With the adoption of the provisions of UN (Third Conference on the Laws of the Seas) , a need was felt to create a peacetime Marine Force to regulate Maritime laws and safeguard national interests in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone of the surrounding seas. For this purpose, the Indian Coast Guard was formally established on 18th August 1978. Its dutiesincludes : (i) Safety and protection of offshore installations and artificial islands; (ii) Providing protection to fishermen in distress; (iii) Protection of maritime environment; (iv) Assisting Customs in anti-smuggling operations; (v) Enforcement of maritime Zones of India Act; (vi) Safety of life and property at sea; and (vii) Prevention and control of marine pollution.
The command and control of the Coast Guard lies with the Director General of Coast Guard headquartered at New Delhi. Indian Coast Guard operations are divided into 4 regions: Western, Eastern, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and North West region. The Regional Headquarters are located at Mumbai, Chennai, Port Blair and Gandhi Nagar. By the end of 2012, the Indian Coast Guard is on track to operate 42 Coast Guard Stations, 5 Coast Guard Air Stations and 10 Coast Guard Air Enclaves.
