Rupal Kalebere and Sujeet Samaddar
Strategic Thrust on Maritime Security
India’s strategic focus on maritime security is driven by several factors:
- Rising Maritime Threats: Increased instances of piracy, illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and smuggling necessitate a more robust coast guard force with modern assets.
- Geopolitical Tensions in the Indo-Pacific: With growing competition in the region, particularly China’s naval expansion and aggressive posturing in the South China Sea, India must strengthen its maritime domain awareness.
- Coastal Security Post-26/11: Following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, India has significantly ramped up coastal security measures, and this increased budget allocation will further reinforce these efforts.
- Environmental and Disaster Response: The ICG plays a crucial role in oil spill management, marine pollution control, and natural disaster response, requiring enhanced capabilities and assets.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The Indian Coast Guard plays a critical role in protecting India’s 11.098.81 kms coastline and 2.2 million square kms of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). With increasing challenges such as illegal fishing, piracy, smuggling, maritime terrorism, and environmental security, the ICG has been at the forefront of coastal defense, search and rescue missions, and disaster response. The Indian Defence Budget 2025 has provided a significant boost to maritime security, with a 26.4% increase in the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) budget. This increase reflects India’s growing emphasis on securing its vast coastline, countering maritime threats, and enhancing surveillance capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
As per a PIB release “Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has been allotted Rs 9,676.70 crore under Capital and Revenue Head which is 26.50% more than the allocation for FY 2024-25 at BE stage and against the revised expenditure for FY 2024-25 of Rs 8279.50 crore. This increase is primarily in line with the focus of the Government on capability development of ICG and equipping them with modern equipment. ICG not only strengthens coastal security, but also provides assistance to neighboring countries and commercial ships during emergency through faster response. A jump of 43% in Capital Budget i.e. from Rs 3,500 crore for FY 2024-25 to Rs 5,000 crore for FY 2025-26 will provide adequate financial space for the acquisition of Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), Dornier Aircraft, Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), Training Ships, Interceptor Boats etc. On revenue head, the allocation has been increased from Rs 4,151.8 crore for FY 2024-25 to Rs 4,676.70 crore for FY 2025-26 which shows an increase of 12.64%. The increase will be utilised to fund the expenditure to be incurred on additional deployments of manpower and resources in addition to addressing the inflation.”
The increased budget allocation aligns with the government’s vision to develop a stronger maritime presence in the region, particularly in light of rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Key Allocations and Upcoming Procurements
The 26.4% increase in budget will be directed toward modernizing the ICG’s fleet and operational infrastructure. Some of the major acquisitions planned include:
- Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH): These multi-role helicopters will enhance the ICG’s capabilities in aerial surveillance, reconnaissance, and search-and-rescue operations.
- Dornier-228 Aircraft: A highly versatile aircraft used for maritime patrol, pollution control, and surveillance, improving domain awareness and rapid response capabilities.
- Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs): These high-speed vessels will enhance quick response capability against illegal maritime activities, smuggling, and unauthorized intrusions.
- Surveillance Equipment: New radar systems, sensors, and electronic warfare equipment will be installed to strengthen coastal monitoring and intelligence gathering.
Challenges and Future Prospects
While the budget increase is a positive step, several challenges remain:
- Need for Faster Procurement and Deployment: Delays in acquisition and integration of new equipment must be minimized.
- Infrastructure and Technological Advancements: Investments in modern ports, surveillance stations, and cyber capabilities are crucial for ensuring efficient maritime monitoring.
- Increased Collaboration with the Indian Navy: A well-coordinated approach between the ICG and the Indian Navy will be essential for seamless maritime security operations.