What is Sagar Kavach?

About Sagar Kavach:

• The exercise, conducted semi-annually, is a collaborative effort with active participation from various central and state agencies, showcasing a unified approach to fortifying India's coastal defences.
• Coordinated by the Indian Coast Guard, 'Sagar Kavach' brings together an amalgamation of forces, including the Indian Navy, Coastal Police/State Police, Intelligence Bureau, Customs, CISF, Department of Port, Department of Fisheries, Directorate General of Lighthouse and Lightships (DGLL), and Kadalora Jagiratha Samithi.
• The exercise is designed to address the unique complexities of the coastal terrain, ensuring that security mechanisms are robust and adaptive to various scenarios.
• Strategic Division: Attack vs. Defence Forces
  • The participating units in the exercise are strategically divided into two teams: Attack (Red) and Defence (Blue) forces.
  • The Red Forces simulate infiltration attempts into coastal areas from seaward, challenging the coastal defences.
  • In contrast, the Blue Forces counteract these simulated threats by establishing Coastal Security Surveillance to intercept and neutralise any infiltration attempts.
  • Recognising the pivotal role of fishermen in coastal security, the exercise emphasizes the need for their active involvement.
  • Fishermen are urged to promptly report any unknown vessels operating in proximity to the coast to the Indian Coast Guard.
  • This collaborative approach aims to enhance the eyes and ears along the coastal region, turning the local fishing community into a valuable asset for security.