CHAPTER 1
Indian Coast Guard
– An Overview
1.1 Introduction
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is a maritime armed force operating under the
Ministry of Defence. Formally constituted in August 1978 under the Coast
Guard Act 1978, the ICG is mandated to protect the Maritime and other
national interests of India in the Maritime Zones of India by way of providing
protection to offshore and other structures, protection to fishermen and
assisting in anti smuggling operations. The ICG, working in co-ordination with
other Union agencies, institutions and authorities, safeguards the maritime
interests and security of India, assists vessels and fisherman in distress and
protects the maritime environment.
1.2 Organisational set up
The ICG is headed by a Director General, an officer of the rank of Vice
Admiral of the Indian Navy. The Director General is assisted by other officers
who are responsible for different duties and responsibilities.
The Director General Coast Guard (DGCG) exercises his command from
Coast Guard Headquarters at New Delhi through Commander Coast Guard
Regions (COMCG) West, East, North West and Andaman & Nicobar. The
Regional Commanders exercise their command through District Commander
(COMDIS), CG Stations and CG Air Stations. Most of the ships are under
operational control of the COMCG’s while some are also under the control of
Air Enclave/District Commanders and ICG Stations. The organisational set
up of ICG is given below:
Report No. 7 of 2011‐12
1 Organisational set up of Indian Coast Guard
Geographically, the ICG functions through four Regional Headquarters
(RHQs) located at Mumbai, Gandhi Nagar1, Chennai and Port Blair. Under
these RHQs, there are 12 District Headquarters2. Other major operating units
include independent CG Stations, Aviation units and 26 miscellaneous units
1
The fourth North Western RHQ was set up at Gandhi Nagar in August 2009.
2
Porbandar, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Haldia,
Diglipur, Campbell Bay, Kavaratti and Goa.
Indian Coast Guard – An Overview 2
Performance Audit on the Role and Functioning of the Indian Coast Guard
like store depots, refit and production teams etc. These are shown in the map
given below:
2 Coast Guard Units
Source: Indian Coast Guard
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1.3 Evolution of the Indian Coast Guard
The establishment of the ICG as a new service was the result of an
awareness that had been growing for some time in the Government of India
for the requirement to enforce National Laws in the waters under national
jurisdiction and ensure safety of life and property at sea. It was also
considered desirable that these law enforcement responsibilities be
undertaken by a service suitably equipped and modelled on the Coast Guards
of advanced nations like the United States of America, United Kingdom, etc
leaving the Indian Navy to exercise the fleet for its wartime role.
A committee was, therefore, constituted in September 1974 with
Mr K F Rustamji as its chairman to study the problem of seaborne smuggling
and the question of setting up a Coast Guard type of organization. At that
time, the United Nations Convention on Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) had also
gained momentum extending jurisdiction of coastal states upto 200 nautical
miles (NM), i.e. the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), for economic
exploitation of maritime resources. The Maritime Zones of India (MZI) Act was
passed on 25th August 1976. Under this Act, India claimed 2.01 million sq km
of sea area in which she would have exclusive rights for exploration and
exploitation of resources, both living and non-living, at sea.
ICG Interceptor Boat
The ICG in its present shape was formally inaugurated on 18th August 1978
as an independent armed force of the Union with the enactment of the Coast
Guard Act 1978.
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Performance Audit on the Role and Functioning of the Indian Coast Guard
At the time of its formation, the ICG had a force level of two Naval Frigates
and five patrol boats. The strength has increased over the years and the
Service today (as of December 2010) has a force level of 82 ships and 46
aircraft.
The ICG has (as of December 2010), 1037 officers and 6387 enrolled
personnel (EP).
1.4 Duties and functions
The ICG is mandated by its founding Act to protect the maritime and other
national interests of India in the maritime zones of India. This includes:
(a) ensuring the safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore
terminals, installations and other structures and devices in any
maritime zone;
(b) providing protection to fishermen including assistance to them at
sea while in distress;
(c) taking such measures as are necessary to preserve and protect the
maritime environment and to prevent and control marine pollution;
(d) assisting the customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling
operations;
(e) enforcing the provisions of such enactments as are for the time
being in force in the maritime zones; and
(f) such other matters, including measures for the safety of life and
property at sea and collection of scientific data, as may be
prescribed.
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INDIAN COAST GUARD RANK STRUCTURE
• Director General
• Inspector General
• Deputy Inspector General (Senior)
• Deputy Inspector General (Junior)
• Commandant
• Commandant (Junior Grade)
• Deputy Commandant
• Assistant Commandant
• Assistant Commandant (Trainee)
Officers are commissioned in the Indian Coast Guard in one of the three branches viz. General Duty Officer, Pilot Officer
or Technical Officer. Women are also commissioned as officers in all the three branches, but they serve only on shore
installations. They are not deployed on board Indian Coast Guard ships.
General Duty Officers
General Duty Officers of the Indian Coast Guard are assigned with operational tasks including command of weapons
systems, navigation systems, crews and vessels. Command of ships at sea is exercised by General Duty Officers.
Command of Coast Guard operations at sea, and the safety of crew and ships is the primary responsibility of the
officers.
Pilot Officers
Pilot Officers are commissioned into the Air Wing of the Indian Coast Guard. They serve either on shore at a Indian
Coast Guard Air Station or Air Enclave, or operate rotary wing aircraft from Indian Cost Guard ships.
Technical Officers
Technical Officers are responsible for operation of advanced technology and sensor systems on board Indian Coast
Guard vessels and aircraft, as well as on shore installations. They also command the maintenance wings of the force.
Technical officers are usually required to have an Engineering background.
Enrolled Personnel
Enrolled Personnel in the Indian Coast Guard serve as either a Yantrik (Technician) or Navik (Sailor). Yantriks are
responsible for operating and maintaining mechanical, electrical or aeronautical equipment and systems on board the
Indian Coast Guard vessels and aircraft. Naviks serve in the General Duty or Domestic branches. The General Duty
Naviks serve as sailors, weapons systems operators, communication specialists, divers, etc. or in specific maritime or
aviation support roles. Domestic branch Naviks serve in roles such as stewards, cooks, etc on board Indian Coast
vessels.
Source: Indian Coast Guard
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Performance Audit on the Role and Functioning of the Indian Coast Guard
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RANK INSIGNIA – COAST GUARD OFFICERS
DIRECTOR GENERAL INSPECTOR GENERAL DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL
(SENIOR)
SHOULDER SLEEVE SHOULDER SLEEVE SHOULDER SLEEVE
DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL COMMANDANT COMMANDANT (JG)
(JUNIOR)
SHOULDER SLEEVE SHOULDER SLEEVE SHOULDER SLEEVE
DEPUTY COMMANDANT ASSISTANT COMMANDANT ASSISTANT COMMANDANT
(TRAINEE)
SHOULDER SLEEVE SHOULDER SLEEVE SHOULDER SLEEVE
Source: Indian Coast Guard
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Report No. 7 of 2011‐12
RANK INSIGNIA – ENROLLED PERSONNEL
ADHIKARI UTTAM ADHIKARI PRADHAN ADHIKARI
PRADHAN YANTRIK/SAHAYAK ENGINEER UTTAM SAHAYAK/ENGINEER PRADHAN SAHAYAK/ENGINEER
SHOULDER STRAP SHOULDER STRAP SHOULDER STRAP
PRADHAN NAVIK/ UTTAM NAVIK
YANTRIK/UTTAM NAVIK
SHOULDER STRAP SHOULDER STRAP
SPECIAL QUALIFICATION ARM BADGE
RP (RADAR PLOTTER) QA (QUARTER ARMOUR) RO (RADIO OPERATOR)
EMP/EMR (POWER/RADIO) ME (ENGINEERING) AVIATION
MECHANICAL
SA/WTR STORE ASSTT/WRITER COOK/STEWARD U/NVK HOLDING ONE GCB
(GOOD CONDUCT BATCH)
Source: Indian Coast Guard
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