Coast Guard

Published on 07 Feb 2025

Indian Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement and search & rescue agency of India with jurisdiction over its territorial water, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. Established in 1977, it works in close collaboration with the Navy, CAPF and the State Police force. Major functions of Coast Guard includes:

• Maritime security and Surveillance: The Coast Guard is tasked with ensuring the security of India's maritime zones, including coastal areas and exclusive economic zones.

• Example: Recently Indian Coast Guard divers recovered 17 kg of smuggled gold on Tamil Nadu coast.

• Search and rescue operation: The Coast Guard is responsible for responding to distress calls from vessels and aircraft and coordinating search and rescue operations.

• Example: Recently, the Coast Guard rescued a research ship carrying 36 persons near to Karwar coast

• Marine environment protection: Coast Guard is involved in preventing and responding to marine pollution incidents, including oil spills and hazardous material releases.

• Example: SAGAR AARAKSHA 2 operation which involved fighting off fire in a chemical laden ship.

• Example: Indian Coast Guard conducting beach clean-up drive as a part of World Ocean Day

• Anti-piracy operations: The Indian Coast Guard plays a role in countering piracy and armed robbery at sea, especially in the vulnerable waters off the coast of India.

• Customs and Immigration enforcement: They assist in enforcing customs and immigration laws at sea, ensuring that vessels comply with legal requirements.

• Fishery regulations: Enforces regulations related to fisheries in India's maritime zones to prevent overfishing and protect the livelihoods of fishermen.

• Maritime law enforcement: Enforces various maritime laws, including those related to shipping safety, navigation, and maritime pollution.

• Example: The force ensures that the Laws of the Sea are being followed like enforcing the Maritime Zone Act, 1976, which divides the maritime zones of India into five Coast Guard regions.

• Disaster response: The Indian Coast Guard plays a vital role in responding to natural disasters such as cyclones, tsunamis etc.

• Example: The Coast Guard made commendable efforts in responding to Amphan and Fani cyclones.

Issues associated with Indian Coast Guard

• Limited infrastructure: The coast guard operates with limited resources including ships, aircrafts and surveillance equipment which prevents them from effectively covering the vast maritime zone.

• Human resource management: Recruitment, training and retention of skilled personnel can be challenging affecting the operational readiness of the force.

• Lack of coordination with other agencies: Ensuring seamless coordination with other maritime agencies, both domestic and international, can be challenging due to differing mandates and communication protocols.

• Obsolete technology: The equipment used by the Coast Guard is largely outdated which affects the performance of the force.

• Dynamic maritime security threats: The maritime security landscape is constantly evolving, with new threats emerging, such as cyberattacks on maritime infrastructure and vessels.

• Lack of public awareness: Limited public awareness about the role and significance of the ICG can hinder its efforts to engage with coastal communities and gain their support.

Government interventions & Way forward

• Integrated Coastal Surveillance System: This creates a comprehensive surveillance network along the coastline, improving their ability to monitor security threats.

• Integrated Operation Centres: The government has established Integrated Operations Centres to enhance the real-time monitoring, coordination, and communication among various maritime agencies

• Upgradation of assets: The induction of new offshore patrol vessels, fast patrol vessels and aircraft equipped with advanced surveillance systems to improve effectiveness.

• Capacity enhancement: Conducting joint training exercises with international counterparts and participation in international forums to share best practices.

• Coastal community engagement: Conducting workshops and public demonstrations to educate the coastal community about reporting procedures and safety measures.

Tags:
Security

Keywords:
Coast Guard Paramilitary forces National security architecture Maritime security Indian Military

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Internal Security