Sailing towards stability

The Indian Navy has been playing a vital role in protecting maritime trade, supporting indigenous industries, carrying out evacuation drives during crises, and building regional cooperations, thereby underpinning India's economic stability

- CAPT. GURUDEEP BALA

The origins of navies worldwide date back thousands of years, as early civilizations developed maritime forces for trade, exploration, and military purposes. Yet, from the beginning, if there is one aspect that has not changed, then it is the triumvirate relation of the Nation, Navy and Economy - in war and peace. It may seem obvious that the presence of a navy is a surety of protection of seaborne trade. What may not be obvious is the degree of the impact as well as the variety of other ways that the navy impacts the nation's economy. That there are no active conflicts on the maritime front is in itself a reflection of the effectiveness of the Indian Navy. Yet, for a nation that is on its path to being the third-largest economy by GDP numbers, India's international trade has been overwhelmingly dependent on the seas. Combining imports and exports, India's total trade volume is highly dependent on international markets, with over 90% of its trade volume (in monetary terms) being transacted overseas. According to data from the Ministry of Shipping and related reports, over 90% of India's trade by volume and approximately 75% of India's total trade by value is conducted via sea routes. Essentially, the seas are what sustain India's international trade. Should sea lines be threatened, the Indian economy would take a big setback.