Subject: Internal Security

The new US President has stopped the construction of the much-publicized “border wall” between the U.S. and Mexico.

Q.Smart fencing along with physical fencing can protect major infiltration areas of Indian borders. Analyse its feasibility for India.

What is the news?

• The Mexico–US barrier also known as the border wall is a series of vertical barriers along the border intended to reduce illegal immigration to the US.
• Biden’s decision was confirmed, however, that an alternative has been offered — a ‘smart’ wall that replaces the physical and armed patrolling with advanced surveillance tech is the proposed future of border security now.

What is the Smart Wall?

• The ‘smart wall’ technology could solve border security issues without the need for a physical barrier.
• The wall would use sensors, radars, and surveillance technology to detect and track border break-ins, and technology capable of performing the most difficult tasks dedicated to border security.
• The complete system of a virtual wall would consist of a radar satellite, computer-equipped border-control vehicles, control sensors and underground sensors.
• Along with surveillance towers and cameras, thermal imaging would be used, which would help in the detection of objects.
• The system would even be capable of distinguishing between animals, humans, and vehicles, and then sending updates to handheld mobile devices of the patrol agents.

Not a new concept

• The concept is not new and the novelty of it cannot be directly associated with Biden.
• Interestingly, the U.S.-Mexico border wall proposed by Donald Trump envisaged this concept.
• A technology firm was sought to be hired by the Trump administration, and it was indicated that artificial intelligence shall be used at a novel scale to complement the steel barrier (border wall).

Feasibility for India

• A question that now arises is whether such a project can be undertaken to secure Indian borders.
• India has been struggling with the problem of terrorists and smugglers infiltrating into the country and efforts are ongoing to secure our borders and curb cross-border infiltration.
• Therefore, it is proposed that it is high time we start envisaging the use of technology to help India secure its borders.

Various challenges

• A critical factor that must be considered to enable the usage of such a system along Indian borders is that the terrain in the region is rugged, and, furthermore, not even clearly defined.
• Hence, erecting fences, walls or any physical structures is extremely difficult.
• A “smart” wall, however, makes use of systems that would be designed in such a way that they can operate even in rugged areas.
• Imperatively, in the US various other benefits, such as cost-effectiveness, less damage to the environment, fewer land seizures, and speedier deployment are being noted.
• This gives the concept an edge over traditional borders.

Benefits that Indian can reap

• Notably, such a system, even if not feasible for our long boundaries, may still be deployed to enhance critical security establishments of the country and complement the already-existing physical fencing and walls.
• This can no doubt secure the major infiltration areas.

Way forward

• The attack on the Pathankot Airbase highlighted that often, it may become difficult to secure establishments due to their vast size.
• Further, it is imperative for Indian armed forces to be well-equipped and simultaneously have the latest technological advantage over its enemies.
• Experts must explore this idea to effectively counter the problem of cross-border infiltration.
• Is it unfathomable to deploy a security system that clubs technology with traditional set-ups due to terrain and other problematic factors? This is a question for Digital India to answer.

The article analyses India’s efforts in increasing the maritime domain awareness while increasing the cooperation with the neighbourhood and other countries.

Indian Navy improving domain awareness

• The enemy at sea is often unrecognisable — a terrorist, a pirate, a criminal or a sea robber.
• Of late, the Indian Navy has been on a drive to improve domain awareness in the Indian Ocean.
• The Indian Navy’s efforts seem focused primarily on monitoring Chinese activity in the Eastern Indian Ocean, particularly in the seas around the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
• The Navy is seeking to expand India’s surveillance footprint by setting up radar stations in the Maldives, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
• Mauritius, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka have already integrated into the wider coastal radar chain network.

Increasing international cooperation

• Seven Indian Ocean countries — Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles — will soon post Liaison Officers at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram.
• France already has an officer at the IFC.
• Four other Indo-Pacific navies — Australia, Japan, the U.K and the U.S. — have also agreed to position officers at the centre.
• As a result of such cooperation, IFC is fast emerging as the most prominent information hub in the Eastern Indian Ocean.
• India is increasing engagement in the Western Indian Ocean by positioning a Liaison Officer at the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar.
• India has also posted an officer at the European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH) in Abu Dhabi to assist in the monitoring of maritime activity.

Stronger partnership with France

• Delhi’s moves in the Western and South-Western littorals have been facilitated by France.
• Two countries have signed a logistics agreement in 2019.
• France is keen for a stronger partnership in the maritime commons.
• France has been instrumental in securing ‘observer’ status for India at the Indian Ocean Commission and is pushing for greater Indian participation in security initiatives in the Western Indian Ocean.
• However, the Indian Navy’s priority remains South Asia, where the naval leadership remains focused on underwater domain awareness in the Eastern Indian Ocean.

Concerns over increasing Chines presence

• There is concern that the Chines navy may be poised to develop a generation of quieter submarines that would be hard to detect.
• As a result, India has moved to expand its underwater detection capabilities in the Eastern chokepoints. 
• India might also partner Japan in installing an array of undersea sensors near the Andaman Islands to help detect Chinese submarines.

India as a security provider: Manifestation of SAGAR

• India’s initiatives in the maritime domain are motivated by more than just strategic considerations.
• Shipping agreements with 21 countries in the Indian Ocean have enabled a comprehensive picture of maritime traffic.
• Efforts are under way to help smaller island states build capacity to combat regional threats.
• India’s military satellite (GSAT-7A) may soon facilitate a real-time sharing of maritime information with partners.
• These endeavours are a manifestation of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) that advances the idea of India as a ‘security provider’ and ‘preferred partner’ in the Indo-Pacific region.

Challenges

• Indian initiatives, however, are yet to bring about an alignment of objectives and strategies of regional littoral states.
• While cooperative information sharing allows for a joint evaluation of threats, countries do not always share vital information timeously.

Conclusion

To bring real change, India must ensure seamless information flow, generating operational synergy with partners, and aim to expand collaborative endeavours in shared spaces.