Ahead of SAREX-2026 off the Paradip coast, ICG chief highlights India’s robust search and rescue capabilities, international cooperation and technological advancement.
Reaffirming the Indian Coast Guard’s unwavering commitment to humanitarian service, Director General Paramesh Sivamani said the force does not “distinguish between nations” while conducting search and rescue (SAR) operations, underscoring India’s growing leadership in maritime safety across the Indian Ocean Region.
Speaking to media ahead of the 12th edition of the national-level Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2026), scheduled to be conducted off the Paradip coast, the Coast Guard chief highlighted India’s enhanced operational capabilities and its readiness to respond swiftly to maritime emergencies, irrespective of national boundaries.
“We have enhanced our capacity, redefined the procedure and fine-tuned the standard operating procedure over the years. We have established a very robust system of SAR and all the nations in the Indian Ocean Region look up to Bharat in case there is a crisis or in a volatile situation that requires a SAR,” said the ICG chief.
Emphasising the force’s remarkable journey in developing search and rescue capabilities, Sivamani said the Indian Coast Guard had built its operational strength from scratch, with the larger objective of protecting human life at sea.
“We have built up the SAR capabilities from scratch,” he said, adding that the Coast Guard had ensured its ability to execute effective rescue operations for the greater good of humanity.
“Whenever there is a crisis and our ships and aircrafts are required to the spot… we do that immediately,” he said.
At the inaugural event of SAREX-2026, Sivamani also highlighted the critical role of advanced technology, real-time information sharing and seamless coordination among multiple agencies in shaping the future of maritime search and rescue operations.
He stressed the need to strengthen vessel-tracking systems, improve distress-alert management, promote data-driven operational decisions and accelerate the mobilisation of rescue assets. He further emphasised that lessons learned from previous missions and joint exercises must translate into greater operational preparedness and faster response capabilities.
The exercise will witness the participation and observation of 32 delegates from 30 foreign friendly nations, reflecting the growing importance of international cooperation in addressing maritime emergencies. The multi-agency exercise aims to validate operational preparedness, strengthen interoperability among participating agencies, test joint response mechanisms and facilitate the exchange of best practices.
With the preservation of human life at sea as its paramount objective, SAREX-2026 will provide an important platform to assess coordination, operational efficiency and the readiness of participating agencies to respond to complex maritime emergencies.
The occasion also saw the convening of the 24th National Maritime Search and Rescue Board meeting, which deliberated on strengthening national and international SAR frameworks. The discussions highlighted the reality that maritime emergencies transcend geographical boundaries and require close coordination among global Rescue Coordination Centres and maritime safety agencies.
Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, who inaugurated the event, called upon participating agencies and international partners to renew their collective commitment to safeguarding lives at sea and strengthening regional cooperation.
Invoking the principle of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, Seth emphasised that coordinated efforts among nations and maritime agencies are essential to building a safer, more resilient and cooperative maritime community.
Highlighting India’s progress in satellite-aided search and rescue, Seth noted the country’s steady technological evolution from Low Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (LEOSAR) to Geostationary Search and Rescue (GEOSAR), with further advancement towards Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (MEOSAR).
As India continues to strengthen its maritime rescue infrastructure, SAREX-2026 underscores the Indian Coast Guard’s commitment to operational excellence, international collaboration and the fundamental principle that saving human lives at sea transcends national boundaries.
