Strengthening Maritime Security in India: Legal and Institutional Challenges of Law Enforcement at Sea

Anil Kumar Harbola

Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) is a critical aspect of safeguarding national interests. It encompasses enforcing the ‘rule of law’ in accordance with Indian and international law within India’s maritime zones and beyond. India’s vast ‘maritime area of interest’ presents a variety of complex challenges for MLE, including the involvement of multiple agencies, jurisdictional complexities, inter-agency co-ordination, resource constraints, legal gaps, and emerging non-traditional threats. This paper examines the challenges of maritime law enforcement in India, considering institutional, operational, and legal dimensions.

Keywords: maritime law enforcement, international law, and maritime challenges.

DOI – https://doi.org/10.67247/jmr.2025.000011

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