Exercise Sea Vigil-26

Context

The Indian Navy has launched the fifth edition of Exercise Sea Vigil-26, a nationwide exercise to assess India’s coastal defence and maritime security preparedness.

About the Exercise

1. Nature: A pan-India coastal defence exercise coordinated by the Indian Navy.
2. Origin: Started in 2018 to strengthen security following the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks (2008).
3. Objective: To check coastal surveillance, multi-agency coordination, and overall preparedness against maritime threats.
4. Coverage: Spans the entire Indian coastline and EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), involving coastal states, Union Territories, and maritime agencies.
5. Coastline Update: The first edition conducted after India’s official coastline measurement was revised from 7,516.6 km to 11,098.81 km.

Phases of the Exercise

1. CDSRE (Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation): Evaluates ground-level coastal security setups and operational readiness.
2. Sea Phase: Scheduled for 18–19 November 2026, involving active maritime security operations at sea.

Participating Agencies & Community Role

1. Security Forces: Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Coastal Security Police, Customs, and port authorities.
2. Key Ministries: Ministries of Defence; Home Affairs; Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Petroleum and Natural Gas; and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
3. Community Participation: Involves coastal residents and fishing communities as grassroots informants to report suspicious activities.

Link with TROPEX

1. TROPEX (Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise): The Indian Navy’s major biennial operational-level exercise.
2. Preparatory Role: Sea Vigil acts as a baseline test for coastal mechanisms right before TROPEX.
3. Key Difference: Sea Vigil focuses purely on coastal defence and civil-military coordination, whereas TROPEX tests broader high-seas naval combat readiness.

FAQs

Q1. Which organisation coordinates Exercise Sea Vigil?

Ans. The Indian Navy, supported by other maritime security agencies.

Q2. What is the geographical coverage of Sea Vigil-26?

Ans. India’s entire coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Q3. What is the relationship between Sea Vigil and TROPEX?

Ans. Sea Vigil is a preparatory coastal security exercise for TROPEX, the Indian Navy’s biennial operational exercise.