Indian Coast Guard 25th Director General
Shri Rakesh Pal has been appointed as the new Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). He is the 25th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard. He is an alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy and had joined the Indian Coast Guard in January 1989. He has received professional expertise in gunnery and weapon systems from the Indian Naval School Dronacharya, Kochi. Along with this he has done Electro-Optics Fire Control Solution course from United Kingdom. He has the distinction of being the first gunner of ICG.
Rakesh Pal was promoted to the rank of Additional Director General in February 2022 and was posted at Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi. He was given the additional charge of Director General Coast Guard in February 2023. During this period, several important operations and exercises were completed which included seizure of drugs and narcotics and gold worth crores of rupees, rescue of sailors during severe cyclonic storms, joint exercises with foreign coast guards, anti-poaching operations, cyclone and humanitarian assistance and coastal security exercises during natural disasters.
Information about Indian Coast Guard
The Indian Coast Guard was established by Parliament under the Coast Guard Act, 1978 on 18 August 1978 as an independent armed force of the Union with the objective of safeguarding the Indian Ocean in peace time. The Indian Coast Guard is the fourth largest Coast Guard force in the world. The Indian Coast Guard, the nodal body for enforcement of the provisions of all National Acts in force in the maritime zones of India, renders the following services to the nation and the maritime community.
Functions of Indian Coast Guard
- To ensure the safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore installations and other structures in our maritime zones.
- To protect fishermen and help them in times of distress at sea.
- To protect and preserve our marine environment, including the prevention and control of marine pollution.
- To assist the Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations.
- Enforcement of Indian Maritime Acts.
To take necessary measures to ensure the safety of life and property at sea.