Indian Coast Guard
Introduction
The Indian Coast Guard [Bharatiya Thatrakshak] was constituted as the fourth
armed union of India, on 19 August 1978, under the Coast Guard Act. The force's
main function is to protect India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), covering an
area of 2.02 million sq. km, and operates under the effective control of the
Ministry of Defense. Coast Guard vessels and aircraft have been assisting the
custom authorities in anti-smuggling operations and has effectively served
national interests in high-risk areas. They are also used in SAR operations,
anti-pollution and other duties in maritime zones. While protection of the high
seas is vested with the Indian Navy, the area between 10 and 30 nautical miles
from the shore is under the charge of the Coast Guard and from shore to five
nautical miles
with the coastal police as well as the Coast Guard.
