In last decade, India has devoted an increasing amount of resources and political capital in augmenting its naval capability and has articulated its desire to take on a leadership role within the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In this endeavour it has confronted several issues. The first is the appropriate role China should play in the IOR. The second problem India faces is the diversity of the IOR and the disparate security needs of countries in the different sub-regions within the IOR. Can IORA and IONS be strengthened to play a central role in the security dynamics of the IOR? Should India lead in building new security institutions outside IORA and IONS? This project will examine these questions from the perspective of India’s emerging power status within international politics.