Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said that India possesses a highly effective maritime monitoring system, known as Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), which ensures comprehensive knowledge of “who is where and who is doing what” across the oceans to safeguard the nation’s interests. Speaking on the sidelines of THINQ 2024, a nationwide quiz competition organized by the Indian Navy, Admiral Tripathi underscored India’s vigilance over activities in its strategic waters.
Addressing a query about China’s expanding influence in the region, primarily through partnerships with neighbouring nations like Sri Lanka, Admiral Tripathi downplayed concerns over China’s recent dual-carrier operations in the South China Sea, asserting, “It is not something we need to be concerned about.”
He added, “What China does globally is their prerogative, but in our area of interest, we keep a close watch. Nothing happens in our part of the world without our knowledge.”
Admiral Tripathi further emphasized the Navy‘s active role in securing India’s interests across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). “Whenever foreign military or civilian units operate in our waters, we ensure that our national interests remain uncompromised. Through MDA, we have a robust mechanism to monitor all oceanic activities with precision,” he stated. On China’s dual-carrier capabilities, he remarked, “We have been conducting dual-carrier operations for years; it is nothing new for us.”
Highlighting the Navy’s outreach through events like the THINQ quiz competition, Admiral Tripathi pointed out that such initiatives aim to build awareness about the Navy’s role in peace and potential conflict situations, especially among the youth. He emphasized that innovation remains a priority for the Navy, which strives to stay at the forefront of technology.
THINQ 2024 saw participation from 12,600 schools across 3,800 cities and towns. Sixteen teams advanced to the semifinals, with eight reaching the grand finale, which was held at the Ezhimala Naval Academy.
Team BharatShakti
