With reference to India's maritime security plans, consider the following statements: 1. The Ministry of Defence plans to commission 18 warships to bolster maritime security. 2. Operation Urja Suraksha is an initiative primarily focused on inland infrastructure. 3. The Defence Minister called for upgrading surveillance to secure the Indian Ocean Region. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

India's Defence Minister Calls for Upgrading Maritime Surveillance at Navy Conference

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Border management· Prelims + Mains· 29 September 2026

Maritime security and energy safety: a key GS3 Internal Security and International Relations theme.

Why in news

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for upgrading maritime surveillance and response during the Indian Navy’s biannual Commanders’ Conference to secure the Indian Ocean Region.

Background

The Indian Navy's biannual Commanders’ Conference is scheduled from September 29 to October 1, 2026. The Ministry of Defence plans to commission 18 warships to bolster maritime security and energy safety.

Facts for Prelims

FactThe Indian Navy plans to commission 18 warships as part of its maritime expansion.
PostRajnath Singh is the current Defence Minister of India.
FactOperation Urja Suraksha is an initiative linked to maritime security and energy safety.

Prelims practice question

With reference to India's maritime security plans, consider the following statements:

The Ministry of Defence plans to commission 18 warships to bolster maritime security.
Operation Urja Suraksha is an initiative primarily focused on inland infrastructure.
The Defence Minister called for upgrading surveillance to secure the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)1 and 2 only
(d)1 and 3 only

Show answer

Answer: (d) 1 and 3 only — Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: It is linked to maritime security and energy safety.

For Mains

Q. Examine the significance of maritime surveillance in ensuring India's energy security and its role as a 'First Responder' in the Indian Ocean Region.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Strategic autonomy: Balancing regional maritime security with India's role as a net security provider
Logistical bottleneck: Requirement for advanced surveillance tech to monitor vast Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ)
Energy security: Protecting Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) against non-traditional maritime threats

Keywords: Maritime Domain Awareness · Net Security Provider · Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) · Strategic Autonomy · Energy Security

Full chronology for revision →Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note Source: The Hindu ↗Also: GS3 · Infrastructure (energy, ports, roads, railways)

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