Rajnath calls for stronger maritime surveillance amid India’s expanding Indian Ocean role

By Aroonim Bhuyan

New Delhi, Sep 29. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for a major upgrade of India’s maritime surveillance and response mechanisms, saying growing congestion, deception and “gray-zone” activities had made the maritime domain increasingly complex.

Addressing the second edition of the Indian Navy’s biannual Commanders’ Conference 2026 at Nausena Bhawan here on September 29, Singh said India had established itself as a first responder and preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), even as the country’s strategic position and responsibilities continued to expand.

He said the deployment of Indian warships in distant waters, including the South China Sea, Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean, demonstrated the Navy’s blue-water capabilities and underlined its importance in providing strategic depth and enabling regional power projection.

The Defence Minister said the government was committed to modernising the Navy as part of the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 (Developed India 2047). He described the Navy as a strategic anchor for the country, with responsibilities extending beyond the protection of maritime boundaries to safeguarding economic interests, contributing to regional stability and strengthening India’s power projection.

Singh called upon the Navy to sustain its momentum and evolve into a future-ready and combat-ready force capable of responding to an increasingly complex maritime environment.

Energy security and Strait of Hormuz

Highlighting the Navy’s role during the ongoing crisis in West Asia, Singh particularly cited the safe movement of Indian-flagged merchant vessels, including LPG tankers, through the Strait of Hormuz under Operation Urja Suraksha.

He stressed the direct relationship between maritime security and India’s economic and energy security, noting that the country imports about 85-90 percent of its crude oil and around half of its natural gas through maritime routes.

The protection of sea lanes, he said, was therefore closely linked not only to uninterrupted energy supplies but also to India’s economic stability and defence preparedness.

The comments come amid heightened concerns over the vulnerability of global shipping routes to geopolitical tensions and disruptions, particularly in West Asia.

Push for indigenous warship production

Singh also highlighted the growing indigenous content of Indian naval platforms, saying the country’s warship production ecosystem had reached global benchmarks.

Warships commissioned recently have more than 75 percent indigenous content, he said, underlining the progress made towards self-reliance in defence production.

The Defence Minister called for India to move beyond meeting its own requirements and develop the capability to export indigenously built warships to friendly foreign countries.

The emphasis on naval exports reflects the government’s broader push to expand India’s defence-industrial base and establish the country as a reliable supplier of military equipment to partner nations.

18 warships planned for induction in 2026

Singh described 2026 as a landmark year for the Indian Navy, with 18 warships planned for induction or commissioning during the year.

He said the proposed force accretion would constitute the largest single-year expansion in the Navy’s history and demonstrated the increasing maturity of India’s domestic naval shipbuilding ecosystem.

At the same time, he stressed that the expansion of the fleet would have to be accompanied by continued efforts to enhance operational capabilities and meet emerging security challenges.

Maritime surveillance needs major upgrade

The Defence Minister also called for a significant strengthening of India’s maritime surveillance architecture.

While acknowledging the capabilities of existing systems, he pointed to the rapidly increasing volume and complexity of maritime traffic and the consequent requirement for greater analytical capacity.

The emphasis on surveillance comes as India seeks to improve its ability to monitor a vast maritime expanse stretching from the western Indian Ocean to the eastern seaboard and maintain better awareness of shipping, naval activity and potential non-traditional security threats.

Singh’s reference to deception and gray-zone activity also highlights the growing importance of detecting and responding to activities that fall below the threshold of conventional military conflict.

Women in frontline roles

Singh praised the Navy’s efforts to implement the “All Ranks, All Roles” approach and expand opportunities for women personnel.

He highlighted the deployment of women officers aboard frontline warships and aircraft, as well as their participation in major naval navigation and expeditionary activities, including the Navika Sagar Parikrama voyage.

The Defence Minister said these developments reflected the Navy’s efforts towards greater participation of women in operational and specialised roles.

India takes greater role in maritime security

Singh also highlighted India’s assumption of command of Combined Task Force-154 (CTF-154) under the US-led Combined Maritime Forces, describing it as an important contribution to cooperative maritime security.

During India’s tenure in command, the Navy conducted Operation Southern Readiness in Kochi, bringing together 276 personnel from 27 countries, along with 76 facilitators and subject-matter experts and representatives of four international organisations.

The exercise demonstrated India’s growing role in multinational maritime-security cooperation and capacity building.

Singh also referred to the deployment of INS Sudarshini for Lokayan-26, saying the voyage strengthened India’s maritime diplomacy and engagement with the Indian diaspora across the United States, Atlantic and Mediterranean regions while showcasing the country’s maritime heritage.

The three-day Commanders’ Conference, being held from September 29 to October 1, brings together the senior leadership of the Indian Navy to review operational preparedness, maritime security and future capability development.

Singh also interacted with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of the Army Staff during the conference.

Concluding his address, the Defence Minister commended the Navy for maintaining a high level of operational readiness while undertaking commitments across the region amid an evolving security environment.

He emphasised that India’s maritime power was intended not merely to demonstrate the country’s presence at sea but to ensure that the presence of the Indian flag conveyed security, trust and confidence.

Singh reaffirmed the government’s support for the Navy, stressing the close relationship between maritime security and India’s national development objectives.