Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar has been appointed as India’s First National Maritime Security Coordinator with a mandate to ensure cohesion among various key stakeholders with an overall objective to strengthen the country’s maritime security, especially following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, 14 years ago when a group of sea-borne terrorists struck at the heart of the country’s financial capital.
Kumar’s Former Years
He was designated as the 35th Vice Chief of the Indian Navy in January 2019. Last year in July, after serving the defence for nearly 39 years, Kumar retired.
On July 1, 1892, Kumar joined the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy and is an alumnus of Sainik School in Amravati Nagar and National Defense Academy, Pune.
Graduated from the Defense Services Staff College, Wellington. Later in 1989, at Kochi, he attained specialisation in Shipping and operations.
Not only that, he also joined the Army Higher Command course in Mau, besides the Expeditionary Operations course at Quantico, Virginia, USA. He was posted as a Shipping Officer in the Indian Navy ships Beas, Nilgiris, Ranvir, and Vikrant after completing his specialisation.
Kumar is an awardee of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal(PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal(AVSM), and Vishisht Seva Medal(VSM). The proposal was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security for the post, last year.
About NMSC
The NMSC coordinates among the Indian Navy, The Coast Guard, security agencies involved in coastal and maritime security, and 13 coastal states and Union Territories. The country has a coastline of around 7500 kilometers.
The department collaborates with the National Security Council Secretariat headed by NSA Ajit Doval.
Ever since the Mumbai terror attack, the government has taken a string of security measures including putting in place layered maritime surveillance to boost coastal and maritime security.
Over 70% of the Indian trade includes the vital crude oil contribution towards the country’s growth which is transported through sea. The security imperatives rising out of the Chinese focus on the swift expansion of its maritime forces and increasing sea-legs towards the Indian Ocean makes the post of NMSC vital for India’s maritime security imperatives.
