Service of State
Indian Coast Guard
The Indian Coast Guard is an armed force of the Union under the Ministry of Defence, constituted under the Coast Guard Act, 1978 to protect India's maritime and national interests in its maritime zones. It is a seat of power because it is the country's principal maritime law-enforcement and search-and-rescue service and, since a 2009 Cabinet decision, the designated authority for coastal security in territorial waters — the standing armed presence that patrols India's exclusive economic zone day to day.
Updated
- Interim force raised
- February 1977
- Statutory basis
- Coast Guard Act, 1978
- Parent ministry
- Ministry of Defence
- Headquarters
- New Delhi
- Motto
- Vayam Rakshamah (We Protect)
- FY2025-26 allocation
- Rs 9,676.7 crore (Capital + Revenue)
- Stated force target
- 200 surface platforms and 100 aircraft by 2030
Role
The Indian Coast Guard is an armed force of the Union raised as an interim force in February 1977 and placed on a statutory footing by the Coast Guard Act, 1978. It sits under the Ministry of Defence and is commanded by the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard from headquarters in New Delhi. Section 14 of the Act charges it with protecting India’s maritime and national interests in the country’s maritime zones — a duty it discharges through law enforcement, search and rescue, protection of offshore installations, assistance to fishermen in distress, anti-smuggling work with Customs, marine environment protection and enforcement of maritime law. Operationally it is organised into Western and Eastern Seaboards and five Coast Guard Regions — North-West, West, East, North-East and Andaman & Nicobar, headquartered at Gandhinagar, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Port Blair — each under an Inspector General, with subordinate districts, coast guard stations and air stations.
Its standing as a seat of power rests on being the day-to-day armed presence in India’s exclusive economic zone and, since a February 2009 Cabinet Committee on Security decision taken after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the designated authority for coastal security in territorial waters and for coordination between central and state agencies on coastal matters. That role is distinct from but complementary to the Indian Navy, which the same decision designated as responsible for overall maritime security, and from the coastal police forces of the states that report through the Ministry of Home Affairs. The service’s fleet expansion — indigenous fast patrol vessels, offshore patrol vessels, hovercraft and aircraft built largely in Indian yards — is the material expression of that enforcement mandate.
Desk maintained by IndiaStand editorial cycles. Officeholders are transient; this dossier tracks the institution.
Timeline since 1947
- reference
Interim Coast Guard raised
An interim Indian Coast Guard began operations with two corvettes and five patrol boats transferred from the Indian Navy; 1 February is observed as Raising Day.
- official
Coast Guard Act, 1978 enacted
Parliament passed the Coast Guard Act, 1978, constituting the service as an armed force of the Union under the Ministry of Defence and defining its duties under Section 14.
- reference
Designated lead for coastal security
After the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Cabinet Committee on Security designated the Coast Guard as the authority responsible for coastal security in territorial waters, alongside the Coastal Surveillance Network of static sensors.
- reference
Supreme Court presses on women's permanent commission
The Supreme Court told the Union that arguments of 'functional difference' could not justify denying women officers permanent commission in the Coast Guard, saying it would order it if the government did not.
- gdelt
FY2025-26 budget boost and 2030 target restated
On its Raising Day the Coast Guard reported a Capital budget rise of about 43% to Rs 5,000 crore and restated a stated target of 200 surface platforms and 100 aircraft by 2030.
- gdelt
ICGS Akshay commissioned
The Coast Guard commissioned ICGS Akshay, the fourth Adamya-class fast patrol vessel built by Goa Shipyard Limited with more than 65% indigenous content, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme.
Frequently asked
- What is Indian Coast Guard?
- The Indian Coast Guard is an armed force of the Union under the Ministry of Defence, constituted under the Coast Guard Act, 1978 to protect India's maritime and national interests in its maritime zones. It is a seat of power because it is the country's principal maritime law-enforcement and search-and-rescue service and, since a 2009 Cabinet decision, the designated authority for coastal security in territorial waters — the standing armed presence that patrols India's exclusive economic zone day to day.
- When was Indian Coast Guard established?
- Indian Coast Guard was established 1977.
- What does Indian Coast Guard do?
- Its remit covers Maritime law enforcement in India's maritime zones under the Coast Guard Act, 1978, Coastal security in territorial waters as the designated lead authority (since 2009), Search and rescue across the Indian Search and Rescue Region, Protection of offshore installations, artificial islands and other structures, Assistance to fishermen in distress and fisheries protection, Anti-smuggling and anti-narcotics operations in support of Customs and other agencies, Marine environment protection and pollution response.
- What is the latest on Indian Coast Guard?
- As of 2026-07-06: ICGS Akshay commissioned. The Coast Guard commissioned ICGS Akshay, the fourth Adamya-class fast patrol vessel built by Goa Shipyard Limited with more than 65% indigenous content, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme.