National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC]

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Apr 13, 2022, 8:34

The first National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC] has been employed by the government (NMSC). Vice Admiral Ashok Kumar, a former Vice Chief of the Navy, will be the first National Maritime Security Coordinator of the country, reporting to the National Security Advisor.

The appointment in this post has been made by the government to secure the huge Indian coastal area from invasion, terror attacks, illegal trade etc.

National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC] Meaning

The NSA will oversee the marine security coordinator, who will serve as the government's primary maritime intelligence chief. The NMSC has been delegated the task of leading the National Maritime Commission (NMC).

It will also spread its wings by collaborating with different organisations, including the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), shipping ministries, and harbours. The NMSC is supposed to report its tasks to the National Security Advisor (NSA).

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National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC] History

  • The Group of Ministers (GoM), which was founded following the Kargil War more than 20 years ago, was the first to recognise and propose the necessity for NMSC. The report specified by the Group of Ministers suggested forming an administrative organisation for marine affairs and operations governance with structured interconnections between the Navy, Coast Guard, and other relevant ministries.
  • The terrorist events of September 11, 2008, made the Defence Ministry recommend the formation of a Maritime Security Advisory Board and the recruitment of a Maritime Security Advisor.
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Facts About National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC]

  • The primary obligation of the National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC] is to ensure that all departments and relevant agencies in maritime security integrate and communicate smoothly without any hitches.
  • He will also be in charge of strengthening and upgrading India's blue economy demands.
  • He will oversee and regulate all areas and sectors of marine protection and defence and serve as a focal point for all connected issues.
  • He'll also have the duty and responsibility of fostering collaboration and engagement amongst the several marine bodies that function separately.

Significance of National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC]

  • The appointment is important because this post serves the needs of the hour. All other marine bodies, including the Navy, Coast Guard, and state maritime boards, work for overlapping interests.
  • This post belongs to a part of the Act East Policy vision. This policy involves SAGAR (Security and Growth of All in the Region), Deep Ocean Mission and the Sagarmala Project, which are dedicated to developing India's 12 major ports to have world-class facilities.
  • India earns a huge amount of foreign reserves from overseas trading. Around 70% of trade is transferred by sea. Hence, providing top-notch security across the coastal area is very crucial to ensure India's security. NMSC is a dedicated post for executing that purpose.

This decision to appoint the National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC] was made to ensure coherence among the country's numerous military stakeholders, with the sole focus of safeguarding the country's needs and interests.

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FAQs on National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC]

Q.1. What does the National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC] denote?

The National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC] is the designation that performs the duty of maintaining cross-agency synchronisation in order to achieve a successful Indian maritime security architecture.

Q.2. Who was designated first for the post of National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC]?

G Ashok Kumar was designated first for the post of National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC].

Q.3. What are the challenges that a National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC] has to deal with?

There are several challenges that National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC] has to negotiate, including thievery, trespassing, human trafficking, piracy, illegal trade, terrorist attacks, environmental deterioration, etc.

Q.4. What is the main responsibility of the National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC] of India?

The main responsibility of the National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC] includes establishing error-free coordination and communication among all the departments and agencies involved in maritime security.

Q.5. What is a marine security plan implemented by the National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC]?

The Maritime Security Plan refers to authorities' powers and tasks, including those of maritime security officers' mechanisms for reporting and investigating efforts to prevent armaments and banned materials from entering the country by the National Maritime Security Coordinator [NMSC].