Evaluate the role of inter-agency coordination and technology in strengthening India's maritime disaster response.

India is responsible for maritime search and rescue (SAR) across about 4.6 million sq km, an area far larger than its EEZ [2]. The Coast Guard Act, 1978 makes the "safety of life and property at sea" a statutory duty of the Coast Guard (ICG) [3]. SAREX-2026, held off Paradip, showed that coordination and technology multiply what the ICG can do. It also showed they cannot fully make up for gaps in capacity.

Inter-agency coordination: strengths

• National Maritime SAR Board (NMSARB): it has 31 members, including ministries, the Armed Forces and all coastal States/UTs. It meets every year to review the National Maritime SAR Plan [2].
• Multi-agency drill: SAREX-2026 brought together the ICG, Navy, IAF, DG Shipping, the Shipping Corporation of India, Fisheries, Customs, Marine Police, Paradip Port and the Odisha administration. It practised an aircraft ditching and a ship fire happening together, under an Incident Command Post [1].
• Diplomatic value: 32 observers from 30 countries attended, which presents India as a dependable SAR partner under SAGAR/MAHASAGAR [1].

Technology: strengths

• Air and sea assets: IAF C-130J and Mi-17 aircraft worked with ICG Dorniers and helicopters. Air-droppable life rafts and ROVs were demonstrated [1].
• Distress alerts: more than 20,000 ISRO Distress Alert Transmitters have been used on fishing boats since 2010. The second-generation DAT-SG confirms to the crew that their alert was received and can send them weather warnings [5].

Limitations

• Planned, daytime drills: the date and scenario were fixed in advance. The CAG found the ICG fell short of its night-flying targets [4].
• Too few ships and aircraft: the ICG assessed that it needed 175 ships and 221 aircraft but had 68 and 45 (2008) [4]. Several stations had no jetty or refuelling facility [4].
• Funding gap: in 2022-23 the ICG received ₹7,310 crore against the ₹10,804 crore it asked for [6].
• Alert coverage: the official ISRO page does not say what share of fishing boats carry DAT-SG [5].

Evaluation: coordination and technology have greatly improved response design, but fleet size and readiness still limit what happens in a real emergency.

Overall, NMSARB-led coordination and indigenous technology are the base of India's maritime disaster response. The next step is to hold unannounced and night drills, publish after-action reports, prioritise aircraft and shore support, and have States fit DAT-SG across their fishing fleets. These steps would turn exercise readiness into real-world readiness and back India's MAHASAGAR commitment.