UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Op Sindoor displayed seamless inter-service coordination within India's multi-layered maritime security system, reaffirmed ICG’s role as frontline force: Raksha Mantri on 50th ICG Raising Day

Q1. The Indian Coast Guard was raised on 01 February 1977. With how many surface ships did the force begin at its inception?

  • A. Five
  • B. Seven
  • C. Nine
  • D. Eleven

Q2. In the context of the Coast Guard Act, 1978, the Indian Coast Guard is most accurately described as which one of the following?

  • A. An armed force of the Union functioning under the Ministry of Defence
  • B. A Central Armed Police Force functioning entirely under the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. A paramilitary auxiliary raised solely for internal coastal policing
  • D. A civilian maritime agency under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

Q3. In India's maritime security framework reorganised after the 26/11 attacks, which single agency was designated as responsible for overall maritime security, including both offshore and coastal security?

  • A. The Indian Coast Guard
  • B. The Indian Navy
  • C. The State Marine Police
  • D. The Sagar Prahari Bal

Q4. The Indian Coast Guard is mandated to carry out patrolling and surveillance up to which one of the following maritime limits?

  • A. 12 nautical miles (territorial waters)
  • B. 24 nautical miles (contiguous zone)
  • C. 200 nautical miles (Exclusive Economic Zone)
  • D. The high seas beyond 200 nautical miles

Q5. In India's multi-layered coastal security architecture, which body is tasked with patrolling the shallow coastal waters closest to the shore?

  • A. The Indian Navy
  • B. The Indian Coast Guard
  • C. The State Marine Police
  • D. The Directorate General of Shipping

Q6. Within India's multi-layered maritime security system, which single force was reaffirmed as the 'frontline force' at the Indian Coast Guard's 50th Raising Day in 2026?

  • A. The Indian Navy
  • B. The Indian Coast Guard
  • C. The Central Industrial Security Force
  • D. The State Marine Police

Q7. Operation Sindoor, referred to by the Raksha Mantri, is most accurately described as which one of the following?

  • A. A tri-services precision strike against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack
  • B. A purely naval blockade imposed exclusively on Pakistani ports
  • C. A United Nations-mandated peacekeeping deployment in the Arabian Sea
  • D. A counter-insurgency operation confined solely to the Jammu & Kashmir hinterland

Q8. With reference to Operation Sindoor, consider the following statements: 1. It was launched in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack. 2. The Indian Navy strengthened its deployment in the North Arabian Sea during the operation. 3. It was India's first tri-services action conducted under a United Nations mandate. 4. Its stated overall politico-military objective was to punish Pakistan for waging a proxy war. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. It was launched in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack.
  2. The Indian Navy strengthened its deployment in the North Arabian Sea during the operation.
  3. It was India's first tri-services action conducted under a United Nations mandate.
  4. Its stated overall politico-military objective was to punish Pakistan for waging a proxy war.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. The 25-year roadmap for the Indian Coast Guard highlighted at its 50th Raising Day has been aligned exclusively with which one of the following national visions?

  • A. Viksit Bharat @ 2047
  • B. Sagarmala Vision 2035
  • C. Vision India 2020
  • D. Panchamrit 2070

Q10. By force size, the Indian Coast Guard is currently ranked which among the world's coast guards?

  • A. The largest
  • B. The second largest
  • C. The fourth largest
  • D. The tenth largest

Q11. Who took over as the 26th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, heading the force from its headquarters in New Delhi?

  • A. DG Rakesh Pal
  • B. DG Paramesh Sivamani
  • C. DG V S Pathania
  • D. DG K Natarajan

Q12. Which one of the following best describes a statutory charter function of the Indian Coast Guard within India's Exclusive Economic Zone?

  • A. Protection of the marine environment and prevention and control of marine pollution
  • B. Delimitation of the International Maritime Boundary Line with neighbouring states
  • C. Negotiation of India's obligations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
  • D. Grant of fishing licences to foreign flagged vessels operating in the EEZ