The Indian Navy is set to launch the fourth edition of the comprehensive ‘Pan-India’ Coastal Defence Exercise, ‘Sea Vigil-24,’ on 20-21 November. This year’s exercise will be the most expansive yet, involving six ministries and 21 agencies and covering a vast geographic scope across India’s coastline.
In preparation for the main event, the Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation (CDSRE) phase has been underway since late October. Coordinated by Naval Officers-in-Charge in each coastal state and union territory—including Lakshadweep and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands—this phase involves a thorough audit of coastal defence and security measures. For the first time, officials from the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) will join the Indian Navy-led CDSRE teams alongside personnel from the Coast Guard, state marine police, customs, fisheries, and other key agencies, according to the Indian Navy officials.
“The exercise will focus on strengthening the security of critical coastal assets like ports, oil rigs, single-point moorings, cable landing points, and other vital coastal infrastructure,” said Navy Spokesperson Captain Vivek Madhwal. “This year, participation from other services, including the Indian Army and Air Force, and the deployment of a large number of ships and aircraft, have increased the exercise’s scale and tempo,” he added.
Initially conceptualized in 2018, Exercise Sea Vigil validated and strengthened India’s coastal defence measures after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Sea Vigil engages all maritime stakeholders- from security forces to the fishing community and local coastal populations- spanning the entire 11,098 km coastline and India’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.4 million square kilometres.
One key objective of Sea Vigil-24 is to raise awareness about maritime security within coastal communities. To this end, the exercise will actively involve local fishing communities, coastal residents, and youth groups like the NCC and Bharat Scouts and Guides.
Although individual states and agencies regularly conduct coastal security exercises, “Exercise Sea Vigil, coordinated by the Indian Navy, stands out as a national-level initiative, offering a holistic evaluation of India’s maritime defence and security capabilities,” the official observed.
Sea Vigil-24 is a crucial component of India’s defence strategy, providing a valuable opportunity to assess the readiness of all maritime security agencies, identify areas for improvement, and enhance India’s overall maritime security framework. This exercise also serves as a precursor to the Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), the Indian Navy’s biennial operational exercise, reinforcing India’s commitment to protecting its maritime borders through coordinated, multi-agency collaboration.
Team BharatShakti
