India sits astride the major sea routes of the world. It has a coastline of 7,516 km with a total of 1,197 island territories in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. India has an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.01 million sq. km. 90 per cent by volume and 77 per cent of total value of India's trade comes from the seas. The resource rich EEZ provides 68 per cent of its oil production and fish production of 2.82 million tonnes. In addition, the entire import of oil and gas comes by the sea. India's economy and therefore its development is crucially dependent on the sea on account of the critical role of maritime trade as well as oil and gas, fisheries and other mineral resources. The responsibility for the defence and security of these maritime interests and assets devolves upon the Indian Navy.

It has been the objective of the Navy to prepare for all manner of contingencies through meticulously planned operations that hone the skills of personnel; exhaustively evaluated induction of the most appropriate equipment; and focused training to get the best from the personnel.

The Indian Navy has grown in stature as a self confident, highly professional and responsible force for stability and support in the region. The Indian Navy, today, is a complete reflection of the nation's growing economic, technological and diplomatic eminence. Strength of Indian navy lies not only in high technology ships, submarines and aircraft but also in the cadre of highly disciplined, professional competent personnel who man these machines.

The Raksha Mantri had INS Shardul, commissioned on January 4, 2007, which is the first of three Landing Ship Tanks (Large), constructed at Garden Reach Ship Engineers Ltd., Apart from it, Fast Attack Crafts (FACs) IN FACs Bangaram, Bitra, Batti Malv and Baratang, have been inducted.