National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC)

Why in news?

• Recently, the government has appointed the country’s first National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC)

About National Maritime Security Coordinator:

• The maritime security coordinator will work under the National Security Advisor (NSA) and will be the principal adviser to the government on the maritime security domain.
• The NMSC will head the National Maritime Commission (NMC), which will coordinate with all organisations such as the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the shipping ministries and the ports.

Objective of NMSC

• To create an interface between the civilian and military maritime domains to enhance India’s security architecture and energy security.

Add ons:

• In the aftermath of the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan, a proposal had first been advanced to strengthen the maritime security architecture.
• The Mumbai terror attack in 2008 gave an impetus to the demands for the creation of a maritime security advisory board, and the appointment of a maritime security advisor—a nodal point of reference for all matters maritime.
• In the years since, coastal security has received considerable attention, with a significant expansion in coastal infrastructure, and in efforts to modernise the navy and the coast guard.
• Yet coordination between India’s maritime agencies could never quite be truly operationalised, in part because the marine police in many states continues to remain indifferent to the needs of coastal security.
• A recent drug haul from the coastal Gujarat reveals that the sea route remains a favourite with Pakistan- and Afghanistan-based drug cartels.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding ‘National Maritime Security Coordinator’?

1. The NMSC heads the National Maritime Commission

2. The NMSC reports to National Security Advisor (NSA)

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

 Answer