India Pushes ‘Coastal Bharat’ Strategy Linking Blue Economy, Security, Science and Marine Ecology

India is seeking to treat its vast coastline as a single strategic space where marine ecology, national security, economic development, technology and the livelihoods of coastal communities are planned together rather than handled as separate sectors.

Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh outlined this approach while virtually addressing the National Conference on Coastal Ecology, Security and Sustainability (CCESS) 2026 on September 11.

With India possessing an estimated 11,000–12,000 km of coastline, Singh said its coastal and marine regions could become increasingly important to the country’s future growth, particularly through the expanding Blue Economy.

From Coastline to Strategic Economic Space

India’s coastline supports ports, fishing communities, maritime trade, marine ecosystems and increasingly sophisticated security infrastructure. According to Singh, these elements must be considered together because decisions affecting one part of the coastal system can have consequences across several others.

Marine resources could provide new economic opportunities in areas ranging from fisheries and minerals to advanced ocean research, while ports and coastal infrastructure remain crucial to trade and connectivity.

However, the expansion of economic activity must be accompanied by environmental protection and improved livelihoods for communities dependent on coastal ecosystems.

The objective, Singh said, should be a broader “Coastal Bharat” approach in which sustainability, economic opportunity, science and security reinforce one another.

Deep Ocean Mission Opens New Frontier

A significant element of India’s marine strategy is the Deep Ocean Mission, which seeks to build indigenous capabilities for exploring areas of the ocean that remain largely unexplored.

Singh highlighted India’s efforts to develop submersibles, robotic systems and specialised research infrastructure capable of operating at extreme ocean depths.

He also referred to the recently launched ORV Sagar Manthan, describing the indigenous oceanographic research vessel as another step towards greater self-reliance in deep-sea scientific exploration.

Such capabilities could eventually help India better understand deep-sea ecosystems and assess resources including marine minerals and metals.

Research into deposits such as black sulphide formations and other seabed minerals is part of a wider effort to explore resources that could become economically important in the future.

Marine Resources Could Support Next Phase of Growth

Singh linked ocean exploration directly with India’s long-term economic ambitions.

As easily accessible terrestrial resources come under increasing pressure, marine regions could offer opportunities in minerals, fisheries, biotechnology and other ocean-based industries.

Fisheries are particularly important because they combine economic potential with employment and food security for millions of people living along India’s coastline.

Expanding their economic contribution, however, would require scientific management of marine ecosystems so that higher production does not come at the cost of ecological degradation.

Technology Becoming Central to Coastal Security

India’s coastal security architecture is also becoming increasingly technology-driven.

Singh identified ocean observation systems, surveillance platforms, communications, remote sensing, data analytics and emerging technologies as important tools for improving maritime domain awareness.

Satellite imagery and remote sensing can help monitor coastlines and marine conditions, while surveillance and communication systems can improve the ability of security agencies to detect suspicious activity and respond quickly.

Integrating these different technologies could provide a more comprehensive picture of developments along India’s coastline and surrounding waters.

The emphasis reflects a broader shift in maritime security from simply guarding coastal areas toward building continuous situational awareness across the marine domain.

Ecology and Security Closely Connected

The Minister argued that coastal security cannot be separated from coastal ecology.

Healthy ecosystems, resilient coastal settlements, scientific monitoring and effective governance all contribute to the stability of maritime regions.

Environmental degradation can weaken coastal communities and infrastructure, while poorly planned development can increase vulnerability to erosion, extreme weather and other natural hazards.

A secure coastline therefore requires not only surveillance and policing but also ecological resilience and informed communities.

Scientists, Defence and Industry Brought Together

CCESS 2026 has been designed as a multidisciplinary platform bringing together experts from earth sciences, academia, defence and maritime institutions, law, industry and coastal communities.

Such interaction is intended to bridge the gap between scientific research and public policy.

Ocean science, Singh stressed, must increasingly feed directly into decisions involving coastal infrastructure, ports, environmental conservation, economic development and security planning.

Traditional knowledge held by coastal communities should also form part of this process, particularly because these communities possess generations of experience dealing with marine environments.

Ports and Coastal Infrastructure Remain Critical

India’s ports and coastal infrastructure are central to the country’s trade ambitions and growing maritime connectivity.

Their expansion, however, requires detailed understanding of sediment movement, erosion, marine habitats, weather patterns and changing coastal conditions.

Scientific planning therefore becomes important not only for environmental protection but also for protecting major economic infrastructure from long-term coastal risks.

Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar Returns

Singh also highlighted the Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar campaign aimed at improving cleanliness along India’s coast.

The initiative has been conducted for the past five years, following a major 75-day coastal cleanliness campaign launched in 2022 involving citizens and stakeholders across coastal states.

This year’s programme will run from September 12 to September 19, featuring beach and coastal clean-up activities involving NGOs, organisations and members of the public.

A citizen pledge to keep India’s coastline clean is also being introduced as part of efforts to deepen public participation.

Building a Holistic Coastal India

The wider message from the conference is that India’s maritime future cannot be divided neatly between ministries dealing separately with environment, security, science, industry and community welfare.

The coastline represents all these interests simultaneously.

India’s emerging Coastal Bharat strategy therefore seeks to combine blue-economy development, indigenous deep-ocean technology, environmental stewardship, surveillance capabilities and community participation within a common framework.

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