Undertaking its fourth edition of Pan-India Coastal Defense Exercise, Sea Vigil-24, this week, the Indian Navy said it is aimed at strengthening the country’s maritime, coastal, and offshore security.

“This year’s exercise will be unprecedented in scale, both geographically and in terms of participation. The exercise will cover the entire 11,098 km coastline and 2.4 million square kilometers of the Exclusive Economic Zone,” the Navy said.

The two-day exercise, beginning November 20, will involve a wide range of stakeholders, including six ministries and 21 organisations and agencies, said officials.
Officials said with neighbouring Bangladesh facing unrest, the exercise has gained more importance.

“The exercise will focus on strengthening the security of coastal assets like ports, oil rigs, single point moorings and critical coastal infrastructure including the coastal population. This year participation by other services (Army and Air Force) and planned deployment of a large number of ships and aircraft has enhanced the tempo of the exercise,” an official said.

The exercise is a direct response to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which prompted a comprehensive review of India’s coastal security framework. The Indian Navy was subsequently designated as the lead agency for maritime security, while the Indian Coast Guard was tasked with coastal security in territorial waters.

“One of the key objectives of Sea Vigil-24 is to raise awareness among coastal communities about maritime security… To this end, the exercise will involve the participation of fishing communities, NCC cadets, and Bharat Scouts and Guides,” said the Navy.