Indian Maritime Doctrine
To assist and influence the nation’s thinking, in June 2004 the Navy issued its “Indian Maritime Doctrine” and made it available to the public. It is a glossy booklet of 135 pages as a book of reference, and it includes all the attributes that a doctrine should, to provide for common language and to appreciate the many roles that a responsible Navy should be prepared for, in peace and war. The Chief of Naval Staff in the foreword has stated, “If we are to fulfill our maritime destiny, all of us – the Government, the armed forces, the civil services, the media and the public - must have a maritime vision and a thorough understanding of the maritime concepts outlined in this doctrine”.
The Indian Navy enters the new millennium as a professional focussed and committed force, deeply conscious of its roles and responsibilities. In times of peace and tension, the Indian Navy is a powerful instrument of the nation's foreign policy, while in times of conflict, it is the foremost expression of the nation's maritime power.
In an increasingly complex world, the missions of the Navy are correspondingly more diverse and complex than ever before. This complexity is global as well as regional, and is unlikely to diminish in the 2lst century. It is, as a consequence, essential for the Indian Navy to establish a recognizable set of navigational aids that will guide and chart its development and its conduct through the turbulent waters that lie ahead. At the most fundamental level, these navigational marks, as also the discernible dangers, are charted through the issue of backbone publications, the foremost of which is a clearly articulated doctrine.
The 'Indian Maritime Doctrine' is an unclassified document and will become available to every officer, civil servant, politician, analyst and professional concerned with the maritime affairs of our country. The purpose of a maritime doctrine is to provide the country with a common language and a uniform understanding of maritime concepts. It would provide a common reference point, language, and purpose, uniting the actions of many diverse elements into a team effort. It is intended to evoke the same degree of comprehension in the mind of every person who reads it, irrespective of his profession, experience or association with the sea.
The maritime domain is changing rapidly. India appreciates these changes and shapes strategies and policies to further national interests. India is a maritime nation and we have a bright maritime future, if only we can use the seas to advantage. If India is to fulfill a maritime destiny, the government, the armed forces, the civil services, the media and the public must have a maritime vision and a thorough understanding of the maritime concepts outlined in this doctrine.
The 'Indian Maritime Doctrine' is conceptual in nature and should not be construed as a policy statement. The Indian Navy rocognizes that while any formalized maritime doctrine is authoritative, its application should be embarked upon judiciously and astutely. There should be room for flexibility and innovativeness for responding to political changes, operational scenarios and technical opportunities. Otherwise, maritime doctrine runs the risk of evolving into a rigid dogma that straitjackets the strategic thought and tactical planning that is meant to flow out of it.
Maritime doctrine may be considered as having the following three constituent parts: the enduring tenets of the nature of war; the dynamic application of these tenets to meet today's circumstances and a predictive element designed to prepare us for tomorrow. When taken in totality, these three constituent parts define the scope of maritime doctrine, making it a dynamic combination of history, tradition and experience, born out of an understanding of maritime power and an intimate comprehension of the nature of war in general and maritime warfare in particular.
The 'Indian Maritime Doctrine' has been circulated to senior members of the government, bureaucracy and the armed forces, and has been widely welcomed as an important keystone document for the Indian Navy that was long overdue.
