The Chief Minister's Office of Odisha announced on 25 June 2026 that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has called for the integration of artificial intelligence into the state's maritime and coastline security framework, signalling a push to modernise surveillance along Odisha's 485-kilometre Bay of Bengal coastline.

Context

CM Majhi has advocated an AI-led approach to address persistent vulnerabilities along Odisha's coastline, which faces threats ranging from cyclonic weather events to smuggling and illegal fishing. The call positions Odisha alongside coastal states such as Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra that have already begun piloting data-fusion and drone-assisted maritime surveillance tools. The Chief Minister's push reflects a broader national momentum toward embedding emerging technologies into India's maritime domain awareness architecture.

Policy Backdrop

India's coastal security infrastructure was substantially overhauled following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, when the Coastal Security Scheme was launched in 2009 to install radar chains, Automatic Identification System stations and patrol infrastructure across coastal states. Subsequent programmes, including the Sagarmala initiative (2015), wove port-led development together with community-level coastal monitoring, with Odisha included as a beneficiary state. At the national level, the Defence AI Council (2022), building on India's National AI Strategy (2018), formally promoted artificial intelligence integration into maritime surveillance and border management.

The Indian Coast Guard remains the primary central agency responsible for coastal enforcement, search-and-rescue and maritime law along Odisha's shores, and any AI-powered state initiative would need to be coordinated with this federal structure. Analysts note that effective deployment would likely involve data-sharing agreements and interoperability protocols between state agencies and central bodies including the Coast Guard and potentially the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Stakeholders and Impact

Odisha's coastal fishing communities — numbering in the lakhs — stand at the intersection of this security push, as enhanced surveillance could simultaneously protect fishermen from maritime threats and raise concerns about monitoring of traditional fishing grounds. Security agencies at both state and central levels would need to coordinate deployment of AI tools, whether through indigenous systems aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework or partnerships with private technology firms. Non-traditional threats including trafficking and illegal fishing are expected to be primary targets of any AI-assisted surveillance grid.

What's Next

Concrete details — including pilot project locations, budget allocations and potential memoranda of understanding with defence or technology partners — are yet to be publicly announced. Observers will watch Odisha's next fiscal statement for specific line items tied to AI-enabled coastal infrastructure. The proposal's translation into operational capacity will depend on coordination between the state government, central maritime agencies and technology providers, making the coming months a critical window for policy specifics to emerge.