Shashi Tharoor-led committee informs Lok Sabha, indian ocean strategy, india maritime security, china influence indian ocean, shashi tharoor committee, naval deterrence india, indian ocean region, quad, defence policy, blue economy- The Week

Raising concerns over the growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor-led parliamentary standing committee on External Affairs has called for a more assertive and coordinated ‘Indian Ocean’ strategy, warning that India’s security and prosperity are inseparable from stability in the region.

To deal with China’s increasing naval presence and strategic infrastructure in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the panel called for enhanced maritime deterrence through advanced technologies, satellite surveillance, AI-driven maritime domain awareness, and upgraded naval assets. The panel also took into account China’s strengthening ties with Pakistan. The Committee urged the government to take decisive action by enhancing India’s maritime deterrence.

The panel also recommended “upgrading naval assets, boosting anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and expanding strategic partnerships, particularly within the Quad and with IOR littoral states, to maintain regional balance and safeguard India’s strategic autonomy” in the face of escalating challenges from the hostile neighbouring country.

Presenting its eighth report on “Evaluation of India’s Indian Ocean Strategy” in the Lok Sabha on Monday, the panel laid out a sweeping set of recommendations ranging from enhanced defence capabilities to a climate-conscious maritime policy.

The committee also underscored the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening regional bonds, recommending better-resourced Indian Cultural Centres and missions to host art performances, exhibitions and heritage events across the IOR. It also called for clarity on the Sagarmala 2.0 initiative, with defined objectives, performance metrics, and an emphasis on smart ports and multimodal transport networks.

As nearly 90 per cent of India’s trade passes through the IOR, the committee urged the government to position India as the “key guardian” of the region through stronger bilateral and multilateral partnerships, deeper defence cooperation, and sustainable development initiatives under frameworks like ‘Sagar’ and ‘Mahasagar.’

The report flagged overlaps between the Sagar (Security and Growth for All) and Mahasagar (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) strategies, warning that ambiguities could dilute India’s strategic coherence. It recommended a comprehensive review to distinguish the two and align them with the Indo-Pacific framework, noting that both regions face “common challenges” and require integrated policy.

Highlighting the ecological vulnerability of the Indian Ocean, the panel urged India to champion a “Green MAHASAGAR” initiative focused on marine ecosystem protection, pollution reduction, disaster response, and the blue economy. The report stressed that environmental sustainability should be woven into every aspect of India’s maritime strategy.

To overcome “institutional silos” in maritime policymaking, the committee proposed creating an Inter-Ministerial Task Force involving the ministries of External Affairs, Defence, Commerce, Environment, Shipping, Finance, and Home Affairs. It also recommended modernising the Navy and Coast Guard under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, prioritising next-generation ships, submarines, carrier-based fighters, and surveillance aircraft.

As India is set to chair both the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) from 2025 to 2027, the panel pressed for revitalising these forums through stronger governance, expanded cooperation on non-traditional threats like illegal fishing and climate change, and joint naval exercises. It also urged expanding the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) and deepening Quad’s maritime security cooperation.

Tharoor said the recommendations sought to make India’s Indian Ocean policy “more coherent, more proactive, and more future-ready,” while balancing hard security imperatives with economic, cultural, and environmental priorities. As threats like piracy and terrorism continue to pose challenge, the panel, while recognizing the strong operational performance of Indian Navy and Coast Guard, called upon the government to improve fleet readiness, personnel training and logistics support. 

It also recommended accelerating the modernisation of naval forces by prioritizing indigenous development under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Tharoor-led committee also suggested the induction of next-generation submarines, destroyers, carrier-based fighters, and advanced patrol vessels and surveillance aircraft for the Coast Guard to enhance India’s maritime security and deterrence capabilities.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}