No, the Indian Navy cannot fully secure its 7,500 km coastline and the entire Indian Ocean with its current fleet strength.

While the navy has a strong presence and is rapidly modernizing, a significant gap between its sanctioned and actual fleet size leaves it vulnerable to a multi-front threat and the growing presence of rival navies, especially China's, in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The Task: A Dual Responsibility-

The Indian Navy has two primary, but distinct, responsibilities:

1. Coastal Security: Guarding India's extensive 7,500 km coastline against threats like terrorism and illegal activities. This is primarily a responsibility of the Indian Coast Guard, but the navy provides crucial support.

2. Blue-Water Operations: Projecting power and securing India's strategic interests across the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, which is a major global shipping artery.

To perform these tasks effectively, the navy needs a large and balanced fleet. Its sanctioned strength is around 175-200 ships, but it currently has around 135 warships in active service. This numerical shortfall is a major concern.

Strengths and Progress-

The Indian Navy is actively working to bridge its fleet gap by focusing on indigenous shipbuilding.

• Indigenous Shipbuilding: India has become a "builder's navy," with its shipyards constructing most of its modern warships. The commissioning of the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was a landmark achievement. India is also building its own frigates, destroyers, and nuclear submarines, a capability possessed by only a handful of nations.

• A Blue-Water Presence: Despite its limitations, the Indian Navy is a formidable regional power. It routinely conducts anti-piracy operations, deploys to key chokepoints like the Strait of Malacca, and participates in exercises with other navies, including the Quad nations.

Key Challenges and Gaps-

The Indian Navy's capabilities are significantly hampered by a number of issues:

• Aging Fleet and Submarine Shortage: The navy's conventional submarine fleet is a major point of concern. Many of its submarines are decades old and are reaching the end of their service lives. The Project 75I program to acquire new submarines has been delayed, creating a critical vulnerability in its underwater warfare capabilities.

• Resource Constraints: The navy receives the smallest share of India's defense budget, which limits its ability to rapidly acquire new ships, submarines, and aircraft. A significant portion of its budget is consumed by maintenance of the existing fleet and personnel costs, leaving less for new acquisitions.

• China's Growing Presence: China's naval presence in the Indian Ocean is increasing. China's navy has a much larger fleet, including two operational aircraft carrier groups, and is building a third. It also maintains a network of bases and ports in the IOR, challenging India's traditional dominance in the region.