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In recent news, the QUAD grouping, consisting of India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, has launched an initiative to boost maritime surveillance across the Indo Pacific region. This Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) project, heralded at the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Tokyo in 2022, emphasises the sharing of information and addresses the growing Chinese naval presence. However, India’s role is limited due to infrastructure constraints and a delay in assigning Indian liaison officers.
The Indo Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative (IPMDA)
Dubbed as the “dark shipping” tracker, the IPMDA aims to provide a near-real-time overview of maritime activities occurring in partners’ waters across the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-Pacific regions under its radar include the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The AI-based IPMDA tracks vessels that have switched off their Automatic Identification System, making them invisible. The system also enables tracking other tactical activities, such as sea rendezvous, and can aid in responding to climate and humanitarian events as well as protecting fisheries – a vital sector for many Indo-Pacific economies.
Limitations to India’s Role
India’s ability to expand its role in this initiative is confined by two major issues – infrastructure limitations and delays in posting Indian liaison officers.
Infrastructure constraints refer to issues related not only to shipbuilding and repair but also to modernisation and improved connectivity through rail and road network for comprehensive development of coastal and interior regions. Coastal shipping and the induction of International Liaison Officers (ILO) at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) are also affected due to infrastructural constraints.
Posting Indian liaison officers at various facilities and centers in the region has been delayed. Proposals for posting Indian Naval Liaison Officers (LO) at multiple locations have been pending for over two years.
About the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)
The Indian government established the IFC-IOR, hosted by the Indian Navy, in Gurugram in December 2018. The purpose of this centre is to enhance maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean Region, which is crucial for world trade and security.
Since its establishment, the centre has created working connections with more than 50 nations and multinational/maritime security centers.
Way Forward
With the momentum of the IPMDA, the overall enhancement of the IFC-IOR’s linkages with other IFCs, and its evolution into the repository for all maritime data in the IOR, is necessary.
Pending proposals need to be addressed promptly; otherwise, India might miss out on this opportunity. Countries may lose interest if there is no immediate action, causing the initiative to lose steam.
It is also vital for India to develop its maritime infrastructure for economic development and growth. Given India’s growth-led economic policy, it must focus on aspects such as port development, connectivity, logistics, and others.
Previous Year Question in UPSC Civil Services Examination
In the 2017 UPSC examination, a question was asked about the ‘Digital Single Market Strategy.’ The strategy, adopted by the European Union in May 2015, aims to open up digital opportunities for people and businesses and strengthen Europe’s position as a leader in the digital economy. The correct answer was option (c), implying the ‘Digital Single Market Strategy’ refers to the European Union.