Know the Indian Coast Guard (ICG)

Indian Coast Guard announces its vacancies twice a year, and the selection procedure is quite similar to SSB. The officers recruited are equivalent to the Assistant Commandants of CAPF.

Who are Indian Coast Guard?

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is the maritime Para Military Force (PMF) of the Union of India. Its mission is the protection of India’s maritime interests and enforcement of maritime law with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including contiguous zone & exclusive economic zone. ICG was formally established on 18 August 1978 as an armed force of the Union (aka BSF, ITBP, and CISF) by the Coast Guard Act, 1978. It operates under the Ministry of Defence. The Coast Guard works in close cooperation with the Indian Navy, Department of Fisheries, Department of Revenue (Customs) and the Central and State police forces.

What is the Selection Process of Indian Coast Guard ICG?

If you want to join the ICG as officer you can apply for the ICG recruitment, the advertisements for which are published twice a year. Usually the applications are received in the month of May/June and Nov/Dec. The mode of application is online. Direct calls are made to candidates securing above the decided cut-off.

The ICG recruitment is done in two phases. Firstly the Preliminary Selection Board (PSB), which is somewhat similar to the screening test of SSB/AFSB, and the successful candidates of PSB are called for Final Selection Board (FSB), which consists of Psychologist test, Group Testing and Interview (Personality test). The successful candidates of FSB undergo medical tests.

Rank and Pay Structure in Indian Coast Guard ICG

The officers in the Coast Guard have the same rank structure as the Central Armed Police Forces. The Director General Coast Guard is usually a Vice Admiral rank officer on deputation from the Indian Navy. The rank order in Ascending Order is:

• Assistant Commandant -Rs. 15600-39100 with Grade Pay Rs 5400/-
• Deputy Commandant- Rs. 15600-39100 with Grade Pay Rs 6600/-
• Commandant(Junior Grade)- Rs. 15600-39100 with Grade Pay Rs 7600/-
• Commandant- Rs. 37400-67000 with Grade Pay Rs 8700/-
• Deputy Inspector General-Rs. 37400-67000 with Grade Pay Rs 8900/-
• Inspector General-Rs. 37400-67000 with Grade Pay Rs 10000/-
• Director General-Rs. 37400-67000 with Grade Pay Rs 12000/-

Other Benefits in Indian Coast Guard ICG

• Entitled rations, medical cover for self and family including dependent parents.
• Government accommodation for self & family on nominal license fee.
• 45 days Earned leave and 08 days Casual leave every year with leave. Travel    concession for self, family and dependent parents as per Govt. rules.
• Insurance cover of Rs.40 lakhs at a premium of Rs.4000/- per month as
• Group insurance.
• Contributory Pension Scheme, Provident Fund and Gratuity on retirement.
• Canteen and various loan facilities.
• Sports and adventure activities such as river rafting, mountaineering, hot air ballooning, hang gliding and wind surfing etc.

Types of Officers in Indian Coast Guard ICG

• General Duty Officers: The command of ships at sea can only be exercised by officers of the General Duty (GD) branch. The key functions of a GD officer would be to operate weapons, sensors and different kinds of equipment on-board a ship. The safety of the ship and the men would be GD officers’ responsibility. All the District Commanders (COMDIS) and Commander of Coast Guard Region (COMCG) appointments are exercised by a GD Officer of the Indian Coast Guard. GD officers are graduates in Science or Engineering.
• Pilot Officers: Pilot officers are also part of GD branch. A Pilot officer gets an opportunity to work at shore Air Stations along the Indian coasts and also embark ships. ICG operates fixed wing aircraft for surveillance of the exclusive economic zone. In addition, helicopters are embarked on Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) to provide local surveillance and perform search and rescue mission at sea. Pilot officers are graduates in Science or Engineering.
• Technical Officers: Technical officers are responsible for operation of advanced technology and sensor systems on board Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, as well as on shore installations. They also command the maintenance wings of the force. Technical officers are graduates in Engineering.
• Law Officers: Law officers act as legal advisers to their respective commanders. They represent the Indian Coast Guard in legal actions filed by or against the organization. They also perform the duties of Trial law officers in Coast Guard Courts, convened to try delinquent Coast Guard personnel.

PSB/FSB Centers

• PSB Centers: Noida, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata
• FSB Center: Noida

Training of Indian Coast Guard ICG officers

Currently, Officers of Indian Coast Guard undergo Basic Military Training at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala along with their counter parts of Indian Navy. This helps in the mutual interchange of Officers among these two sister services. While the Indian Coast Guard Academy is under construction in Azhikkal, Kannur district, Kerala. The Sailors of Indian Coast Guard gets trained along with Indian Naval Sailors at the Indian Naval training establishment INS Chilka. All the training undertaken by Indian Coast Guard Officers and Sailors are the same as those under taken by Indian Naval Officers and Sailors.

Also Read

• Indian Coast Guard Preliminary Selection Procedure
• Indian Coast Guard Final Selection Board Procedure