Exercise Sea Vigil [UPSC Notes]

Exercise Sea Vigil is a defence exercise conducted by the ​​Indian Navy in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard and other ministries entrusted with the task of maritime activities. Defence exercises form an important topic for the  IAS Exam. 

Ex Sea Vigil 2022

The third edition of the Pan India Coastal Defence exercise, Sea Vigil 2022 was conducted at the national level by the Indian Navy along with the Coast Guard and other ministries connected with maritime activities in November 2022.

About Ex Sea Vigil:

• The idea of coastal defence exercise at the national level was conceived in 2018 to validate various measures that have been instituted towards enhancing maritime security since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. 
• The aim  of the ‘Sea Vigil’ exercise is to activate the Coastal Security apparatus across India and assess the overarching Coastal Defence mechanism.
• The inaugural edition of the Sea Vigil exercise took place in January 2019.
• In January 2021, the second edition of Sea Vigil was held. 

Ex Sea Vigil 2022:

• The third edition of Ex Sea Vigil commenced on the eastern seaboard as part of the nationwide coastal defence exercise.
• The Sea Vigil 22 exercise took place along the 7,516 km coastline of the country and the Exclusive Economic Zone of the country. It involved all the coastal states, Union Territories and other maritime stakeholders, including the fishing and coastal communities. 
• The Indian Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard and other ministries entrusted with the job of maritime activities conducts the exercise.
  • The involved ministries are the Ministries of Home Affairs, Ports Shipping and Waterways, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Fisheries Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Customs, and other agencies of the Centre/States, apart from the Ministry of Defence.
• The exercise is a build-up towards the major Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), which the Indian Navy conducts biennially. Sea Vigil and TROPEX together will cover the entire spectrum of Maritime Security challenges.
• The lessons identified from the exercise would further strengthen the overall coastal defence structure of the country, especially in terms of seamless communication, coordination amongst security agencies and optimisation of resources.

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