Sayan Chatterjee, New Delhi, 13th November 2024: In a major initiative to bolster India’s maritime security, the Indian Navy is set to launch the fourth edition of its comprehensive Coastal Defence Exercise, ‘Sea Vigil-24,’ on November 20-21, 2024. This large-scale exercise, now in its fourth iteration, will extend across India’s entire coastline and involve six key ministries and 21 different organizations and agencies, reflecting unprecedented coordination and reach.
The exercise’s Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation (CDSRE) phase has been ongoing under the leadership of Naval Officers-in-Charge from all coastal states and Union Territories, including Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. For the first time, officials from the National Security Council Secretariat will participate in these audits, joined by personnel from State Marine Police, the Coast Guard, Customs, and Fisheries departments.
This year’s Sea Vigil will target critical coastal assets like ports, oil rigs, and vital coastal infrastructure while ensuring coastal communities are actively involved in security awareness. Involving assets from the Indian Army and Air Force, along with a significant deployment of naval ships and aircraft, the exercise underscores a unified, all-services approach to coastal defence.
Originally initiated in 2018 as a response to security gaps exposed by the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Sea Vigil now covers India’s extensive 11,098 km coastline and its 2.4 million square kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone. The exercise not only tests the security framework but also strengthens community engagement through the involvement of fishermen, coastal residents, and youth groups like NCC and Bharat Scouts and Guides.
As a precursor to the biennial Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX), Sea Vigil-24 serves as a key national readiness check, reinforcing India’s commitment to safeguarding its maritime boundaries and enhancing collaboration across security agencies.
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