Overview
The Ministry of Defence hosted the 3rd edition of the Maritime Information Sharing Workshop (MISW-25) and Maritime Security Seminar in Gurugram, India. The workshop, organized by the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), took place from November 3rd to 5th, 2025. The event brought together 57 participants from 30 countries to enhance real-time coordination, interoperability, and information sharing in the Indian Ocean Region.
Key Developments
Maritime Security Seminar
The Maritime Security Seminar, a key component of MISW-25, concluded on November 4th, 2025. The three-day workshop, themed “Enhancing Real-Time Coordination and Information Sharing Across the Indian Ocean Region,” included representations from IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association), DCoC/JA (Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment), and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).
- Opening Address: Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, emphasized collaboration, interoperability, and trust-based partnerships.
- Keynote Address: Mr. Sushil Mansing Khopde, IPS, Additional Director General, Directorate General of Shipping, highlighted India’s maritime initiatives and efforts to strengthen regional maritime security.
Seminar Deliberations
Participants deliberated on various topics shaping the maritime security landscape:
- Regional security dynamics
- Role of information networks
- Operational coordination
- Maritime law
- Industry perspectives
- Transnational maritime crime
The sessions underscored the importance of technological integration, data interoperability, and collective commitment in building a resilient maritime security framework. Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna highlighted the need for synergy among regional information-sharing frameworks.
Table Top Exercise (TTX)
On November 5th, 2025, MISW-25 featured a Table Top Exercise (TTX) at IFC–IOR. The exercise utilized the indigenously developed Maritime Analytical Tool for Regional Awareness (MANTRA) software.
- Scenarios: Simulated maritime situations including piracy incidents, drug smuggling, irregular human migration, and distress-at-sea scenarios.
- Focus: Multi-agency coordination, rapid information sharing, and synchronised response planning.
- Objective: Refining real-time information sharing to achieve coherent maritime security outcomes.
Exam Relevance
This event is highly relevant for the UPSC Civil Services Exam, particularly for topics related to:
- GS2: International Relations (India's maritime diplomacy and regional cooperation)
- GS3: Security (Maritime security challenges, role of technology in security)
- GS3: Science and Technology (Indigenous technology development for security applications)
Key Takeaways for UPSC
- Understanding the importance of IFC-IOR in promoting maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Analyzing India's initiatives and contributions to regional maritime security architecture.
- Evaluating the role of information sharing and technological solutions like MANTRA in addressing maritime threats.
Important Facts
- Event: 3rd Maritime Information Sharing Workshop (MISW-25)
- Dates: November 3-5, 2025
- Location: Gurugram, India
- Host: IFC-IOR
- Participants: 57 from 30 countries
- Software Used: MANTRA