Examine the role of the Indian Coast Guard in safeguarding India's maritime frontiers post-26/11. How does induction of indigenous platforms enhance this role?

Q. Examine the role of the Indian Coast Guard in safeguarding India's maritime frontiers post-26/11. How does induction of indigenous platforms enhance this role? (15 marks, 250-350 words)

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks, executed by terrorists infiltrating through an unguarded sea route, exposed critical gaps in India's coastal defence. In response, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) — an armed force of the Union under the Coast Guard Act, 1978 and functioning under the Ministry of Defence — was designated the lead agency for coastal security in territorial waters, transforming it from a constabulary force into the frontline guardian of India's 7,500-km coastline.

ICG's role in maritime frontier security post-26/11 - Surveillance and interdiction: round-the-clock patrolling of the territorial sea and EEZ, and interception of suspicious craft by day and night [1]. - Coordination architecture: ICG operates the coastal security grid, synergising with the Navy, marine police and customs, and conducts joint exercises to test preparedness. - Non-military missions: search and rescue, assistance to vessels in distress, anti-smuggling and marine pollution response [2]. - Persistent constraint: force-level and asset shortfalls relative to a vast maritime domain, making capability accretion urgent.

How indigenous platforms enhance this role - Filling a niche capability gap: the Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV), first of six inducted at Goa in June 2026, operates over shallow waters, marshy creeks and mudflats inaccessible to conventional patrol boats — precisely the terrain exploited by infiltrators in the Sundarbans and Rann of Kutch [3]. - Aatmanirbharta in defence: built by Chowgule & Company, Goa, under a ₹387.44 crore MoD contract (2024) in the Buy (Indian) category, with about 50% indigenous content [4]. - Industrial depth: orders to private yards and MSME ancillaries expand the maritime industrial base and reduce import dependence, since such hovercraft were earlier procured from abroad [5]. - Sustainment advantage: domestic construction eases spares availability and repair cycles, raising fleet availability.

Coastal security is thus a function of both institutional clarity and material capability. Sustained indigenous induction, matched with manpower expansion and technology absorption, will let the ICG evolve into a credible blue-water constabulary — advancing self-reliance and the maritime security envisaged for a secure Indian Ocean neighbourhood.

(~330 words)

Sources: 1. MoD inks Rs 387.44 crore contract with Chowgule & Company Pvt. Ltd., Goa for six Air Cushion Vehicles for Indian Coast Guard (PIB, 24 Oct 2024) — day-and-night interception/interdiction role of ICG platforms 2. Indian Coast Guard Conducts Girder Laying Ceremony for Indigenous Air Cushion Vehicles in Goa (PIB, 11 May 2026) — search and rescue and assistance to craft in distress as ICG missions 3. ICG bolsters operational effectiveness with induction of indigenous Air Cushion Vehicle (PIB, 18 June 2026) — induction of first ACV at Goa; patrolling in shallow waters and marshy areas 4. MoD contract for six ACVs — Buy (Indian) category, ₹387.44 crore (PIB, 24 Oct 2024) — builder, contract value, procurement category, indigenous content 5. Indigenous Hovercraft Construction for ICG Begins at Chowgule Shipyard (PIB, 30 July 2025) — indigenisation of a previously imported Griffon-design platform; MSME and industrial base gains