Source: TH
Subject: Defence Exercise
Context: The biannual coastal security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’ has commenced in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, involving multi-agency coastal preparedness drills.
About Coastal Security Exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’:
What it is?
- ‘Sagar Kavach’ is a biannual multi-agency coastal security exercise conducted along India’s coastline to assess real-time preparedness against seaborne threats, intrusions, and infiltration attempts.
- It simulates realistic attacks to gauge vulnerabilities and response efficiency.
Host: Indian Coast Guard.
Aim:
- To validate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for coastal security.
- To assess preparedness against threats such as intrusions, sabotage, smuggling, and terrorist infiltration.
Key Features of ‘Sagar Kavach’:
- Conducted twice a year across coastal states and island territories.
- Uses realistic threat simulations such as dummy intruders (Red Force teams), infiltration attempts, and sabotage scenarios.
- Involves sea patrolling, boat inspections, harbour checks, coastline surveillance, and securing high-value targets.
- Trains coastal police in intelligence gathering, interrogation, interception, and patrolling procedures.
- Enhances coordination between military, paramilitary, and civil agencies to build a robust and resilient coastal security architecture.
- Covers coastal villages, harbours, vital installations, rail/bus stations, and sensitive public infrastructure.
- Integrates surface assets, air surveillance, and communication networks across agencies.
