The 43rd Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Commanders’ Conference commenced in New Delhi with a clear focus on strengthening India’s maritime security preparedness amid rapidly evolving technological and geopolitical challenges.
On the opening day of the three-day conference, Minister of State for Defencec Shri Sanjay Seth interacted with Director General ICG Paramesh Sivamani and senior Coast Guard commanders, commending the force for its role in coastal security and as a first responder during emergencies at sea, where it has saved lives irrespective of nationality.
Calling for continuous adaptation to emerging threats, Shri Sanjay Seth highlighted the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence, sensors, software, data networks, autonomous systems, cyber capabilities and space-based technologies. He urged the Coast Guard to evolve beyond being merely a technology user and become a co-creator of solutions, working closely with start-ups, industry, DRDO and research institutions.
He stressed that Aatmanirbharta goes beyond buying indigenous products—it means developing solutions for Indian challenges while creating capabilities with global relevance, reflecting the vision of “Make in India, Make for the World.”
Sanjay Seth also underlined the Coast Guard’s expanding role in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster response and marine pollution control.
Emphasising the need to strengthen maritime capabilities from the littorals and green waters to the open oceans and blue waters, he called for advanced platforms, underwater technologies, unmanned systems, long-endurance surveillance, satellite-enabled maritime domain awareness and secure communications, in keeping with the vision of MAHASAGAR.
During the conference, ICG commanders will also engage with Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, reinforcing inter-service coordination across the maritime security spectrum.
The conference will review the Coast Guard’s operational preparedness, logistics, training, human-resource development, infrastructure and modernisation, while assessing ongoing projects aimed at strengthening indigenisation under the Make in India initiative.
At its core, the conference reinforces a simple strategic message: as India’s maritime responsibilities expand, its technological capabilities, operational readiness and indigenous capacity must evolve with them.
