1.Definition and Importance of Coastal and Maritime Security: Coastal and maritime security refers to the measures taken to safeguard a nation's maritime interests, including its coastline, territorial waters, and exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It involves protecting against threats such as piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, trafficking, terrorism, and unauthorized intrusions. Maritime security is vital for maintaining the sovereignty of a nation, ensuring safe and secure sea routes for trade, protecting natural resources, and upholding international maritime laws.

2.Geographical Overview of India’s Coastline: India has a vast coastline of approximately 7,516.6 kilometres, spanning the eastern and western shores along the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, respectively. The coastline includes the mainland as well as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea. India’s strategic location, with its proximity to key international sea routes, makes coastal and maritime security a critical aspect of national defence and economic stability. The coastline is dotted with major ports such as Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Kochi, as well as numerous smaller ports and fishing harbours, which play a significant role in the country's trade and commerce.

India’s Coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

1. Length and Features of India’s Coastline

i.Length: India’s coastline stretches approximately 7,516.6 kilometres, making it the 18th longest coastline in the world. This extensive coastline touches nine coastal states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Additionally, it includes the coastlines of the union territories of Daman and Diu, Puducherry, and the island territories of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep.

ii.Features: The coastline features a wide variety of geographical landscapes, including sandy beaches, rocky shores, cliffs, deltas, estuaries, lagoons, and mangrove forests. The eastern coast is primarily characterized by broad plains and deltas formed by major rivers like the Ganges, Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi, while the western coast is more rugged with narrow coastal plains backed by the Western Ghats. Mangroves cover about 4,975 square kilometres of the coastline, with the Sundarbans in West Bengal being the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangroves in the world, spanning around 10,000 square kilometres, of which 4,263 square kilometres are in India.

2. Significance of EEZ and Continental Shelf