GS Prelims — Defence
Context
- Defence Minister unveiled two policy reforms for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG): a gender-neutral induction/service framework for officers, and streamlined ex-gratia procedures for personnel missing at sea while on duty.
- Event held at Kartavya Bhavan-2, New Delhi on 28 July 2026; attended by Defence Secretary and DG ICG.
- ICG completes over five decades of service, approaching its Swarnim Jayanti (Golden Jubilee) in 2027.
Key Highlights
Gender-neutral induction & career progression
- Women candidates to be inducted into both Short Service Appointments (SSA) and Permanent Appointments (PA) at par with male counterparts; SSA also opened for male candidates.
- Equal career progression from the ab-initio training phase; existing PA women officers eligible for promotion; existing SSA women officers given option to convert service to PA, subject to eligibility conditions.
Streamlined ex-gratia procedures for personnel missing at sea
- Authority granted to declare ICG personnel missing at sea while on duty as ‘presumed dead’ for the purpose of ex-gratia.
- Process for grant of ex-gratia compensation and terminal benefits to the Next of Kin (NoK) significantly eased and accelerated.
About Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Defence.
- Constituted under the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an armed force of the Union.
- Core functions: maritime law enforcement in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), search & rescue at sea, marine environment protection, coastal security.
The reforms in induction policy and ex-gratia procedures reflect the Government’s push toward a gender-neutral, welfare-oriented, and administratively efficient Indian Coast Guard ahead of its Golden Jubilee in 2027.
| Important CTC from this article for UPSC Indian Coast Guard (ICG). |