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{{short description|Maritime security agency of India's military}}
{{short description|Maritime security force of India}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2023}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname        = Indian Coast Guard
| agencyname        = Indian Coast Guard
| nativenamea      =  
| nativenamea      = <!-- This was removed as per a [[Special:PermanentLink/863478855#What's_with_all_this_transliteration?|discussion]] at WikiProject India as an extension of [[MOS:IS]] -->
| abbreviation      = ICG
| abbreviation      = ICG
| patch            =
| patchcaption      =
| logo              = File:Indian Coast Guard Logo.svg
| logo              = File:Indian Coast Guard Logo.svg
| logocaption      = Indian Coast Guard crest
| logocaption      = Indian Coast Guard crest
Line 15: Line 13:
| flagcaption      = Ensign
| flagcaption      = Ensign
| imagesize        =  
| imagesize        =  
| motto            = {{native phrase|sa|वयम् रक्षामः|italics=off}}<br>{{transliteration|sa|ISO|Vayam Rakṣāmaḥ}} <small>([[ISO 15919|ISO]])</small><ref>{{cite web |url=http://sanskrit.samskrutam.com/en.grammar-tutorial-reference-dhaaturupa.ashx |title=Grammar Tutorial ::: Reference – Verb Forms / धारुरूप / dhaaturuupa |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310170343/http://sanskrit.samskrutam.com/en.grammar-tutorial-reference-dhaaturupa.ashx |archive-date=10 March 2016 |access-date=6 March 2016}}</ref>
| motto            = {{native phrase|sa|वयम् रक्षामः|italics=off}}<br>{{transliteration|sa|ISO|Vayam Rakṣāmaḥ}} ([[ISO 15919|ISO]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sanskrit.samskrutam.com/en.grammar-tutorial-reference-dhaaturupa.ashx |title=Grammar Tutorial ::: Reference – Verb Forms / धारुरूप / dhaaturuupa |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310170343/http://sanskrit.samskrutam.com/en.grammar-tutorial-reference-dhaaturupa.ashx |archive-date=10 March 2016 |access-date=6 March 2016}}</ref>
| mottotranslated  = We protect
| mottotranslated  = We Protect
| formed            = {{start date|1978|08|18|df=y}}
| formed            = {{start date and age|1978|08|18|df=y}}
| preceding1        = <!-- (...up to 6...) -->
| preceding1        = <!-- (...up to 6...) -->
| dissolved        =  
| dissolved        =  
| superseding      =  
| superseding      =  
| employees        = 13,842 sanctioned strength (2018–19)<ref name="strength">{{Cite web |last=Behera |first=Laxman Kumar |last2=Kaushal |first2=Vinay |date=4 August 2020 |title=Estimating India’s Defence Manpower |url=https://idsa.in/issuebrief/estimating-indias-defence-manpower-040820 |access-date=2022-02-02 |website= |publisher=Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses}}</ref>
| employees        = 13,842 sanctioned strength (2018–19)<ref name="strength">{{Cite web |last1=Behera |first1=Laxman Kumar |last2=Kaushal |first2=Vinay |date=4 August 2020 |title=Estimating India's Defence Manpower |url=https://idsa.in/issuebrief/estimating-indias-defence-manpower-040820 |access-date=2022-02-02 |website= |publisher=Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses}}</ref>
| volunteers        =  
| volunteers        =  
| budget            =  
| budget            = {{INRConvert|9676|c}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2025 |title=A record over Rs 6.81 lakh crore allocated in Union Budget 2025-26 for MoD, an increase of 9.53% from current Financial Year |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098485 |access-date=24 August 2025 |website=[[Press Information Bureau]]}}</ref>
| legalpersonality  =  
| legalpersonality  = Law enforcement
| country          = India
| country          = India
| governingbody    =  
| governingbody    = [[Government of India]]
| governingbodyscnd =  
| governingbodyscnd =  
| constitution1    = The Coast Guard Act, 1978
| constitution1    = The Coast Guard Act, 1978
Line 32: Line 30:
| overviewtype      =  
| overviewtype      =  
| overviewbody      =  
| overviewbody      =  
| headquarters      = Indian Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi
| headquarters      = Indian Coast Guard Headquarters, [[New Delhi]]
| minister1name    =  
| minister1name    =  
| minister1pfo      =  
| minister1pfo      =  
| chief1name        = [[Rakesh Pal]], [[President's Tatrakshak Medal|PTM]], [[Tatrakshak Medal|TM]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=DG Rakesh Pal appointed as 25th Director General of Indian Coast Guard |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1940824 |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
| chief1name        = [[Paramesh Sivamani]]
| chief1position    = [[Director General of the Indian Coast Guard|Director General]]
| chief1position    = [[Director General of the Indian Coast Guard|Director General]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/s-paramesh-appointed-new-chief-of-indian-coast-guard/articleshow/114221123.cms|title=S Paramesh appointed new chief of Indian Coast Guard|date=2024-10-14|access-date=2024-10-16|publisher=Times of India}}</ref>
| chief2name        = S Paramesh, [[President's Tatrakshak Medal|PTM]], [[Tatrakshak Medal|TM]]
| chief2name        =
| chief2position    = [[Additional Director General, Indian Coast Guard]]
| chief2position    =
| chief3name        = KR Suresh, [[President's Tatrakshak Medal|PTM]], [[Tatrakshak Medal|TM]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/1805_3_CGCWS.aspx |title=Additional Director General Rakesh Pal, PTM, TM Additional Director General Indian Coast Guard |date=2023-01-23 |access-date=2023-01-27}}</ref>
| chief3name        =
| chief3position    = [[Coast Guard Commander (Western Seaboard)]]
| chief3position    = [[Coast Guard Commander (Western Seaboard)]]
| chief4name        =  
| chief4name        =  
Line 45: Line 43:
| chief4position    = [[Coast Guard Commander (Eastern Seaboard)]]
| chief4position    = [[Coast Guard Commander (Eastern Seaboard)]]
| parentagency      = [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]
| parentagency      = [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]
| boats1            = *3 [[pollution control]] [[Marine vessel|vessels]]
| boats1            = *4 [[pollution control]] vessels
*27 offshore [[patrol vessels]]
*25 [[patrol ship|offshore patrol vessels]]
*45 fast [[patrol vessels]]
*43 fast [[patrol vessels]]
*82 [[patrol boats]]
*82 [[patrol boats]]
*14 [[patrol craft]]
*28 [[patrol craft]]
*18 [[hovercraft]]
*14 [[hovercraft]]
| aircraft1        = [[List of active Indian military aircraft#Indian Coast Guard|77 aircraft]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-26 |title=Indian Coast Guard looks for new helicopters, rotary Unmanned Aerial Vehicles |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-coast-guard-looks-for-new-helicopters-rotary-unmanned-aerial-vehicles/article66187739.ece |access-date=2023-08-15 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
*06 Aux barge
| aircraft1        = [[List of active Indian military aircraft#Coast Guard|77 aircraft]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-26 |title=Indian Coast Guard looks for new helicopters, rotary Unmanned Aerial Vehicles |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-coast-guard-looks-for-new-helicopters-rotary-unmanned-aerial-vehicles/article66187739.ece |access-date=2023-08-15 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
| anniversary1      = Coast Guard Day: 1 February
| anniversary1      = Coast Guard Day: 1 February
| website          = {{Official URL}}
| website          = {{Official URL}}
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| reference        =  
| reference        =  
}}
}}
The '''Indian Coast Guard''' ('''ICG''') is a [[maritime law enforcement]] and [[search and rescue]] agency for India with jurisdiction over its [[territorial waters]], including its contiguous zone and [[Exclusive economic zone of India|exclusive economic zone]]. It was started in February 1977 and formally established in August 1978 by the ''Coast Guard Act, 1978'' of the [[Parliament of India]].<ref name="act">{{cite act |url=https://indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1734 |title=The Coast Guard Act |year=1978 |index= |legislature=[[Parliament of India]]}}</ref> It operates under the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref name=mod-depts>{{cite web |url=http://mod.nic.in/aboutus/welcome.html |title=About the Ministry |publisher=Ministry of Defence, Government of India |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509001243/http://mod.nic.in/aboutus/welcome.html |archive-date=9 May 2012}}</ref>


The '''Indian Coast Guard''' ('''ICG''') is a [[maritime law enforcement]] and [[search and rescue]] agency of India with jurisdiction over its [[territorial waters]] including its contiguous zone and [[Exclusive economic zone of India|exclusive economic zone]]. It was formally established on 1 February 1977 by the ''Coast Guard Act, 1978'' of the [[Parliament of India]].<ref name="act">{{cite act |url=https://indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1734 |title=The Coast Guard Act |year=1978 |index= |legislature=[[Parliament of India]]}}</ref> It operates under the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref name=mod-depts>{{cite web |url=http://mod.nic.in/aboutus/welcome.html |title=About the Ministry |publisher=Ministry of Defence, Government of India |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509001243/http://mod.nic.in/aboutus/welcome.html |archive-date=9 May 2012}}</ref>
The ICG works in close cooperation with the [[Indian Navy]], the [[Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying|Department of Fisheries]], the [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Department of Revenue]] [[Indian Customs services|(Customs)]], and the Coastal Police of the [[Police forces of the states and union territories of India|State Police Forces]], and the [[Central Armed Police Forces]].
 
The Coast Guard works in close cooperation with the [[Indian Navy]], the [[Ministry of Agriculture (India)|Department of Fisheries]], the [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Department of Revenue]] (Customs), and the [[Central Armed Police Forces]], and the [[State Police Services]].


==History==
==History==
The establishment of the Indian Coast Guard was first proposed by the Indian Navy to provide non-military maritime services to the nation.<ref name="icg-mh">{{cite web |title=History |url=http://indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/290_3_History.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806112406/http://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/290_3_History.aspx |archive-date=6 August 2016 |publisher=Indian Coast Guard}}</ref> In the 1960s, sea-borne smuggling of goods was threatening India's domestic economy. The Indian Customs Department frequently called upon the Indian Navy for assistance with patrol and interception in the anti-smuggling effort.
The establishment of the Indian Coast Guard was first proposed by the [[Indian Navy]] to provide non-military maritime services to the nation.<ref name="icg-mh">{{cite web |title=History |url=http://indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/290_3_History.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806112406/http://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/290_3_History.aspx |archive-date=6 August 2016 |publisher=Indian Coast Guard}}</ref> In the 1960s, sea-borne smuggling of goods was threatening to destroy India's domestic economy. The Indian Customs Department frequently called upon the Indian Navy for assistance with patrol and interception in the anti-smuggling effort.


The [[Basanti Dulal Nagchaudhuri|Nagchaudhuri]] Committee was constituted with participation from the Indian Navy and the [[Indian Air Force]] to study the problem. In August 1971, the committee identified the requirement to patrol India's vast coastline, set up a registry of offshore fishing vessels to identify illegal activity, and establish a capable and well-equipped force to intercept vessels engaged in illegal activities. The committee also looked at the number and nature of the equipment, infrastructure and personnel required to provide those services.<ref name=icg-mh/>
The [[Basanti Dulal Nagchaudhuri|Nagchaudhuri]] Committee was constituted with participation from the Indian Navy and the [[Indian Air Force]] to study the problem. In August 1971, the committee identified the requirement to patrol India's vast coastline, set up a registry of offshore fishing vessels to identify illegal activity, and establish a capable and well-equipped force to intercept vessels engaged in illegal activities. The committee also looked at the number and nature of the equipment, infrastructure, and personnel required to provide those services.<ref name=icg-mh/>
[[File:Indian Coast Guard.webm|thumb|305x305px|Indian Coast Guard promotional movie launched on the eve of 46th raising day|alt=|right]]
[[File:Indian Coast Guard.webm|thumb|305x305px|Indian Coast Guard promotional movie launched on the eve of 46th raising day|alt=|right]]
By 1973, India had started a programme to acquire the equipment and started deputing personnel from the Indian Navy for these anti-smuggling and law enforcement tasks, under the provisions of the ''Maintenance of Internal Security Act''. The Indian Navy sensed that the [[law enforcement]] nature of these duties diverged from its core mission as a military service. [[Sourendra Nath Kohli|Admiral Sourendra Nath Kohli]], then [[Chief of Naval Staff (India)|Chief of Naval Staff]], hence made a recommendation to the Defence Secretary outlining the need for a separate maritime service to undertake those duties and offering the Navy's assistance in its establishment. On 31 August 1974, the Defence Secretary submitted a note to the Cabinet Secretary proposing cabinet action on Admiral Kohli's recommendation.
By 1973, India had started a programme to acquire the equipment and started deputing personnel from the Indian Navy for these anti-smuggling and law enforcement tasks, under the provisions of the [[Maintenance of Internal Security Act]]. The Indian Navy sensed that the [[law enforcement]] nature of these duties diverged from its core mission as a military service. [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]] [[Sourendra Nath Kohli]], then [[Chief of Naval Staff (India)|Chief of Naval Staff]], made a recommendation to the [[Defence Secretary (India)|Defence Secretary]], outlining the need for a separate maritime service to undertake those duties and offering the Navy's assistance in its establishment. In August 1974, the Defence Secretary submitted a note to the [[Cabinet Secretary (India)|Cabinet Secretary]] proposing cabinet action on Admiral Kohli's recommendation.


As a result, in September 1974, the Indian cabinet set up the ''Rustamji Committee'', under the chairmanship of [[Khusro Faramurz Rustamji]], with participation from the Navy, the [[Indian Air Force|Air Force]] and the Department of Revenue to examine gaps in security and law enforcement between the roles of the Indian Navy and the central and state police forces. The discovery of oil off [[Bombay High]] further emphasised the need for a maritime law enforcement and protection service. The committee submitted its recommendation for the establishment of the Indian Coast Guard under the Ministry of Defence on 31 July 1975. Bureaucratic wrangling followed, with the Cabinet Secretary making a recommendation to place the service under the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]. Then Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] overruled the Cabinet Secretary and decided to accept the original recommendation of the Rustamji Committee to place the service under the Ministry of Defence.<ref name=icg-mh/>
As a result, in September 1974, the Indian cabinet set up the ''Rustamji Committee'', under the chairmanship of [[Khusro Faramurz Rustamji]], with participation from the Navy, the [[Indian Air Force|Air Force]] and the Department of Revenue to examine gaps in security and law enforcement between the roles of the Indian Navy and the central and state police forces. The discovery of oil off [[Bombay High]] further emphasised the need for a maritime law enforcement and protection service.<ref name=icg-mh/>


An interim Indian Coast Guard came into being on 1 February 1977, equipped with two small corvettes and five patrol boats transferred from the Navy. The duties and functions of the service were formally defined in the ''Coast Guard Act'', which was passed by India's parliament on 18 August 1978 and came into immediate effect.<ref name="act"/>
In July 1975, the committee submitted its recommendation for the establishment of the Indian Coast Guard under the Ministry of Defence. Bureaucratic wrangling followed, with the Cabinet Secretary making a recommendation to place the service under the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]. Then [[Prime minister|Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]] overruled the Cabinet Secretary and decided to accept the original recommendation of the Rustamji Committee to place the service under the Ministry of Defence.<ref name=icg-mh/>


[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[V. A. Kamath]] of the Indian Navy was appointed the founding Director-General. Prime Minister [[Morarji Desai]] inspected the Guard of Honour at the service's inauguration. Vice Admiral Kamath proposed a five-year plan to develop the ICG into a potent force by 1984, but the full potential of this plan was not immediately realised due to an economic resource crunch.<ref name=icg-mh/>
In February 1977, an interim Indian Coast Guard came into being, equipped with two small [[Corvette|corvettes]] and five [[Patrol boat|patrol boats]] transferred from the Navy. The duties and functions of the service were defined in the ''Coast Guard Act'', which was passed by India's parliament in August 1978 and came into immediate effect.<ref name="act"/>


One of the historic operational successes of the ICG occurred in October 1999, with the recapture at high seas of a Panamanian-registered Japanese cargo ship, ''MV Alondra Rainbow'', hijacked off Indonesia. Her crew were rescued off [[Phuket (city)|Phuket]], Thailand. The ship had been repainted as MV ''Mega Rama'', and was spotted off [[Kochi]], heading towards Pakistan. She was chased by ''ICGS Tarabai'' and {{ship|INS|Prahar|K98}} of the Indian Navy, and apprehended.<ref name=saa-alondra>{{cite web |url=http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers14%5Cpaper1379.html |title=Alondra Rainbow revisited, A Study of related issues in the light of the recent judgment of Mumbai High Court |publisher=South Asia Analysis Group |date=13 May 2005 |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128110221/http://southasiaanalysis.org/papers14/paper1379.html |archive-date=28 November 2010}}</ref> It was the first successful prosecution of armed pirates in over a century.
[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[V. A. Kamath]] of the Indian Navy was appointed the founding Director-General. Prime Minister [[Morarji Desai]] inspected the Guard of Honour at the service's inauguration. In 1984, Vice Admiral Kamath proposed a five-year plan to develop the ICG into a potent force. The full potential of this plan was not immediately realised due to an economic resource crunch.<ref name=icg-mh/>
 
One of the historic operational successes of the ICG occurred in October 1999, with the recapture at high seas of a Panamanian-registered Japanese cargo ship, ''MV Alondra Rainbow'', hijacked off Indonesia. Her crew was rescued off [[Phuket (city)|Phuket]], Thailand. The ship had been repainted as MV ''Mega Rama'', and was spotted off [[Kochi]], heading towards Pakistan. She was chased by ''ICGS Tarabai'' and {{ship|INS|Prahar|K98}} of the Indian Navy and apprehended.<ref name=saa-alondra>{{cite web |url=http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers14%5Cpaper1379.html |title=Alondra Rainbow revisited, A Study of related issues in the light of the recent judgment of Mumbai High Court |publisher=South Asia Analysis Group |date=13 May 2005 |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128110221/http://southasiaanalysis.org/papers14/paper1379.html |archive-date=28 November 2010}}</ref> It was the first successful prosecution of armed pirates in over a century.
[[File:Indian Coast Guard Chetak Helicopter picking up survivors from water during a mock drill during SAREX 2014 (1).jpg|thumb|305x305px|Indian Coast Guard ship and helicopter during the Search and Rescue Workshop and Exercise (SAREX), 2014|alt=|right]]
[[File:Indian Coast Guard Chetak Helicopter picking up survivors from water during a mock drill during SAREX 2014 (1).jpg|thumb|305x305px|Indian Coast Guard ship and helicopter during the Search and Rescue Workshop and Exercise (SAREX), 2014|alt=|right]]


The Indian Coast Guard conducts exercises with the other coast guards of the world. In May 2005, the ICG agreed to establish liaison links with the [[Pakistan Maritime Security Agency]] (PMSA). In 2006, the Indian Coast Guard conducted exercises with its [[Japan Coast Guard|Japanese]] and [[Republic of Korea Coast Guard|Korean]] counterparts.
The Indian Coast Guard conducts exercises with the other coast guards of the world. In May 2005, the ICG agreed to establish liaison links with the [[Pakistan Maritime Security Agency]] (PMSA). In 2006, the Indian Coast Guard conducted exercises with its [[Japan Coast Guard|Japanese]] and [[Republic of Korea Coast Guard|Korean]] counterparts.


After the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]], the Indian government initiated a programme to expand the ICG force, assets and infrastructure.
After the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]] in which the terrorists entered India from Pakistan via the sea route, the Indian government initiated a program to expand the ICG force, assets, and infrastructure for enhanced protection and surveillance of Indian waters.


The force aims to have 200 ships and 100 twin-engined aircraft by 2023 in its fleet.<ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Siva G |date=18 June 2018 |title=Indian Coast Guard fleet 4th largest in the world |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indian-coast-guard-fleet-4th-largest-in-the-world/articleshow/64636279.cms |access-date=8 June 2020 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
The force aims to have 200 ships and 100 twin-engined aircraft by 2030 in its fleet. As of January 2025, ICG deploys 55 to 60 ships and 10 to 12 aircraft daily.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Coast Guard to be much bigger by 2030 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/indian-coast-guard-to-be-much-bigger-by-2030-3382319 |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>


==Present scenario ==
==Present scenario ==
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===Current role===
===Current role===
[[File:Coast Guard Office.jpg|thumb|Coast Guard DHQ-4 Headquarters in [[Kochi]], Kerala]]
[[File:Coast Guard Office.jpg|thumb|Coast Guard DHQ-4 Headquarters in [[Kochi]], Kerala]]
The Indian Coast Guard's motto is "वयम रक्षामः" (''Vayam Rakshamah''), which translates from [[Sansrit]] as ''"We Protect"''.
The Indian Coast Guard's motto is "वयम रक्षामः" (''Vayam Rakshamah''), which translates from [[Sanskrit]] as ''"We Protect"''.


Missions of Indian Coast Guard:<ref name="icg-mission">{{cite web |title=Mission and Motto |url=http://indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/248_3_Mission.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716031118/http://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/248_3_Mission.aspx |archive-date=16 July 2016 |access-date=25 July 2016 |publisher=Indian Coast Guard}}</ref>
Missions of Indian Coast Guard:<ref name="icg-mission">{{cite web |title=Mission and Motto |url=http://indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/248_3_Mission.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716031118/http://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/248_3_Mission.aspx |archive-date=16 July 2016 |access-date=25 July 2016 |publisher=Indian Coast Guard}}</ref>
* Safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore terminals and other installations
* Safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore terminals, and other installations
* Protection and assistance to fishermen and mariners at sea
* Protection and assistance to fishermen and mariners at sea
* Preservation and protection of [[marine ecology]] and environment including pollution control
* Preservation and protection of [[marine ecology]] and environment including pollution control
* Assistance to the Department of Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations
* Assistance to the Department of Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations
* Law enforcement in [[territrial waters|territorial]] as well as [[international waters]]
* Law enforcement in territorial as well as [[international waters]]
* Scientific data collection and support
* Scientific data collection and support
* National defence during hostilities (under the operational control of the Indian Navy)
* National defence during hostilities (under the operational control of the Indian Navy)


Additional responsibilities of the Indian Coast Guard:<ref>{{cite web |date=2011–2012 |title=Performance of Coast Guard Organisation |url=http://www.rgics.org/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Defence-Coast-Guard-Organisationt..pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427214542/http://www.rgics.org/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Defence-Coast-Guard-Organisationt..pdf |archive-date=27 April 2014 |access-date=2013-09-17 |publisher=Standing Committee on Defence, Lok Sabha Secretariat}}</ref>
Additional responsibilities of the Indian Coast Guard:<ref>{{cite web |date=2011–2012 |title=Performance of Coast Guard Organisation |url=http://www.rgics.org/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Defence-Coast-Guard-Organisationt..pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427214542/http://www.rgics.org/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Defence-Coast-Guard-Organisationt..pdf |archive-date=27 April 2014 |access-date=2013-09-17 |publisher=Standing Committee on Defence, Lok Sabha Secretariat}}</ref>
* Offshore Security Coordination Committee (OSCC) – The Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard is the Chairman of OSCC constituted by the [[Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas]] (MoPNG), of which the [[Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group]] is a member.
* Offshore Security Coordination Committee (OSCC) – The Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard is the Chairman of OSCC, constituted by the [[Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas]] (MoPNG), of which the [[Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group]] is a member.
* National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority (NMSARCA) – The Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard is the NMSARCA for executing / coordinating [[search and rescue]] (SAR) missions
* National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority (NMSARCA) – The Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard is the NMSARCA for executing/coordinating [[search and rescue]] (SAR) missions
* Lead Intelligence Agency (LIA) – For coastal and sea borders
* Lead Intelligence Agency (LIA) – For coastal and sea borders
* Coastal Security – The Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard is the commander of coastal command and is responsible for overall coordination between central and state agencies in all matters relating to coastal security
* Coastal Security – The Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard is the commander of coastal command and is responsible for overall coordination between central and state agencies in all matters relating to coastal security
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===Leadership and organisation===
===Leadership and organisation===
{{main|Director General of the Indian Coast Guard}}
{{main|Director General of the Indian Coast Guard}}
The Indian Coast Guard organisation is headed by the [[Director General of Indian Coast Guard|Director-General]] (DG ICG) who is located at Coast Guard Headquarters (CGHQ), New Delhi. At CGHQ, he is assisted by the Additional Director General Coast Guard (ADGCG) of the rank of ADG. four Deputy Director-Generals of the rank of [[Inspector-general of police|Inspector-General]], and other senior officers heading various staff divisions. The current Director-General is [[Rakesh Pal]], [[President's Tatrakshak Medal|PTM]], [[Tatrakshak Medal|TM]].<ref name="DGICG">{{cite web |title=DG Rakesh Pal appointed as 25th Director General of Indian Coast Guard |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1940824 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Paramesh Sivamani.jpg|thumb|26th Director General of Indian Coast Guard Paramesh Sivamani]]
 
 
The Indian Coast Guard organisation is headed by the [[Director General of Indian Coast Guard|Director-General]] (DG ICG), who is located at Coast Guard Headquarters (CGHQ), New Delhi. At CGHQ, he is assisted by the Additional Director General Coast Guard (ADGCG) of the rank of ADG, four Deputy Director-Generals of the rank of [[Inspector-general of police|Inspector-General]], and other senior officers heading staff divisions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Coast Guard Gets First 3-Star officer |url=http://www.defencenow.com/news/1069/indian-coast-guard-gets-first-3-star-officer.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213243/http://www.defencenow.com/news/1069/indian-coast-guard-gets-first-3-star-officer.html |archive-date=23 September 2015 |access-date=26 November 2014 |publisher=Defence Now}}</ref>


Director-General of Indian Coast Guard is equivalent to [[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] of [[Indian Navy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Coast Guard Gets First 3-Star officer |url=http://www.defencenow.com/news/1069/indian-coast-guard-gets-first-3-star-officer.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213243/http://www.defencenow.com/news/1069/indian-coast-guard-gets-first-3-star-officer.html |archive-date=23 September 2015 |access-date=26 November 2014 |publisher=Defence Now}}</ref>  
Director General Paramesh Sivamani is the 26th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard. The rank of Director General is equivalent to a [[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] of [[Indian Navy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Coast Guard Gets First 3-Star officer |url=http://www.defencenow.com/news/1069/indian-coast-guard-gets-first-3-star-officer.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213243/http://www.defencenow.com/news/1069/indian-coast-guard-gets-first-3-star-officer.html |archive-date=23 September 2015 |access-date=26 November 2014 |publisher=Defence Now}}</ref>


The Indian Coast Guard has the Western and Eastern Seaboard, both commanded by [[three-star rank|three-star officers]] designated Coast Guard Commander Western Seaboard and Coast Guard Commander Eastern Seaboard. The seaboards are in turn divided into four regions. The Andaman & Nicobar Region reports directly into the DGICG. Each region is headed by an officer of the rank of [[Inspector-general of police|Inspector-General]]. Each of the regions is further divided into multiple districts, typically covering a coastal [[States and territories of India|state or a union territory]].
The Indian Coast Guard has the Western and Eastern Seaboard, both commanded by [[three-star rank|three-star officers]] designated Coast Guard Commander Western Seaboard and Coast Guard Commander Eastern Seaboard. The seaboards are divided into four regions. A fifth region, the Andaman & Nicobar Region, reports directly to the DGICG.  
 
Each region is headed by an officer of the rank of [[Inspector-general of police|Inspector-General]]. Each of the regions is further divided into multiple districts, typically covering a coastal [[States and territories of India|state or a union territory]].


{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- style="background:#cccccc"
! scope="col" style="width: 300px;" | Coast Guard Seaboards
! scope="col" style="width: 300px;" | Coast Guard Seaboards
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | HQ location
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | HQ location
! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Seaboard Commander
! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Seaboard Commander
|-
|-
|Western Seaboard ||[[Mumbai]] || [[Additional director general of police|ADG]] KR Suresh, [[President's Tatrakshak Medal|PTM]], [[Tatrakshak Medal|TM]]
|Western Seaboard ||[[Mumbai]] || ADG M.V Pathak,PTM, TM
|-
|-
|Eastern Seaboard ||[[Chennai]] ||
|Eastern Seaboard ||[[Visakhapatnam|Visakapatanam]]|| ADG Donny Michael, AVSM, PTM, TM
|}
|}


Line 130: Line 134:
! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Regional commander
! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Regional commander
|-
|-
|Western Region (W) ||[[Mumbai]] || [[Inspector General|IG]] MV Baadkar, TM
|North-West Region (NW) || [[Gandhinagar]] ||[[Inspector General|IG]] T Sashi Kumar, TM
|-
|-
|Eastern Region (E) ||[[Chennai]] || [[Inspector General|IG]] Anand Prakash Badola, TM
|Western Region (W) ||[[Mumbai]] || [[Inspector General|IG]] Bhisham Sharma, PTM TM
|-
|Eastern Region (E) ||[[Chennai]] || [[Inspector General|IG]] Y Dhaka, TM
|-
|-
|North-East Region (NE) || [[Kolkata]] || [[Inspector General|IG]] IS Chauhan, TM
|North-East Region (NE) || [[Kolkata]] || [[Inspector General|IG]] IS Chauhan, TM
|-
|-
|Andaman & Nicobar Region (A&N) || [[Port Blair]] ||[[Inspector General|IG]] B Sharma, TM
|Andaman & Nicobar Region (A&N) || [[Port Blair]] ||[[Inspector General|IG]] Neeraj Tiwari, TM
|-
|North-West Region (NW) || [[Gandhinagar]] ||[[Inspector General|IG]] AK Harbola, TM
|}
|}


Line 146: Line 150:
* 10 Coast Guard Air Enclaves
* 10 Coast Guard Air Enclaves


== Organization ==
==Organisation==
There are currently 42 Coast Guard stations which have been established along the coastline of the country.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=0 |title=Press Information Bureau |access-date=7 May 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506140228/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=0 |archive-date=6 May 2016}}</ref>
In 2016, there were 42 Coast Guard stations along the Indian coastline.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CG Organisation:Indian Coast Guard |url=https://indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/289_3_CGOrganisation.aspx |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=indiancoastguard.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Coast Guard Stations |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=144979 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
 
Indian Coast Guard is responsible for the execution of [[Search and Rescue]] (SAR) operations in the Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR). To serve this purpose, ICG operates 3 Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) in Mumbai, Chennai and Port Blair and 36 Maritime Rescue Sub Centres (MRSC/MRCSC), which operates under their respective MRCCs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NATIONAL MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE COORDINATING AUTHORITY (NMSRCA) |url=https://indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/447_3_NMSARCA.aspx |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=indiancoastguard.gov.in}}</ref>
 
In November 2024, the Indian Coast Guard and the [[Telecommunications Consultants India]] (TICL) laid the foundation of a full-fledged "Tier-3" [[Data centre|Data Centre]] at [[Mahipalpur]], [[Delhi]]. The construction will take 2 years. The project worth {{INRConvert|588|c|lk=on|year=2024}} (including 5-year operational expenditure (opex) and a 2-year hardware warranty) will be carried out by TCIL, Yotta Infrastructure, and Attero, a software solution company. This will help ICG for [[Command and control|Command and Control]] over their 109 offices and 88 ships at once.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.ETTelecom.com |title=TCIL, Indian Coast Guard lay foundation stone of a new data centre - ET Telecom |url=https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/tcil-indian-coast-guards-lay-foundation-stone-of-a-new-data-centre/114974261 |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=ETTelecom.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-06 |title=ICG lays foundation stone for the Tier-III Data Centre of Project Digital Coast Guard in New Delhi |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2071089 |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=[[Press Information Bureau|PIB]]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Regional HQ
!Regional HQ
Line 153: Line 161:
!Coast Guard Station
!Coast Guard Station
|-
|-
| rowspan="5" |North-East Region (NE) CGRHQ Kolkata
| rowspan="8" |North-East Region (NE) CGRHQ [[Kolkata]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organisation (North East) {{!}} Official Website of Indian Coast Guard Head Quarters, New Delhi, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. |url=https://indiancoastguard.gov.in/north-east/organisation-north-east |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250920111243/https://indiancoastguard.gov.in/north-east/organisation-north-east |archive-date=2025-09-20 |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=indiancoastguard.gov.in}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" |DHQ-7 Paradip
| rowspan="2" |CGRHQ
|CGAE Bhubaneswar
|ICGS Kolkata
|-
|-
|ICGS Gopalpur
|[[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|CGAE Kolkata]] (700 Squadron)
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |DHQ-8 Haldia
| rowspan="3" |DHQ-7 [[Paradeep|Paradip]]
|ICGS Frazerganj
|ICGS Paradip
|-
|-
|ICGS Kolkata
|ICGS Gopalpur<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICGS Gopalpur commissioned |url=https://www.spsmai.com/military/?id=1979&q=ICGS-Gopalpur-commissioned |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=www.spsmai.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Biju Patnaik Airport#Coast Guard Air Enclave|CGAE Bhubaneswar]]<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2014-12-16 |title=Coast Guard Air Enclave at City Airport |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2014/Dec/16/coast-guard-air-enclave-at-city-airport-694764.html |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> (743 Squadron)
|-
| rowspan="3" |DHQ-8 [[Haldia]]
|ICGS Haldia
|-
|ICGS Frazerganj (includes [[Forward operating base|FOB]])<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-04-14 |title=Indian Coast Guard Station (ICGS) Frazerganj, the 42nd CG station commissioned to serve as a new Forward Operating Base in South 24-Parganas district of West Bengal, which will serve as a hub for coastal security operations in the sea areas off Sunderban. |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indian-coast-guard-station-icgs-frazerganj-the-42nd-cg-station-commissioned-to-serve-as-a-new-forward-operating-base-in-south-24-parganas-district-of-west-bengal-which-will-serve-as-a-hub-for-coastal-security-operations-in-the-sea-areas-off-sunderban-/articleshow/33739690.cms |access-date=2024-05-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
|-
|-
|CGAE Kolkata
|[[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|CGAE Kolkata]] (700 Squadron)
|-
|-
| rowspan="12" |Eastern Region (E) CGRHQ Chennai
| rowspan="13" |Eastern Region (E) CGRHQ Chennai<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organisation (East) {{!}} Official Website of Indian Coast Guard Head Quarters, New Delhi, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. |url=https://indiancoastguard.gov.in/east/organisation-east |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005054559/https://indiancoastguard.gov.in/east/organisation-east |archive-date=2025-10-05 |access-date=2025-10-05 |website=indiancoastguard.gov.in}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" |DHQ-5 Chennai
| rowspan="2" |DHQ-5 Chennai
| CGAS Chennai
| [[Chennai International Airport|CGAS Chennai]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Coast Guard Air Station - Chennai |url=https://wikimapia.org/5249983/Indian-Coast-Guard-Air-Station |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=wikimapia.org |language=en}}</ref> (848, 744 Squadron)
|-
|-
| ICGS Chennai
| [[Chennai Port|ICGS Chennai]] (includes MRCC and RMPC{{Efn|Regional Maritime Pollution Response Centre}})<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-08-18 |title=Rajnath Singh inaugurates new maritime rescue coordination centre in Chennai |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/rajnath-singh-inaugurates-new-maritime-rescue-coordination-centre-in-chennai/article68540170.ece |access-date=2024-08-19 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan="5" |DHQ-6 Visakhapatnam
| rowspan="5" |DHQ-6 Visakhapatnam
Line 181: Line 196:
| ICGS Nizampatnam
| ICGS Nizampatnam
|-
|-
| CGAE Visakhapatnam (Proposed)<ref>{{Cite news |title=Coast Guard to Set Up Air-enclave in Vishakapatnam |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Coast-Guard-to-Set-Up-Air-enclave-in-Vishakapatnam/2016/01/31/article3254026.ece |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=3 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201095831/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Coast-Guard-to-Set-Up-Air-enclave-in-Vishakapatnam/2016/01/31/article3254026.ece |archive-date=1 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/city-to-have-icg-air-enclave-by-2018-end/articleshow/56900108.cms |title=Visakhapatnam to have Indian Coast Guard air enclave by 2018-end – Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=2017-02-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212043854/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/city-to-have-icg-air-enclave-by-2018-end/articleshow/56900108.cms |archive-date=12 February 2017}}</ref>
| CGAE Visakhapatnam (Proposed)<ref>{{Cite news |title=Coast Guard to Set Up Air-enclave in Vishakapatnam |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Coast-Guard-to-Set-Up-Air-enclave-in-Vishakapatnam/2016/01/31/article3254026.ece |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=3 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201095831/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Coast-Guard-to-Set-Up-Air-enclave-in-Vishakapatnam/2016/01/31/article3254026.ece |archive-date=1 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/city-to-have-icg-air-enclave-by-2018-end/articleshow/56900108.cms |title=Visakhapatnam to have Indian Coast Guard air enclave by 2018-end – Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=2017-02-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212043854/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/city-to-have-icg-air-enclave-by-2018-end/articleshow/56900108.cms |archive-date=12 February 2017}}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |DHQ-13 Puducherry
| rowspan="3" |DHQ-13 Puducherry<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2014-05-16 |title=New Coast Guard Hub Opens, to Make Pondy Shores Secure |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2014/May/16/new-coast-guard-hub-opens-to-make-pondy-shores-secure-613284.html |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
| ICGS Puducherry
| ICGS Puducherry
|-
|-
| ICGS Karaikal
|[[Pondicherry Airport|CGAE Puducherry]]<ref name=":2" />
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |DHQ-16 Thoothukudi
| [[Karaikal Port|ICGS Karaikal]]
| ICGS Thoothukudi<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Coast Guard: Eastern Region Organization |url=https://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/1835_0_Organisation.aspx?regID=1827 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130174628/https://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/1835_0_Organisation.aspx?regID=1827 |archive-date=2021-01-30 |access-date=2021-01-30}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" |DHQ-16 Thoothukudi<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Coast Guard: Eastern Region Organization |url=https://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/1835_0_Organisation.aspx?regID=1827 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130174628/https://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/1835_0_Organisation.aspx?regID=1827 |archive-date=2021-01-30 |access-date=2021-01-30}}</ref>
| ICGS Thoothukudi
|-
|-
| ICGS Mandapam
| ICGS Mandapam
|-
|-
| CGAS Thoothukudi (Land acquisition in-progress)<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 July 2018 |title=Indian Coast Guard to expand Thoothukudi fleet by 2020 |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/180718/indian-coast-guard-to-expand-thoothukudi-fleet-by-2020.html |access-date= |website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Coast Guard to set up air station in Tuticorin for surveillance, to aid fishers |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/coast-guard-to-set-up-air-station-in-tuticorin-for-surveillance-to-aid-fishers/articleshow/65030883.cms |access-date= |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
| [[Tuticorin Airport|CGAS Thoothukudi]] (Land acquisition in-progress)<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 July 2018 |title=Indian Coast Guard to expand Thoothukudi fleet by 2020 |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/180718/indian-coast-guard-to-expand-thoothukudi-fleet-by-2020.html |access-date= |website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Coast Guard to set up air station in Tuticorin for surveillance, to aid fishers |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/coast-guard-to-set-up-air-station-in-tuticorin-for-surveillance-to-aid-fishers/articleshow/65030883.cms |access-date= |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="8" |Andaman & Nicobar Region (A&N) CGRHQ Port Blair
|-
|-
| rowspan="7" |Andaman & Nicobar Region (A&N) CGRHQ Port Blair
| rowspan="3" |DHQ-14 Port Blair
| rowspan="3" |DHQ-14 Port Blair
| ICGS Port Blair
| ICGS Port Blair (includes MRCC)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coordinating Agencies |url=https://indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/1676_3_CoordinatingAgencies.aspx |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=indiancoastguard.gov.in}}</ref>
|-
|-
| CGAE Port Blair
| CGAE Port Blair
Line 237: Line 253:
|ICGS Goa
|ICGS Goa
|-
|-
|CGAE Dabolim
|[[INS Hansa|CGAE Dabolim]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |DHQ-12 Kavaratti
| rowspan="4" |DHQ-12 Kavaratti
|ICGS Kavaratti
|ICGS Kavaratti
|-
|-
Line 246: Line 262:
|ICGS Androth
|ICGS Androth
|-
|-
|
|[[Daman Airport|CGAS Daman]]
|CGAS Daman
|-
|-
| rowspan="8" |North-West Region (NW) CGRHQ Gandhinagar
| rowspan="8" |North-West Region (NW) CGRHQ Gandhinagar
|
| rowspan="4" |DHQ-1 Porbandar
|ICGS Gandhinagar
|ICGS Gandhinagar
|-
|-
| rowspan="7" |DHQ-1 Porbandar
|ICGS Pipavav<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-08-26 |title=Indian Coast Guard rescues 11 in a sea-air operation after merchant ship en route from Kolkata to Port Blair sinks |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/indian-coast-guard-rescues-11-in-a-sea-air-operation-after-merchant-ship-en-route-from-kolkata-to-port-blair-sinks/articleshow/112795711.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-08-26 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>
|ICGS Pipavav
|-
|ICGS Veraval
|-
|-
|ICGS Jakhau
|CGAE Porbandar
|-
|-
| rowspan="4" |DHQ-15 Okha
|ICGS Mundra
|ICGS Mundra
|-
|-
|ICGS Veraval
|ICGS Jakhau
|-
|-
|ICGS Vadinar
|ICGS Vadinar
|-
|-
|ICGS Okha
|ICGS Okha
|-
|CGAE Porbandar
|}
|}


Line 276: Line 291:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Indian Coast Guard Ranks  
! style="background:#ccc;"| Indian Coast Guard Ranks  
! Indian Army Ranks  
! style="background:#ccc;"| Indian Army Ranks  
! Indian Navy Ranks  
! style="background:#ccc;"| Indian Navy Ranks  
! Indian Air Force Ranks
! style="background:#ccc;"| Indian Air Force Ranks
![[Central Armed Police Forces]] Ranks
![[Police ranks and insignia of India|Police]]
|-
|-
|- || General || Admiral || Air Chief Marshal
|- || General || Admiral || Air Chief Marshal
|-
|-
| Director-General /Additional Director-General || Lieutenant General || Vice Admiral || Air Marshal
| [[Director General of the Indian Coast Guard|Director-General]] /Additional Director-General || Lieutenant General || Vice Admiral || Air Marshal
|Director General
|Director General of Police
|-
|-
| Inspector-General || Major General || Rear Admiral || Air Vice Marshal
| Inspector-General || Major General || Rear Admiral || Air Vice Marshal
|Inspector General
|Inspector General of Police
|-
|-
| Deputy Inspector-General || Brigadier || Commodore || Air Commodore
| Deputy Inspector-General || Brigadier || Commodore || Air Commodore
|Deputy Inspector General
|Deputy Inspector General of Police
|-
|-
|Commandant (Level 13-Pay Scale)  
|Commandant (Level 13-Pay Scale)  
Line 294: Line 316:
|Captain
|Captain
|Group Captain
|Group Captain
|Senior Commandant/Commandant
|Superintendent
(Selection Grade)
|-
|-
| Commandant (Junior Grade) || Lt Colonel || Commander || Wing Commander
| Commandant (Junior Grade) || Lt Colonel || Commander || Wing Commander
|Second In Command/
Commandant
|Superintendent
|-
|-
| Deputy Commandant || Major || Lt Commander || Squadron Leader
| Deputy Commandant || Major || Lt Commander || Squadron Leader
|Deputy Commandant
|Additional Superintendent
|-
|-
| Assistant Commandant (2 Years) || Captain || Lieutenant || Flight Lieutenant
| Assistant Commandant (2 Years) || Captain || Lieutenant || Flight Lieutenant
|Assistant Commandant
|Deputy Superintendent
|-
|-
| Assistant Commandant || Lieutenant || Sub Lieutenant || Flying Officer
| Assistant Commandant || Lieutenant || Sub Lieutenant || Flying Officer
|Assistant Commandant (Junior )
|Assistant Superintendent
|}
|}


===Coast Guard officers===
===Coast Guard officers===
[[File:The Coast Guard Marching Contingent passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day Parade 2017, in New Delhi on January 26, 2017.jpg|thumb|305x305px| The Coast Guard Marching Contingent passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day Parade 2017|alt=|right]]
[[File:The Coast Guard Marching Contingent passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day Parade 2017, in New Delhi on January 26, 2017.jpg|thumb|305x305px| The Coast Guard Marching Contingent passes through the [[Rajpath]], on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day Parade 2017|alt=|right]]
The naming of ranks of officers in the Coast Guard is as same as rank of [[Central Armed Police Forces]]. Officers are appointed in the Coast Guard in one of four branches, as either General-Duty officer, Pilot officer, Technical officer or Law officers. Lady Officers have two branches i.e. General-Duty Officer or Pilot Officer and serve on shore establishments/Air Stations/Headquarters. They are not deployed on board Indian Coast Guard ships.
The naming of ranks of officers in the Coast Guard is as same as the rank of [[Central Armed Police Forces]]. Officers are appointed in the Coast Guard in one of four branches, as either a General-Duty officer, Pilot officer, Technical officer, or Law officer. Lady Officers have two branches, i.e., General-Duty Officer or Pilot Officer, and serve on shore establishments/Air Stations/Headquarters. They are not deployed on board Indian Coast Guard ships.


Currently, officers of Indian Coast Guard undergo Basic Military Training at the [[Indian Naval Academy]], [[Ezhimala]] along with their counterparts of Indian Navy. This helps in the mutual interchange of Officers among these two sister services. While the [[Indian Coast Guard Academy]] is under construction in [[Mangalore]], [[Dakshina Kannada district]], Karnataka.<ref name=hindu-cga>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/28/stories/2011022855970600.htm |title=First Coast Guard academy in Kannur |access-date=3 May 2012 |date=28 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108235939/http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/28/stories/2011022855970600.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=8 November 2012}}</ref>
Officers of the Indian Coast Guard undergo Basic Military Training at the [[Indian Naval Academy]], [[Ezhimala]], along with their counterparts of the Indian Navy. This helps in the mutual interchange of Officers among these two sister services. While the [[Indian Coast Guard Academy]] is under construction in [[Mangaluru]], [[Dakshina Kannada district]], [[Karnataka]].<ref name=hindu-cga>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/28/stories/2011022855970600.htm |title=First Coast Guard academy in Kannur |access-date=3 May 2012 |date=28 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108235939/http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/28/stories/2011022855970600.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=8 November 2012}}</ref>  


;General-Duty Officers
; General-Duty Officers
The command of ships at sea can only be exercised by officers of the General-Duty (GD) branch. The key functions of a General-Duty Officer would be to operate weapons, sensors and different kinds of equipment on board a ship. The safety of the ship and the men would be GD officers responsibility. All the District Commanders (COMDIS) and Commander of Coast Guard Region (COMCG) appointments are exercised by a GD Officer of the Indian Coast Guard.
The command of ships at sea can only be exercised by officers of the General Duty (GD) branch. The key functions of a General-Duty Officer would be to operate weapons, sensors, and different kinds of equipment on board a ship. The safety of the ship and the men would be the GD officers' responsibility. All the District Commanders (COMDIS) and Commander of Coast Guard Region (COMCG) appointments are exercised by a GD Officer of the Indian Coast Guard.


;Pilot Officers
;Pilot Officers
Pilot Officers are also part of GD branch. A Pilot Officer gets an opportunity to work at shore Air Stations along the Indian coasts and also embark ships. ICG operates fixed wing aircraft for surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone. In addition, helicopters are embarked on Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) to provide local surveillance and perform search and rescue mission at sea.
Pilot Officers are also part of the GD branch. A Pilot Officer gets an opportunity to work at shore Air Stations along the Indian coasts and also on board ships. ICG operates fixed-wing aircraft for [[surveillance]] of the [[Exclusive economic zone of India|Exclusive Economic Zone]]. Helicopters are embarked on Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) to provide local surveillance and perform [[search and rescue]] mission at sea.


;Technical Officers
;Technical Officers
Technical Officers are responsible for operation of advanced technology and sensor systems on board Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, as well as on shore installations. They also command the maintenance wings of the force.
Technical Officers are responsible for the operation of advanced technology and sensor systems on board Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, as well as on shore installations. They also command the maintenance wings of the force.


;Law Officers
;Law Officers
Law Officers act as legal advisers to their respective commanders. They represent the Indian Coast Guard in legal actions filed by or against the organisation. They also perform the duties of trial law officers in Coast Guard courts, convened to try delinquent Coast Guard personnel. The Directorate of Law at Coast Guard Headquarters is headed by a Deputy Inspector-General and is designated as the Chief Law Officer. Section 115 of the Coast Guard Act, 1978 deals with the qualifications necessary to be appointed as the Chief Law Officer of Indian Coast Guard. Section 116 of the Coast Guard Act, 1978 defines the functions of the Chief Law Officer.<ref name="act"/>
Law Officers act as legal advisers to their respective commanders. They represent the Indian Coast Guard in legal actions filed by or against the organisation. They also perform the duties of trial law officers in Coast Guard courts, convened to try delinquent Coast Guard personnel. The Directorate of Law at Coast Guard Headquarters is headed by a Deputy Inspector-General and is designated as the Chief Law Officer. Section 115 of the Coast Guard Act, 1978, deals with the qualifications necessary to be appointed as the Chief Law Officer of the Indian Coast Guard. Section 116 of the Coast Guard Act, 1978, defines the functions of the Chief Law Officer.<ref name="act"/>


=== Enrolled personnel ===
===Enrolled personnel===
Enrolled personnel in the Coast Guard serve as either a ''yantrik'' (technician) or ''navik'' (sailor).<ref name=icg-jobs>{{cite web|url=http://indiancoastguard.nic.in/Indiancoastguard/jobs/jobs.html |title=Careers in Indian Coast Guard |publisher=Indian Coast Guard |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502063809/http://www.indiancoastguard.nic.in/Indiancoastguard/jobs/jobs.html |archive-date=2 May 2012}}</ref>
Enrolled personnel in the Coast Guard serve as either a ''yantrik'' (technician) or ''navik'' (sailor).<ref name=icg-jobs>{{cite web|url=http://indiancoastguard.nic.in/Indiancoastguard/jobs/jobs.html |title=Careers in Indian Coast Guard |publisher=Indian Coast Guard |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502063809/http://www.indiancoastguard.nic.in/Indiancoastguard/jobs/jobs.html |archive-date=2 May 2012}}</ref>
*''Yantrik''s are responsible for operating and maintaining mechanical, electrical or aeronautical equipment and systems on board the Coast Guard vessels and aircraft.
*''Navik''s may further serve in the General-Duty or Domestic branches. The General-Duty ''navik''s serve as sailors, weapons systems operators, communication specialists, divers, etc. or in specific maritime or aviation support roles. Domestic branch ''navik''s serve in roles such as stewards, cooks, etc. on board Coast Guard vessels.


Enrolled personnel of Indian Coast Guard are trained along with Indian Naval sailors at the naval training establishment [[INS Chilka]]. All training undertaken by Coast Guard personnel is the same as those undertaken by sailors in the Indian Navy. All personnel are trained in operation of weapons systems in cases of emergency.
* ''Yantrik''s responsible for operating and maintaining mechanical, electrical, or aeronautical equipment and systems on board the Coast Guard vessels and aircraft.
* ''Navik''s may further serve in the General-Duty or Domestic branches.
** The General-Duty ''navik''s serves as sailors, weapons systems operators, communication specialists, divers, etc., or in specific maritime or aviation support roles.
** The Domestic branch's navik serves in roles such as stewards, cooks, etc., on board Coast Guard vessels.
 
Enrolled personnel of the Indian Coast Guard are trained along with Indian Naval sailors at the naval training establishment [[INS Chilka]]. All training undertaken by Coast Guard personnel is the same as that undertaken by sailors in the Indian Navy. All personnel are trained in the operation of weapons systems in cases of emergency.


=== Rank insignia ===
===Rank insignia===
;Officers
; Commissioned officer ranks
The rank insignia of [[commissioned officer]]s.
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OF/Blank}}
Line 336: Line 374:
|}
|}


;Other ranks
; Other ranks
The rank insignia of [[non-commissioned officer]]s and [[Enlisted rank|enlisted personnel]].
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background:#ccc;"
|- style="background:#ccc;"
! Rank group|| colspan=10|  PBORs|| colspan=12| PBORs || colspan=14| Enlisted
{{Ranks and Insignia of Indian forces/OR/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/India (Coast Guard)}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/India (Coast Guard)}}
|}
|}


==Equipment==
==Equipment==
===Current aircraft===
{{Main article|List of equipment of the Indian Coast Guard}}  
{{main|List of active Indian military aircraft#Indian Coast Guard}}
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Picture
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Type
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Variant
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|In service
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | [[Maritime patrol aircraft|Maritime patrol]]
|-
| [[Dornier 228]]
| [[File:Dornier Do-228-101, India - Coast Guard JP7712387.jpg|frameless|upright]]
| {{Flag|Germany}}<br />{{flag|India}}
| [[Reconnaissance aircraft|Reconnaissance]]
| 101/201<ref name="jawa-04">{{cite book |editor1-last=Jackson |editor1-first=Paul |editor2-last=Munson |editor2-first=Kenneth |editor3-last=Peacock |editor3-first=Lindsay |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft |date=2004 |publisher=Janes Information Group |location=Coulsdon |isbn=0710626142 |page=206 |edition=95th year of issue 2004-2005. |chapter=HAL (Dornier) 228}}</ref>
| 36<ref name="thestatesman.com">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/northeast/indian-coast-guard-to-induct-16-advanced-light-helicopters-2-of-them-for-north-east-1502742438.html |title=Indian Coast Guard to induct 16 Advanced Light Helicopters in July, 2 of them for North-East |website=[[The Statesman (India) |The Statesman]] |date=2 April 2019}}</ref>
|2 on order<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-indian-coast-guard-to-get-dornier-aircraft-from-hal-3160424/ |title=Indian Coast Guard to get Dornier aircraft from HAL |date=2023-07-07 |accessdate=2023-07-08}}</ref>
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | [[Helicopters]]
|-
| rowspan='2'|[[HAL Dhruv]]
| rowspan='2'|[[File:Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III of Indian Coast Guard-1.jpg|frameless|upright]]
| rowspan='2'|{{Flag|India}}
| rowspan='2'|[[Utility helicopter|Utility]]
| Mk. I
| 4<ref>{{cite news |last1=Purohit |first1=Jugal |title=Indian Coast Guard to acquire 30 advanced copters soon |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-coast-guard-advanced-light-helicopter-dhruv-monitor-seas/1/710049.html |work=India Today |date=8 July 2016}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vk8-vgAACAAJ |title=The Military Balance 2017 |date=14 February 2017 |publisher=Routledge, Chapman & Hall |isbn=9781857439007 |language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan='2'| 9 more Mk.III will replace the HAL Chetak in service.<ref name="toi-151122"/>
|-
| Mk. III
| 16<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/alh-mark-iii-helicopters-inducted-into-indian-coast-guard-7753602 |title=Two ALH-Mark-III helicopters inducted into Indian Coast Guard |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=2 February 2022 |quote=The ICG said that these choppers were the ninth and tenth in the series of 16 ALH.}}</ref><ref name="toi-151122">{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/coast-guard-receives-16-alh-mk-iii-choppers-wants-9-more/articleshow/95532016.cms?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=TOIDesktop |title=Coast Guard receives 16 ALH-Mk III choppers, wants 9 more |newspaper=The Times of India |last=Kumar |first=Chetan |date=2022-11-15}}</ref>
|-
| [[HAL Chetak]]
| [[File:CG816 (13992244674).jpg|frameless|upright]]
| {{Flag|France}}<br />{{Flag|India}}
| [[Utility helicopter|Utility]]
|
| 17<ref name="the military balance">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vk8-vgAACAAJ|title=The Military Balance 2017|date=14 February 2017|publisher=Routledge, Chapman & Hall|isbn=9781857439007|language=en}}</ref>
|
|}
 
===Current vessels===
Vessels belonging to the Indian Coast Guard bear the prefix "ICGS" – Indian Coast Guard Ship.
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#ccc;"| Class
! style="background:#ccc;"| Picture
! style="background:#ccc;"| Origin
! style="background:#ccc;"| Type
! style="background:#ccc;"| Commissioned
! style="background:#ccc;"| Displacement
! style="background:#ccc;"| Vessels
! style="background:#ccc;"| Comment
|-
! style="background: :#ccc;" colspan="8" | Pollution control vessels (3)
|-
|[[Samudra-class Pollution Control Vessel|''Samudra'' class]]
|[[File:Samudra Class ICG.jpg|frameless|upright]]
| {{Flag|India}} || Pollution control vessel || 2010–present || 3,960 tons || 3
|
|-
! style="background: :#ccc;" colspan="8" | [[Patrol boat|Offshore patrol vessels]] (27)
|-
|[[Samarth-class offshore patrol vessel|''Samarth'' class]]
|[[File:ICGS-Samarath.jpg|frameless|upright]]
| {{Flag|India}} || Offshore patrol vessel || 2015–present ||2,400 tons||11||
|-
|[[Sankalp-class offshore patrol vessel|''Sankalp'' class]]
|[[File:ICGSSamrat 01.jpg|frameless|upright]]
|{{Flag|India}}
|Offshore patrol vessel
|2008–present
|2,325 tons
|2
|
|-
| [[Samar-class offshore patrol vessel|''Samar'' class]]
|[[File:Indian Coast Guard Ships Vijaya (34) and Samar (42).jpg|frameless|upright]]|| {{Flag|India}} || Offshore patrol vessel || 1996–present || 2,300 tons || 4 ||
|-
|[[Vikram-class offshore patrol vessel (2017)|''Vikram'' class]]
|[[File:ICGS Vigraha (39) during sea trials.jpg|frameless|upright]]
|{{Flag|India}}
|Offshore patrol vessel
|2018–present
|2,140 tons
|7
|
|-
| [[Vishwast-class advanced offshore patrol vessel|''Vishwast'' class]]
|[[File:IndianCoastGuard_OPV30_Vishwast_Kobe_20101129-001.jpg|frameless|upright]]|| {{Flag|India}} || Offshore patrol vessel || 2010–present || 1,800 tons || 3 ||
|-
! style="background: :#ccc;" colspan="8" | [[Patrol boat|Fast Patrol vessels]] (44)
|-
| [[Aadesh Class Fast Patrol Vessel|''Aadesh'' class]]
|[[File:ICGS Abhiraj patrolling in Gulf of Mannar.jpg|frameless|upright]]|| {{Flag|India}} || Fast patrol vessel || 2013–present || 290 tons || 20 ||
|-
| [[Rajshree-class inshore patrol vessel|''Rajshree'' class]]
|[[File:ICGS Rajshree, first shipr of Rajshree-class patrol vessel.jpg|frameless|upright]]
| {{Flag|India}} || Fast patrol vessel || 2012–present || 275 tons || 13||1 additional unit built for the Seychelles Coast Guard.<ref>{{cite news |title=ICGS Priyadarshini commissioned at Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada Port |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2019/apr/27/icgs-priyadarshini-commissioned-at-andhra-pradeshs-kakinada-port-1969683.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=27 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/grse-to-build-water-jet-propelled-fast-patrol-vessel-for-coast-guard/articleshow/58685359.cms |title=GRSE to build water jet-propelled fast patrol vessel for Coast Guard |work=The Economic Times |access-date=2017-05-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827222635/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/grse-to-build-water-jet-propelled-fast-patrol-vessel-for-coast-guard/articleshow/58685359.cms |archive-date=27 August 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[Rani Abbakka-class inshore patrol vessel|''Rani Abbaka'' class]]
|[[File:Rani Abbakka Class ICG.jpg|frameless|upright]]
| {{Flag|India}} || Fast patrol vessel || 2009–present || 275 tons || 5 ||
|-
| [[Sarojini Naidu-class extra-fast patrol vessel|''Sarojini Naidu'' class]]
|[[File:Indian Coast Guard helicopter using an oil spill disperser.jpg|frameless|upright]]|| {{Flag|India}} || Fast patrol vessel || 2002–present || 270 tons || 6 ||1 unit decommissioned on 27 April 2023. 2 additional units built for the [[National Coast Guard of Mauritius]].
|-
! style="background: :#ccc;" colspan="8" | [[Patrol boat]]s (82)
|-
| [[Bharati-class interceptor boat|''Bharati'' class]]
|[[File:Thane Creek and Elephanta Island 03-2016 - img08 Ships on Thane Creek.jpg|frameless|upright]] || {{Flag|India}} || Patrol boat || 2013–present || 107 tons ||6|| 9 more to be commissioned
|-
| [[L&T-class fast interceptor craft|L&T class]]
|[[File:L&T class boat.JPG|frameless|upright]]|| {{Flag|India}} || Fast interceptor boat || 2012–present || 90 tons || 54 ||
|-
| [[ABG fast interceptor craft|ABG class]]
|[[File:Commissioning of Indian Coast Guard interceptor boat C-150.jpg|frameless|upright]]|| {{Flag|India}} || Fast interceptor boat || 2000–present || 90 tons || 13 ||
|-
! style="background: :#ccc;" colspan="8" | [[Patrol boat|Patrol craft]] (14)
|-
| [[Timblo-class interceptor craft|Timblo class]]
||| {{Flag|India}} || Interceptor craft || 2010–present || 7 tons || 10 ||
|-
| [[Bristol-class interceptor craft|Bristol class]]
||| {{Flag|India}}<br />{{Flag|United Kingdom}} || Interceptor craft || 2004–present || 5 tons || 4 ||
|-
! style="background: :#ccc;" colspan="8" | [[Hovercraft]] (18)
|-
| [[Griffon-GRSE 8000 TD-Class Hovercraft|Griffon class]]
|[[File:Griffon-GRSE 8000 TD-class Hovercraft.jpg|frameless|upright]]||{{Flag|United Kingdom}} || [[Hovercraft]] || 2000–present || 27 tons || 18 || 6 H-181(Griffon 8000TD) and 12 H-187(Griffon 8000TD)<ref name=":0" />
|}


===Former vessels===
In November 2024, the Indian Coast Guard had a strength of 182 ships and 78 aircraft. It plans to have 200 ships and 100 aircraft by 2030. At any given time, 55 to 60 surface platforms and 10 to 12 aircraft are deployed on patrol daily.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |date=18 June 2018 |title=Indian Coast Guard fleet 4th largest in the world |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indian-coast-guard-fleet-4th-largest-in-the-world/articleshow/64636279.cms |access-date=8 June 2020 |work=[[The Times of India]] |vauthors=Siva G}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-01-31 |title=Indian Coast Guard poised to achieve its target force levels of 200 surface platforms and 100 aircraft by 2030 |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-coast-guard-poised-to-achieve-its-target-force-levels-of-200-surface-platforms-and-100-aircraft-by-2030/articleshow/117790435.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-03-16 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>  
Vessels belonging to the Indian Coast Guard bear the prefix "ICGS" – Indian Coast Guard Ship.
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#ccc;"| Class
! style="background:#ccc;"| Picture
! style="background:#ccc;"| Origin
! style="background:#ccc;"| Type
! style="background:#ccc;"| Commissioned
! style="background:#ccc;"| Displacement
! style="background:#ccc;"| Comment
|-
! style="background: :#ccc;" colspan="8" | [[Patrol boat|Patrol vessels]]
|-
|-
| [[Priyadarshini-class patrol vessel|''Priyadarshini'' class]]
|[[File:Priyadarshini Class ICG.jpg|frameless|upright]]
| {{Flag|India}} || Fast patrol vessel || 1992–1998 || 215 tons ||All 8 decommissioned.<ref>{{cite news |title=ICGS Sucheta Kriplani retired with full military honours |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/icgs-sucheta-kriplani-retired-full-military-honours-1502607243.html |work=The Statesman |date=24 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/1591_1_SurfaceUnitsPage3.aspx# |title=Surface Units Page :Indian Coast Guard |website=indiancoastguard.gov.in |access-date=1 May 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603001928/http://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/1591_1_SurfaceUnitsPage3.aspx |archive-date=3 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://kalingatv.com/state/odisha-coast-guard-ship-raziya-sultana-decommissioned/ |title=Odisha: Coast Guard Ship 'Raziya Sultana' Decommissioned |publisher=Kalinga TV |date=1 June 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Vikram-class offshore patrol vessel (1983)|''Vikram'' class]]
|[[File:File Picture INCGS Varuna.jpg|frameless|upright]]|| {{Flag|India}} || Offshore patrol vessel || 1983–1992 || 1,220 tons ||6 decommissioned, 1 lost, 2 transferred
|-
| [[Rajhans-class patrol vessel|''Rajhans'' class]]
||| {{Flag|India}} || Patrol vessel || 1980–1987 || 200 tons || All 5 have been decommissioned.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/1592_1_SurfaceUnitsPage4.aspx |title=Surface Units Page :Indian Coast Guard |website=indiancoastguard.gov.in |access-date=1 May 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603003428/http://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/1592_1_SurfaceUnitsPage4.aspx |archive-date=3 June 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[Tara Bai-class coastal patrol vessel|''Tara Bai'' class]]  
||| {{Flag|India}}<br />{{Flag|Singapore}} || Coastal patrol vessel || 1987–1990 || 236 tons ||All 6 have been decommissioned.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Indian Coast Guard: Inshore Patrol Vessels by Hindustan Shipyard Limited |url=http://www.marinebuzz.com/2012/01/31/indian-coast-guard-inshore-patrol-vessels-by-hindustan-shipyard-limited/ |website=marinebuzz.com |access-date=28 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129181258/http://www.marinebuzz.com/2012/01/31/indian-coast-guard-inshore-patrol-vessels-by-hindustan-shipyard-limited/ |archive-date=29 January 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[Blackwood-class frigate|''Blackwood'' class]]
||| {{Flag|United Kingdom}} || Offshore patrol vessel || 1978–1988 || 1,456 tons || Former ''INS Kirpan'' and former ''INS Kuthar'' transferred from the [[Indian Navy]] in 1978. ''Kirpan'' decommissioned 1987,<ref>{{cite book |last=Prezelin |first=Bernard |date=1990 |title=Combat Fleets of the World: 1990 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |page=245 }}</ref> ''Kuthar'' decommissioned September 1988.<ref>{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Ministry of Defence Annual Report: 1988 |publisher=Government of India |page=7 |date=1988 }}</ref>
|-
|}


==Future of the Indian Coast Guard==
==Future of the Indian Coast Guard==
{{Main Article|List of future and historical equipment of the Indian Coast Guard}}


===Future vessels===
The Indian Coast Guard expects to become a leading player in [[maritime security]] around the [[Indian Ocean]]. With a target set to triple its surface fleet strength by the turn of this decade, ICG has placed orders for 131 surveillance platforms that are already under construction in [[List of Indian shipbuilders and shipyards|Indian shipyards]] and is in the process of signing contracts for building another 200 platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Coast Guard modernizing fleet, enforcing laws, saving lives |url=https://ipdefenseforum.com/2020/11/indian-coast-guard-modernizing-fleet-enforcing-laws-saving-lives/#:~:text=The%20OPVs%20will%20conduct%20surveillance,India%20(PTI)%20news%20agency. |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Indo-Pacific Defense FORUM |language=en-US}}</ref> Contracts have been signed for state-of-the-art [[Hovercraft|air cushion vehicles]] and advanced communication systems <ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Coast Guard to be much bigger by 2030 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/indian-coast-guard-to-be-much-bigger-by-2030-3382319 |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>
The following is a table of vessel classes which are either under construction or planned, but have not yet entered service.
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#ccc;"| Class
! style="background:#ccc;"| Origin
! style="background:#ccc;"| Type
! style="background:#ccc;"| Commission (est.)
! style="background:#ccc;"| Displacement
! style="background:#ccc;"| Planned
! style="background:#ccc;"| Comment
|-
|[[Reliance-class fast patrol vessel|Reliance class]]
|{{Flag|India}}
|Fast patrol vessel
|January 2021
|
|14
|Contract was signed for $138&nbsp;million<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/reliance-defence-bags-rs-916-crore-contract-from-indian-coast-guard-117013000251_1.html |title=Reliance Defence bags Rs 916 crore contract from Indian Coast Guard |date=30 January 2017 |newspaper=Business Standard India |access-date=2017-01-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202060948/http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/reliance-defence-bags-rs-916-crore-contract-from-indian-coast-guard-117013000251_1.html |archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=31 October 2013 |title=Pipavav Defence secures order for building 14 coast guard vessels |url=http://www.livemint.com/Companies/xDwDkgl2fmRDYgvBiphxXI/Pipavav-Defence-secures-order-for-building-14-coast-guard-ve.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811111242/http://www.livemint.com/Companies/xDwDkgl2fmRDYgvBiphxXI/Pipavav-Defence-secures-order-for-building-14-coast-guard-ve.html |archive-date=11 August 2016 |access-date=27 December 2015 |website=Livemint}}</ref>
|-
|ICGS ''Varuna''
|{{Flag|India}}
|[[Training vessel]]
|May 2021
|3,000 tons
|1
|<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/pipavav-defence-wins-rs-221-cr-order-from-indian-coast-guard-114011300187_1.html |title=Pipavav Defence wins Rs 221 cr order from Indian Coast Guard |newspaper=Business Standard India |date=13 January 2014 |access-date=27 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105085406/http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/pipavav-defence-wins-rs-221-cr-order-from-indian-coast-guard-114011300187_1.html |archive-date=5 January 2016 |last1=Kanth |first1=K. Rajani}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=24 October 2018 |title=Reliance Naval launches next gen training ship for Indian Coast Guard |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/10/24/Reliance-Naval-launches-next-gen-training-ship-for-Indian-Coast-Guard.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024180954/https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/10/24/Reliance-Naval-launches-next-gen-training-ship-for-Indian-Coast-Guard.html |archive-date=24 October 2018 |access-date=24 October 2018 |work=The Week}}</ref>
|-
|[[Goa Shipyard Limited|Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL)]]
|{{Flag|India}}
|Pollution Control Vessel
 
|May 2025
|4100 tonnes<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/gsl-begins-work-on-2-pollution-control-ships-for-coast-guard/articleshow/89733520.cms|title=GSL begins work on 2 pollution control ships for Coast Guard |date=2022-02-22 |accessdate=2023-07-08 |quote=The two pollution control vessels will be approximately 115 mtrs long, 16.5 mtrs wide, with a displacement of 4100 tonnes and a maximum speed of 22 Knots.}}</ref>
|2
|Contract signed for ₹5.83&nbsp;billion<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 2021 |title=MoD signs ₹583 crore contract for two pollution control vessels for Coast Guard |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mod-signs-583-crore-contract-for-two-pollution-control-vessels-for-coast-guard/article34902258.ece |access-date=2021-06-22 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|-
|GSL Class FPV
|{{Flag|India}}
|Fast patrol vessel
|
|300 Tons
|8
|https://indiancoastguard.gov.in/WriteReadData/Tender/20171101024152257760608FPVdt30Oct17.pdf<nowiki/>https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1810469
|-
|FPV (NG) Class
|{{Flag|India}}
|Fast patrol vessel (New Generation)
|
|700 Tons
|18
|https://indiancoastguard.gov.in/WriteReadData/Tender/202106080426511845145RFI.pdf
|-
|OPV Class
|{{Flag|India}}
|OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS (OPVs)
|
|2500 Tons
|6
|https://indiancoastguard.gov.in/WriteReadData/Tender/202202280658459150335RFI.pdf
|}


===Future aircraft===
The Indian Coast Guard has been allotted Rs 9,676.70 crore under the Capital and Revenue Head of the [[2025 Union budget of India|Union Budget 2025]], which is a 26.5% increase over the previous years. The funds will be used for the acquisition of more [[HAL Dhruv|ALH]], [[Dornier 228|Dornier Do 228]], Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), Training Ships, and Interceptor Boats to augment current capacity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://latest.sundayguardianlive.com/news/defence-budget-boosted-to-rs-6-81-lakh-cr|title=Defence budget boosted to Rs 6.81 lakh cr|access-date=2025-11-17|date=2025-02-02|first=Saurabh|last=Sharma|publisher=[[The Sunday Guardian]]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Type
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Variant
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Planned
! style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | [[Maritime patrol aircraft|Maritime patrol]]
|-
| [[Airbus C-295]]
| {{Flag|Spain}}<br />{{flag|India}}
| [[Reconnaissance aircraft|Reconnaissance]]
| C-295MPA
| 6<ref>{{cite news |url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/defence/rs-15000-crore-tata-airbus-deal-for-military-transport-aircraft-at-ccs-door/articleshow/80692999.cms |title=Rs 15,000 crore Tata-Airbus deal for military transport aircraft at CCS door |website=The Economic Times |date=5 February 2021 |access-date=24 July 2021}}</ref>
|Proposal for Purchase of 6 [[EADS CASA C-295#;C-295 MPA/Persuader|C-295 MPA]] aircraft for Maritime Mission Role.<br />The proposal has been cleared from the [[Cabinet Committee on Security|CCS]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-to-sign-2-5-billion-contract-for-56-transport-planes-for-iaf/story-2wPztr38s2bNoQPhzTj2SJ_amp.html |website=Hindustan Times |title=India to sign $2.5-billion contract for 56 transport planes for IAF |date=5 January 2021 |access-date=24 July 2021}}</ref>
|}


==See also==
==See also==
{{portal | India }}
{{portal|India}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Coastal India]]
* [[Coastal India]]
Line 608: Line 410:
* [[Sagar Prahari Bal]]
* [[Sagar Prahari Bal]]
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}
==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 613: Line 418:


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Indian Coast Guard}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Official website}}


Line 624: Line 430:
[[Category:Coast guards]]
[[Category:Coast guards]]
[[Category:Defence agencies of India]]
[[Category:Defence agencies of India]]
[[Category:Sea rescue organizations]]
[[Category:Federal law enforcement agencies of India]]
[[Category:Federal law enforcement agencies of India]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Units of the Indian Peace Keeping Force]]
[[Category:Units of the Indian Peace Keeping Force]]
[[Category:Specialist law enforcement agencies of India]]

Latest revision as of 18:38, 28 February 2026


Indian Coast Guard
Indian Coast Guard crest
Indian Coast Guard crest
Racing stripe
Racing stripe
Ensign
Ensign
AbbreviationICG
Mottoवयम् रक्षामः (Sanskrit)
Vayam Rakṣāmaḥ (ISO)[1]
We Protect
Agency overview
Formed18 August 1978; 47 years ago (1978-08-18)
Employees13,842 sanctioned strength (2018–19)[2]
Annual budget₹9,676 crore (US$1.4 billion)[3]
Legal personalityLaw enforcement
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionIndia
Governing bodyGovernment of India
Constituting instrument
  • The Coast Guard Act, 1978
Specialist jurisdiction
Operational structure
HeadquartersIndian Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi
Agency executive
Parent agencyMinistry of Defence
Facilities
Boats
Planes77 aircraft[5]
Notables
Anniversary
  • Coast Guard Day: 1 February
Website
{{URL|example.com|optional display text}}

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency for India with jurisdiction over its territorial waters, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. It was started in February 1977 and formally established in August 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India.[6] It operates under the Ministry of Defence.[7]

The ICG works in close cooperation with the Indian Navy, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Revenue (Customs), and the Coastal Police of the State Police Forces, and the Central Armed Police Forces.

History[edit | edit source]

The establishment of the Indian Coast Guard was first proposed by the Indian Navy to provide non-military maritime services to the nation.[8] In the 1960s, sea-borne smuggling of goods was threatening to destroy India's domestic economy. The Indian Customs Department frequently called upon the Indian Navy for assistance with patrol and interception in the anti-smuggling effort.

The Nagchaudhuri Committee was constituted with participation from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force to study the problem. In August 1971, the committee identified the requirement to patrol India's vast coastline, set up a registry of offshore fishing vessels to identify illegal activity, and establish a capable and well-equipped force to intercept vessels engaged in illegal activities. The committee also looked at the number and nature of the equipment, infrastructure, and personnel required to provide those services.[8]

Indian Coast Guard promotional movie launched on the eve of 46th raising day

By 1973, India had started a programme to acquire the equipment and started deputing personnel from the Indian Navy for these anti-smuggling and law enforcement tasks, under the provisions of the Maintenance of Internal Security Act. The Indian Navy sensed that the law enforcement nature of these duties diverged from its core mission as a military service. Admiral Sourendra Nath Kohli, then Chief of Naval Staff, made a recommendation to the Defence Secretary, outlining the need for a separate maritime service to undertake those duties and offering the Navy's assistance in its establishment. In August 1974, the Defence Secretary submitted a note to the Cabinet Secretary proposing cabinet action on Admiral Kohli's recommendation.

As a result, in September 1974, the Indian cabinet set up the Rustamji Committee, under the chairmanship of Khusro Faramurz Rustamji, with participation from the Navy, the Air Force and the Department of Revenue to examine gaps in security and law enforcement between the roles of the Indian Navy and the central and state police forces. The discovery of oil off Bombay High further emphasised the need for a maritime law enforcement and protection service.[8]

In July 1975, the committee submitted its recommendation for the establishment of the Indian Coast Guard under the Ministry of Defence. Bureaucratic wrangling followed, with the Cabinet Secretary making a recommendation to place the service under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi overruled the Cabinet Secretary and decided to accept the original recommendation of the Rustamji Committee to place the service under the Ministry of Defence.[8]

In February 1977, an interim Indian Coast Guard came into being, equipped with two small corvettes and five patrol boats transferred from the Navy. The duties and functions of the service were defined in the Coast Guard Act, which was passed by India's parliament in August 1978 and came into immediate effect.[6]

Vice Admiral V. A. Kamath of the Indian Navy was appointed the founding Director-General. Prime Minister Morarji Desai inspected the Guard of Honour at the service's inauguration. In 1984, Vice Admiral Kamath proposed a five-year plan to develop the ICG into a potent force. The full potential of this plan was not immediately realised due to an economic resource crunch.[8]

One of the historic operational successes of the ICG occurred in October 1999, with the recapture at high seas of a Panamanian-registered Japanese cargo ship, MV Alondra Rainbow, hijacked off Indonesia. Her crew was rescued off Phuket, Thailand. The ship had been repainted as MV Mega Rama, and was spotted off Kochi, heading towards Pakistan. She was chased by ICGS Tarabai and INS Prahar (K98) of the Indian Navy and apprehended.[9] It was the first successful prosecution of armed pirates in over a century.

Indian Coast Guard ship and helicopter during the Search and Rescue Workshop and Exercise (SAREX), 2014

The Indian Coast Guard conducts exercises with the other coast guards of the world. In May 2005, the ICG agreed to establish liaison links with the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA). In 2006, the Indian Coast Guard conducted exercises with its Japanese and Korean counterparts.

After the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which the terrorists entered India from Pakistan via the sea route, the Indian government initiated a program to expand the ICG force, assets, and infrastructure for enhanced protection and surveillance of Indian waters.

The force aims to have 200 ships and 100 twin-engined aircraft by 2030 in its fleet. As of January 2025, ICG deploys 55 to 60 ships and 10 to 12 aircraft daily.[10]

Present scenario[edit | edit source]

Current role[edit | edit source]

Coast Guard DHQ-4 Headquarters in Kochi, Kerala

The Indian Coast Guard's motto is "वयम रक्षामः" (Vayam Rakshamah), which translates from Sanskrit as "We Protect".

Missions of Indian Coast Guard:[11]

  • Safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore terminals, and other installations
  • Protection and assistance to fishermen and mariners at sea
  • Preservation and protection of marine ecology and environment including pollution control
  • Assistance to the Department of Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations
  • Law enforcement in territorial as well as international waters
  • Scientific data collection and support
  • National defence during hostilities (under the operational control of the Indian Navy)

Additional responsibilities of the Indian Coast Guard:[12]

  • Offshore Security Coordination Committee (OSCC) – The Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard is the Chairman of OSCC, constituted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), of which the Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group is a member.
  • National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority (NMSARCA) – The Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard is the NMSARCA for executing/coordinating search and rescue (SAR) missions
  • Lead Intelligence Agency (LIA) – For coastal and sea borders
  • Coastal Security – The Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard is the commander of coastal command and is responsible for overall coordination between central and state agencies in all matters relating to coastal security

Leadership and organisation[edit | edit source]

Main article: Director General of the Indian Coast Guard
26th Director General of Indian Coast Guard Paramesh Sivamani


The Indian Coast Guard organisation is headed by the Director-General (DG ICG), who is located at Coast Guard Headquarters (CGHQ), New Delhi. At CGHQ, he is assisted by the Additional Director General Coast Guard (ADGCG) of the rank of ADG, four Deputy Director-Generals of the rank of Inspector-General, and other senior officers heading staff divisions.[13]

Director General Paramesh Sivamani is the 26th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard. The rank of Director General is equivalent to a Vice Admiral of Indian Navy.[14]

The Indian Coast Guard has the Western and Eastern Seaboard, both commanded by three-star officers designated Coast Guard Commander Western Seaboard and Coast Guard Commander Eastern Seaboard. The seaboards are divided into four regions. A fifth region, the Andaman & Nicobar Region, reports directly to the DGICG.

Each region is headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector-General. Each of the regions is further divided into multiple districts, typically covering a coastal state or a union territory.

Coast Guard Seaboards HQ location Seaboard Commander
Western Seaboard Mumbai ADG M.V Pathak,PTM, TM
Eastern Seaboard Visakapatanam ADG Donny Michael, AVSM, PTM, TM
Coast Guard regions Regional HQ location Regional commander
North-West Region (NW) Gandhinagar IG T Sashi Kumar, TM
Western Region (W) Mumbai IG Bhisham Sharma, PTM TM
Eastern Region (E) Chennai IG Y Dhaka, TM
North-East Region (NE) Kolkata IG IS Chauhan, TM
Andaman & Nicobar Region (A&N) Port Blair IG Neeraj Tiwari, TM

As of 2023, the Indian Coast Guard operates:[15]

  • 42 Coast Guard Stations
  • 5 Coast Guard Air Stations
  • 10 Coast Guard Air Enclaves

Organisation[edit | edit source]

In 2016, there were 42 Coast Guard stations along the Indian coastline.[16][17]

Indian Coast Guard is responsible for the execution of Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR). To serve this purpose, ICG operates 3 Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) in Mumbai, Chennai and Port Blair and 36 Maritime Rescue Sub Centres (MRSC/MRCSC), which operates under their respective MRCCs.[18]

In November 2024, the Indian Coast Guard and the Telecommunications Consultants India (TICL) laid the foundation of a full-fledged "Tier-3" Data Centre at Mahipalpur, Delhi. The construction will take 2 years. The project worth ₹588 crore (US$82 million) (including 5-year operational expenditure (opex) and a 2-year hardware warranty) will be carried out by TCIL, Yotta Infrastructure, and Attero, a software solution company. This will help ICG for Command and Control over their 109 offices and 88 ships at once.[19][20]

Regional HQ District HQ Coast Guard Station
North-East Region (NE) CGRHQ Kolkata[21] CGRHQ ICGS Kolkata
CGAE Kolkata (700 Squadron)
DHQ-7 Paradip ICGS Paradip
ICGS Gopalpur[22]
CGAE Bhubaneswar[23] (743 Squadron)
DHQ-8 Haldia ICGS Haldia
ICGS Frazerganj (includes FOB)[24]
CGAE Kolkata (700 Squadron)
Eastern Region (E) CGRHQ Chennai[25] DHQ-5 Chennai CGAS Chennai[26] (848, 744 Squadron)
ICGS Chennai (includes MRCC and RMPC[lower-alpha 1])[27]
DHQ-6 Visakhapatnam ICGS Visakhapatnam
ICGS Kakinada
ICGS Krishnapatnam
ICGS Nizampatnam
CGAE Visakhapatnam (Proposed)[28][29]
DHQ-13 Puducherry[30] ICGS Puducherry
CGAE Puducherry[27]
ICGS Karaikal
DHQ-16 Thoothukudi[31] ICGS Thoothukudi
ICGS Mandapam
CGAS Thoothukudi (Land acquisition in-progress)[32][33]
Andaman & Nicobar Region (A&N) CGRHQ Port Blair DHQ-14 Port Blair ICGS Port Blair (includes MRCC)[34]
CGAE Port Blair
ICGS Hutbay
DHQ-9 Diglipur ICGS Mayabunder[35]
ICGS Diglipur
DHQ-10 Campbell Bay ICGS Campbell Bay
ICGS Kamorta
Western Region (W) CGRHQ Mumbai DHQ-3 New Mangaluru ICGS Karwar[36]
CGAE New Mangaluru[37]
DHQ-2 Mumbai ICGS Murud Janjira
ICGS Ratnagiri
ICGS Dahanu
DHQ-4 Kochi ICGS Vizhinjam
ICGS Beypore
CGAE Kochi
DHQ-11 Mormugao ICGS Goa
CGAE Dabolim
DHQ-12 Kavaratti ICGS Kavaratti
ICGS Minicoy
ICGS Androth
CGAS Daman
North-West Region (NW) CGRHQ Gandhinagar DHQ-1 Porbandar ICGS Gandhinagar
ICGS Pipavav[38]
ICGS Veraval
CGAE Porbandar
DHQ-15 Okha ICGS Mundra
ICGS Jakhau
ICGS Vadinar
ICGS Okha

Personnel[edit | edit source]

Indian Coast Guard personnel with NWU Type-1 camo replacing the "Blue working uniform" as worn by a personnel in right

Officer rank structure[edit | edit source]

A table showing the rank structure of Coast Guard officers with those of the other Indian armed services.[39]

Indian Coast Guard Ranks Indian Army Ranks Indian Navy Ranks Indian Air Force Ranks Central Armed Police Forces Ranks Police
Director-General /Additional Director-General Lieutenant General Vice Admiral Air Marshal Director General Director General of Police
Inspector-General Major General Rear Admiral Air Vice Marshal Inspector General Inspector General of Police
Deputy Inspector-General Brigadier Commodore Air Commodore Deputy Inspector General Deputy Inspector General of Police
Commandant (Level 13-Pay Scale) Colonel Captain Group Captain Senior Commandant/Commandant Superintendent

(Selection Grade)

Commandant (Junior Grade) Lt Colonel Commander Wing Commander Second In Command/

Commandant

Superintendent
Deputy Commandant Major Lt Commander Squadron Leader Deputy Commandant Additional Superintendent
Assistant Commandant (2 Years) Captain Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant Assistant Commandant Deputy Superintendent
Assistant Commandant Lieutenant Sub Lieutenant Flying Officer Assistant Commandant (Junior ) Assistant Superintendent

Coast Guard officers[edit | edit source]

The Coast Guard Marching Contingent passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day Parade 2017

The naming of ranks of officers in the Coast Guard is as same as the rank of Central Armed Police Forces. Officers are appointed in the Coast Guard in one of four branches, as either a General-Duty officer, Pilot officer, Technical officer, or Law officer. Lady Officers have two branches, i.e., General-Duty Officer or Pilot Officer, and serve on shore establishments/Air Stations/Headquarters. They are not deployed on board Indian Coast Guard ships.

Officers of the Indian Coast Guard undergo Basic Military Training at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, along with their counterparts of the Indian Navy. This helps in the mutual interchange of Officers among these two sister services. While the Indian Coast Guard Academy is under construction in Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka.[40]

General-Duty Officers

The command of ships at sea can only be exercised by officers of the General Duty (GD) branch. The key functions of a General-Duty Officer would be to operate weapons, sensors, and different kinds of equipment on board a ship. The safety of the ship and the men would be the GD officers' responsibility. All the District Commanders (COMDIS) and Commander of Coast Guard Region (COMCG) appointments are exercised by a GD Officer of the Indian Coast Guard.

Pilot Officers

Pilot Officers are also part of the GD branch. A Pilot Officer gets an opportunity to work at shore Air Stations along the Indian coasts and also on board ships. ICG operates fixed-wing aircraft for surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Helicopters are embarked on Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) to provide local surveillance and perform search and rescue mission at sea.

Technical Officers

Technical Officers are responsible for the operation of advanced technology and sensor systems on board Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, as well as on shore installations. They also command the maintenance wings of the force.

Law Officers

Law Officers act as legal advisers to their respective commanders. They represent the Indian Coast Guard in legal actions filed by or against the organisation. They also perform the duties of trial law officers in Coast Guard courts, convened to try delinquent Coast Guard personnel. The Directorate of Law at Coast Guard Headquarters is headed by a Deputy Inspector-General and is designated as the Chief Law Officer. Section 115 of the Coast Guard Act, 1978, deals with the qualifications necessary to be appointed as the Chief Law Officer of the Indian Coast Guard. Section 116 of the Coast Guard Act, 1978, defines the functions of the Chief Law Officer.[6]

Enrolled personnel[edit | edit source]

Enrolled personnel in the Coast Guard serve as either a yantrik (technician) or navik (sailor).[41]

  • Yantriks responsible for operating and maintaining mechanical, electrical, or aeronautical equipment and systems on board the Coast Guard vessels and aircraft.
  • Naviks may further serve in the General-Duty or Domestic branches.
    • The General-Duty naviks serves as sailors, weapons systems operators, communication specialists, divers, etc., or in specific maritime or aviation support roles.
    • The Domestic branch's navik serves in roles such as stewards, cooks, etc., on board Coast Guard vessels.

Enrolled personnel of the Indian Coast Guard are trained along with Indian Naval sailors at the naval training establishment INS Chilka. All training undertaken by Coast Guard personnel is the same as that undertaken by sailors in the Indian Navy. All personnel are trained in the operation of weapons systems in cases of emergency.

Rank insignia[edit | edit source]

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OF/BlankTemplate:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OF/India (Coast Guard)
Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Template:Ranks and Insignia of Indian forces/OR/BlankTemplate:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Navies/OR/India (Coast Guard)

Equipment[edit | edit source]

Main article: List of equipment of the Indian Coast Guard

In November 2024, the Indian Coast Guard had a strength of 182 ships and 78 aircraft. It plans to have 200 ships and 100 aircraft by 2030. At any given time, 55 to 60 surface platforms and 10 to 12 aircraft are deployed on patrol daily.[42][43]

Future of the Indian Coast Guard[edit | edit source]

Main article: List of future and historical equipment of the Indian Coast Guard

The Indian Coast Guard expects to become a leading player in maritime security around the Indian Ocean. With a target set to triple its surface fleet strength by the turn of this decade, ICG has placed orders for 131 surveillance platforms that are already under construction in Indian shipyards and is in the process of signing contracts for building another 200 platforms.[44] Contracts have been signed for state-of-the-art air cushion vehicles and advanced communication systems [45]

The Indian Coast Guard has been allotted Rs 9,676.70 crore under the Capital and Revenue Head of the Union Budget 2025, which is a 26.5% increase over the previous years. The funds will be used for the acquisition of more ALH, Dornier Do 228, Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), Training Ships, and Interceptor Boats to augment current capacity.[46]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Regional Maritime Pollution Response Centre

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Grammar Tutorial ::: Reference – Verb Forms / धारुरूप / dhaaturuupa". Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Behera, Laxman Kumar; Kaushal, Vinay (4 August 2020). "Estimating India's Defence Manpower". Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  3. ↑ "A record over Rs 6.81 lakh crore allocated in Union Budget 2025-26 for MoD, an increase of 9.53% from current Financial Year". Press Information Bureau. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "S Paramesh appointed new chief of Indian Coast Guard". Times of India. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  5. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard looks for new helicopters, rotary Unmanned Aerial Vehicles". The Hindu. 26 November 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "The Coast Guard Act". Act of 1978. Parliament of India.
  7. ↑ "About the Ministry". Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "History". Indian Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "Alondra Rainbow revisited, A Study of related issues in the light of the recent judgment of Mumbai High Court". South Asia Analysis Group. 13 May 2005. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard to be much bigger by 2030". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  11. ↑ "Mission and Motto". Indian Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  12. ↑ "Performance of Coast Guard Organisation" (PDF). Standing Committee on Defence, Lok Sabha Secretariat. 2011–2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  13. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard Gets First 3-Star officer". Defence Now. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  14. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard Gets First 3-Star officer". Defence Now. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "CG Organisation". Indian Coast Guard.
  16. ↑ "CG Organisation:Indian Coast Guard". indiancoastguard.gov.in. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  17. ↑ "Coast Guard Stations". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  18. ↑ "NATIONAL MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE COORDINATING AUTHORITY (NMSRCA)". indiancoastguard.gov.in. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  19. ↑ www.ETTelecom.com. "TCIL, Indian Coast Guard lay foundation stone of a new data centre - ET Telecom". ETTelecom.com. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  20. ↑ "ICG lays foundation stone for the Tier-III Data Centre of Project Digital Coast Guard in New Delhi". PIB. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  21. ↑ "Organisation (North East) | Official Website of Indian Coast Guard Head Quarters, New Delhi, Ministry of Defence, Government of India". indiancoastguard.gov.in. Archived from the original on 20 September 2025. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  22. ↑ "ICGS Gopalpur commissioned". www.spsmai.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  23. ↑ "Coast Guard Air Enclave at City Airport". The New Indian Express. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  24. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard Station (ICGS) Frazerganj, the 42nd CG station commissioned to serve as a new Forward Operating Base in South 24-Parganas district of West Bengal, which will serve as a hub for coastal security operations in the sea areas off Sunderban". The Times of India. 14 April 2014. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  25. ↑ "Organisation (East) | Official Website of Indian Coast Guard Head Quarters, New Delhi, Ministry of Defence, Government of India". indiancoastguard.gov.in. Archived from the original on 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  26. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard Air Station - Chennai". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Rajnath Singh inaugurates new maritime rescue coordination centre in Chennai". The Hindu. 18 August 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  28. ↑ "Coast Guard to Set Up Air-enclave in Vishakapatnam". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  29. ↑ "Visakhapatnam to have Indian Coast Guard air enclave by 2018-end – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  30. ↑ Service, Express News (16 May 2014). "New Coast Guard Hub Opens, to Make Pondy Shores Secure". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  31. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard: Eastern Region Organization". Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  32. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard to expand Thoothukudi fleet by 2020". Deccan Chronicle. 18 July 2018.
  33. ↑ "Coast Guard to set up air station in Tuticorin for surveillance, to aid fishers". The Times of India.
  34. ↑ "Coordinating Agencies". indiancoastguard.gov.in. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  35. ↑ "India Opens New Coast Guard Station in Andaman". defencenow.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  36. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard Station at Karwar Commissioned". marinebuzz.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  37. ↑ "Coast Guard District HQ 3 to set up RRT". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  38. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard rescues 11 in a sea-air operation after merchant ship en route from Kolkata to Port Blair sinks". The Economic Times. 26 August 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  39. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard – An Overview" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  40. ↑ "First Coast Guard academy in Kannur". The Hindu. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  41. ↑ "Careers in Indian Coast Guard". Indian Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  42. ↑ Siva G (18 June 2018). "Indian Coast Guard fleet 4th largest in the world". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  43. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard poised to achieve its target force levels of 200 surface platforms and 100 aircraft by 2030". The Economic Times. 31 January 2025. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  44. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard modernizing fleet, enforcing laws, saving lives". Indo-Pacific Defense FORUM. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  45. ↑ "Indian Coast Guard to be much bigger by 2030". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  46. ↑ Sharma, Saurabh (2 February 2025). "Defence budget boosted to Rs 6.81 lakh cr". The Sunday Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2025.

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