Indian Coast Guard Enhances Fleet with New Pollution Control Vessel

Indian Coast Guard commissions advanced pollution control vessel, boosting maritime environmental protection.

Photo by Yogi Ravi Teja Yedla

What Happened: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Monday, January 5, 2026, commissioned a new state-of-the-art Pollution Control Vessel (PCV), named ICGS Samudra Prahari, into its fleet. This addition significantly enhances India's capabilities in maritime environmental protection and response to oil spills.Context & Background: India, with its vast coastline and strategic maritime interests, faces constant threats from marine pollution, particularly oil spills from shipping traffic. The ICG is mandated to protect India's maritime zones and prevent marine environmental degradation. This new vessel is part of a broader strategy to modernize the ICG fleet and strengthen its operational readiness.Key Details & Facts: The ICGS Samudra Prahari is equipped with advanced pollution response equipment, including oil spill containment and recovery systems, dispersant spray arrangements, and fire-fighting capabilities. It also features a helipad for helicopter operations, enhancing its reach and effectiveness. The vessel will be deployed to monitor and respond to pollution incidents in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and beyond.Implications & Impact: The new PCV will bolster India's capacity to safeguard its marine ecosystem, protect coastal communities, and ensure the safety of maritime trade routes. It also reinforces India's commitment to international conventions on marine pollution and disaster response, contributing to regional maritime security and environmental stewardship.Different Perspectives: While the acquisition is widely lauded for its environmental and security benefits, some experts emphasize the need for continuous training, international collaboration, and robust regulatory frameworks to maximize the effectiveness of such advanced assets in real-world scenarios.Exam Relevance: This topic is highly relevant for GS Paper 3 (Internal Security - Maritime Security, Environment & Ecology - Marine Pollution) and GS Paper 2 (International Relations - Maritime Cooperation). It covers institutional capabilities, environmental protection, and strategic maritime assets.

Key Facts

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commissioned new PCV

Vessel name: ICGS Samudra Prahari

Equipped for oil spill containment, recovery, dispersant spray

Features helipad for helicopter operations

Deployed in India's EEZ

UPSC Exam Angles

GS Paper 3: Internal Security - Maritime Security, Coastal Security, Border Management

GS Paper 3: Environment & Ecology - Marine Pollution, Environmental Impact Assessment, Disaster Management

GS Paper 2: International Relations - Maritime Cooperation, International Conventions, India's role in Indian Ocean Region

Institutional Capabilities: Role and functions of Indian Coast Guard, Ministry of Defence

Visual Insights

ICGS Samudra Prahari: Enhancing India's Maritime Environmental Protection

This map illustrates India's vast coastline and its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), highlighting key strategic locations and major shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean Region. The commissioning of ICGS Samudra Prahari significantly bolsters the Indian Coast Guard's (ICG) capabilities to monitor and respond to marine pollution incidents, particularly oil spills, across these critical maritime areas.

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📍Mumbai📍Chennai📍Kolkata📍Port Blair📍Lakshadweep Islands📍Bay of Bengal📍Arabian Sea

More Information

Background

India's journey towards a dedicated maritime law enforcement and environmental protection agency began with the recognition of its vast coastline and strategic maritime interests. Prior to the formal establishment of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the Indian Navy primarily handled maritime security. However, increasing incidents of smuggling, illegal fishing, and the growing threat of marine pollution necessitated a specialized force.

The K.F. Rustamji Committee's recommendations in 1977 led to the ICG's formation, formally constituted by the Coast Guard Act, 1978. Initially, its focus was broader, encompassing anti-smuggling and search & rescue.

The mandate for marine environmental protection gained significant prominence following India's ratification of key international conventions like MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) in 1981 and the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) in 1982, which placed clear obligations on coastal states to protect their marine environment. Early pollution response efforts were often ad-hoc, relying on general-purpose vessels, gradually evolving towards the need for dedicated Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs) as global awareness and technological capabilities advanced.

Latest Developments

In recent years, the Indian Coast Guard has been undergoing a significant modernization drive, aligning with the 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives, emphasizing indigenous shipbuilding and technological self-reliance. This broader strategy includes the induction of not just PCVs but also a range of Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs), and Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) to enhance its multi-faceted capabilities. There's a growing focus on integrating advanced surveillance technologies, including drones and satellite-based monitoring, into the Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN) for real-time maritime domain awareness.

Beyond oil spills, the ICG is increasingly addressing emerging threats like plastic pollution, microplastics, and the impact of deep-sea mining, necessitating diversified response strategies and equipment. Regionally, India is actively engaged in multilateral exercises (e.g., SAREX, Milan) and bilateral agreements to foster greater cooperation in maritime security, search and rescue, and pollution response with littoral states in the Indian Ocean Region. The future outlook involves further fleet expansion, integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for predictive analysis, and continuous human resource development to manage the complexities of India's vast and dynamic maritime zones.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. Consider the following statements regarding the Indian Coast Guard (ICG):

A.It was established in 1977 based on the recommendations of the K.F. Rustamji Committee.
B.The ICG operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
C.Its primary mandate is limited to search and rescue operations within India's territorial waters.
D.All its assets, including vessels and aircraft, are indigenously designed and manufactured.

Show Answer

Answer: A

Statement A is correct. The Indian Coast Guard was established in 1977 based on the recommendations of the K.F. Rustamji Committee. Statement B is incorrect; the ICG operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, not the Ministry of Home Affairs. Statement C is incorrect; its mandate is much broader, including marine environmental protection, enforcement of maritime laws, and anti-smuggling operations, extending to India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and beyond. Statement D is incorrect; while there is a strong push for indigenization, not all assets are currently indigenously designed and manufactured.

2. In the context of India's maritime environmental protection, consider the following statements:

A.India is a signatory to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC Convention).
B.Within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), India has complete sovereignty over all resources and activities, including military exercises by other nations.
C.The Indian Coast Guard is the sole agency responsible for marine pollution response in India's maritime zones, with no role for other central or state agencies.
D.The primary focus of marine pollution control in India is currently on plastic waste, with oil spills being a negligible concern.

Show Answer

Answer: A

Statement A is correct. India is a signatory to both MARPOL and OPRC conventions, reflecting its commitment to international maritime environmental protection. Statement B is incorrect; within the EEZ, India has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources, but other nations retain freedoms of navigation and overflight, and military exercises are generally permitted if they don't impede India's rights. Statement C is incorrect; while ICG is the principal agency, other bodies like the Directorate General of Shipping, state pollution control boards, and port authorities also have roles in marine pollution response and prevention. Statement D is incorrect; while plastic pollution is a growing concern, oil spills remain a significant threat due to heavy shipping traffic and offshore activities.

3. Which of the following equipment or capabilities are typically integrated into modern Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs) like the ICGS Samudra Prahari?

A.Only oil spill containment booms and recovery skimmers.
B.Dispersant spray systems, fire-fighting capabilities, and helipad for helicopter operations.
C.Primarily designed for deep-sea mining operations and resource exploration.
D.Exclusively equipped for anti-piracy operations and coastal surveillance.

Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement B is correct. Modern PCVs are multi-functional and equipped with a range of advanced pollution response equipment. As mentioned in the summary, ICGS Samudra Prahari features dispersant spray arrangements, fire-fighting capabilities, and a helipad for helicopter operations, in addition to oil spill containment and recovery systems. Statement A is incomplete as PCVs have more than just containment and recovery. Statements C and D are incorrect as these are not the primary functions of a Pollution Control Vessel.

4. Which of the following statements correctly describes the concept of 'Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)' as per UNCLOS?

A.It is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, extending up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline, where a coastal state has full sovereignty.
B.It is a zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, where the coastal state has sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting natural resources.
C.It is an international water zone where all states have equal rights to exploit marine resources and conduct military activities without any restrictions.
D.It is a zone where a coastal state can only conduct scientific research and has no rights over living or non-living resources.

Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement B correctly defines the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). As per UNCLOS, the EEZ is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, where the coastal state has sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil. Statement A describes territorial waters. Statement C and D are incorrect as they misrepresent the rights and restrictions within an EEZ.