What is Maritime Anti Piracy Bill 2022? Know For UPSC

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Relevance of Maritime Anti Piracy Bill 2022 for UPSC

Maritime Anti Piracy Bill 2022: More than 90 percent of trade taking place by sea routes, so a strong Maritime Anti Piracy Bill was the need of the hour. Our topic ”Maritime Anti Piracy Bill 2022” covers GS 2: Government Policies & Interventions and GS 3: Security Challenges & their Management in Border Areas.

Why Maritime Anti Piracy Bill 2022 is in News?

Parliament has passed the Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill 2022 with Rajya Sabha approving it. The Bill has already been passed by Lok Sabha earlier.

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What is Piracy?

Piracy is defined as an act of violence or detention by the crew or passengers of a private vessel or private aircraft on high seas, directed against another vessel or aircraft and/or people or property on board.
Between 2008 and 2011, 27 incidents of maritime piracy took place in which 288 Indian nationals were involved. While in 2014 to 2022, 19 incidents of piracy happened in which 155 Indian crew members were involved.
From 2014-19, the number of incidents of maritime piracy has come down because of international cooperation.

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What is the Need of the Maritime Anti Piracy Bill 2022?

Previously, pirates were prosecuted under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) but in today’s context IPC is not valid for foreigners in international waters.
India’s sovereignty is delimited by the outer boundary of its territorial waters(12 nautical miles from the coast).
Acts of piracy committed by a foreigner outside India’s territorial waters cannot be an offence under the IPC, and those accused in piracy cases have been acquitted due to the lack of jurisdiction.
Incidence of Piracy: Gulf of Aden has been one of the deadliest areas in the oceans due to a large number of piracy incidents. Due to an increased naval presence in the Gulf of Aden, it has been observed that piracy operations are shifting towards the east and south, which increases their proximity to India’s west coast. E.g. 18 Indians aboard a crude oil carrier were kidnapped off the coast of Nigeria last year (2021).

What is the aim of the Bill?

Strengthen India’s credentials as a partner with other countries to make the world more piracy free.
Provide an effective legal instrument to combat maritime piracy, not only in India’s territorial waters in the Exclusive Economic Zone but also on the high seas.
Enhance India’s global credentials and strengthen maritime security.

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Know About Maritime Anti Piracy Bill 2022

The Maritime Anti Piracy Bill 2022 enables Indian authorities to take action against piracy on the high seas.
It applies to the sea beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone, which is beyond 200 nautical miles from India’s coastline.
The Bill defines piracy as any illegal act of violence, detention, or destruction against a ship, aircraft, person, for private purposes, by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft.

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Possible Benefits of Maritime Anti Piracy Bill 2022

More than 90 percent of trade taking place by sea routes. So Anti Piracy Bill was the need of the hour as the Bill will give the right to take action on high seas.
The Bill will strengthen India’s credentials as a partner with other countries to make the world more piracy free.
This Bill will provide an effective legal instrument to combat maritime piracy, not only in India’s territorial waters in the Exclusive Economic Zone but also on the high seas.
By bringing a strong Anti Maritime Bill, India has taken a lead on the issue of maritime security at a multilateral forum.
This would enhance India’s global credentials and strengthen maritime security.