UNCLOS.
2. Blue Economy and Sustainable Growth (GS-III)
   – Align marine development with climate adaptation and livelihoods.
3. India’s Maritime Diplomacy
   – Capacity-building for IOR states, sharing technology and best practices.
4. Climate Finance Architecture
   – Mobilising concessional finance for ocean-based climate solutions.
5. Security–Development Nexus
   – Integrating maritime security with environmental protection.
6. Federal and Coastal Governance
   – Indian states and local communities must be active stakeholders.

VII. REAL-WORLD IMPACT ASSESSMENT

1. Opportunity for Inclusive Growth
   – Fisheries, renewables, and coastal tourism can generate jobs.
2. Climate Resilience for Vulnerable States
   – Blue economy can support adaptation for island and coastal nations.
3. Reduced Conflict Through Cooperation
   – Shared frameworks may mitigate zero-sum maritime rivalries.
4. Implementation Challenges
   – Financing gaps, capacity deficits, and enforcement issues persist.
5. India’s Strategic Credibility Test
   – Leadership claims must be matched by sustained engagement and resources.

VIII. BALANCED CONCLUSION

The article offers a compelling and ethically grounded vision of the Indian Ocean as the foundation of a new blue economy—one rooted in sustainability, equity, and cooperation rather than extraction and rivalry. It rightly emphasises that oceans are shared commons whose degradation threatens both livelihoods and security.

However, translating this vision into reality will require grappling with geopolitical competition, financing constraints, and institutional weaknesses. Moral leadership must be complemented by strategic clarity, economic feasibility, and implementation capacity.

IX. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES (UPSC Mains-Ready Insights)

1. Develop a regional blue economy framework with binding sustainability standards.
2. Strengthen India-IOR capacity-building partnerships.
3. Mobilise climate finance for ocean-based solutions.
4. Integrate maritime security with environmental governance.
5. Promote community-centred coastal development.
6. Balance strategic competition with cooperative norms.
7. Invest in marine science, data, and monitoring systems.

The Indian Ocean’s future will shape global sustainability. Whether it becomes a theatre of rivalry or a model of cooperative growth will depend on choices made today—by India and the wider international community alike.