Coastal defence and high-seas readiness are two ends of the same spectrum. Explain with reference to Sea Vigil and TROPEX.

India's maritime security runs from the fishing harbour out to the open ocean. The Indian Navy leads both ends of it. Sea Vigil tests coastal defence along the whole coastline and the EEZ [1]. TROPEX, held every two years, tests the fleet's combat readiness [4]. The two exercises form one spectrum rather than two separate efforts.

Coastal end: Sea Vigil

• It was conceived in 2018 to check the coastal security steps taken after 26/11. It involves the whole government: the Navy, Coast Guard, coastal police, Customs, five ministries and fishing communities [1].
• Its CDSRE phase checks readiness on the ground. Sea Vigil-24 audited more than 950 critical coastal locations, including ports, fish landing centres and offshore assets [2].
• It deals with low-intensity, asymmetric threats: infiltration, smuggling and attacks on ports.

High-seas end: TROPEX

• It is the Navy's largest war game. It tests the move from peacetime to hostilities across all commands, with Army, Air Force and Coast Guard units taking part [4].
• It deals with conventional threats: fleet operations, protecting sea lanes and live weapon firings.

Why they form one spectrum

• They run in sequence: Sea Vigil is the build-up to TROPEX [1]. In 2021, Sea Vigil was TROPEX's first phase, followed by the amphibious exercise AMPHEX-21 [4]. The progression goes from shore to coastal waters to the open ocean.
• They share forces (jointness): the same ships, aircraft and command networks switch roles between the two. The Army and Air Force joined Sea Vigil-24, and the IAF placed air-defence systems on offshore oil rigs [2].
• Defence works in layers: a weak coast lets attackers get past a strong fleet, as the 26/11 landing by sea showed. A strong fleet cannot protect ports on its own.
• Economic security: offshore energy assets and ports sit where the two ends meet [1][2].

Gaps that break the continuum

• Daily patrolling is weak: the CAG found that sea patrols in Gujarat fell short of target by 78–91%, and boat repairs took 4–13 months [5].
• Small boats cannot be told apart: boats under 20 metres had no formal tracking system [6], so a hostile boat can look like any fishing boat.
• Overall coordination came late: the Multi Agency Maritime Security Group under a national coordinator was set up only in 2021 [7].

Sea Vigil and TROPEX together cover the full range, from coastal policing to fighting at sea. Three steps would make the chain complete: the MAMSG should follow up on CDSRE findings, transponders should be fitted on all small boats, and boat maintenance should be funded. This would give practical shape to India's SAGAR vision of a secure Indian Ocean.