Navy must upgrade maritime surveillance amid rising grey-zone challenges: Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for an urgent upgrade to India's maritime surveillance capabilities to address growing regional security challenges. He highlighted the Navy's expanding role as a security partner and the record-breaking induction of 18 warships in 2026.
Why it matters
Strengthening maritime surveillance is vital for India's economic security and strategic influence in the Indian Ocean Region amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) called for a significant upgrade of India’s maritime surveillance and response architecture amid growing congestion, deception and grey-zone activities at sea, asserting that the country’s strategic responsibilities in the Indian Ocean Region were increasing alongside its maritime power.
Addressing the second edition of the Indian Navy’s biannual Commanders’ Conference 2026 here, Mr. Singh said India had emerged as a “First Responder” and “Preferred Security Partner” in the Indian Ocean Region and stressed the need to take maritime monitoring and response mechanisms to a new level.
“The entire world is witnessing the growth of both our strategic position and our strategic responsibility in the region,” he said.
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