Context: India has launched Operation Urja Suraksha amid escalating tensions in West Asia to safeguard energy supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
About Operation Urja Suraksha:
What it is?
- Operation Urja Suraksha is a strategic maritime security mission launched by the Indian Navy to ensure the safe transit of India-bound energy cargo vessels from the Persian Gulf region.
- It focuses on protecting shipping routes in and beyond the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.
Aim:
- To ensure uninterrupted energy supply to India by safeguarding oil and gas shipments.
- To provide secure maritime navigation and escort services in conflict-prone waters.
Key Features:
- Naval Escort Mechanism: Indian warships escort vessels after they exit Hormuz, ensuring safe passage through the Gulf of Oman into the Arabian Sea
- Layered Maritime Security: Deployment of destroyers and frigates with coordinated monitoring and communication systems
- Safe Route Navigation: Identification of secure maritime corridors to avoid threats like sea mines and electronic disruptions
Significance:
- Energy Security Assurance: Protects India’s critical imports (crude oil, LNG, LPG), reducing vulnerability to supply shocks
- Strategic Maritime Presence: Enhances India’s role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
- GS Paper II (International Relations)
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- India’s engagement in West Asia and maritime diplomacy
- Protection of global trade routes and energy corridors
- GS Paper III (Security & Economy)
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- Energy security and supply chain resilience
- Role of armed forces in non-traditional security challenges
