New Delhi, Jul 28 (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday announced two major policy reforms for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), introducing gender-neutral officer induction and simplifying the process for providing ex-gratia compensation to the families of personnel who go missing at sea while on duty.
The reforms were unveiled at Kartavya Bhavan-2 in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Director General of the Indian Coast Guard Paramesh Sivamani and senior officials.
Under the new policy, women will now be inducted into both Short Service Appointments (SSA) and Permanent Appointments (PA) on par with men, while SSA has also been opened to male candidates. The policy also provides equal opportunities for career progression from the training stage onwards.
Existing women officers serving under Permanent Appointments will be eligible for promotions subject to prescribed conditions, while women officers currently serving under SSA will have the option to convert to Permanent Appointments after meeting eligibility criteria.
The second reform streamlines the procedure for granting ex-gratia compensation and terminal benefits to the next of kin of Coast Guard personnel reported missing at sea during duty. The policy empowers the authorities to declare such personnel “presumed dead” for the limited purpose of processing ex-gratia and related benefits, reducing delays in extending financial assistance to bereaved families.
Speaking on the occasion, Singh praised the Indian Coast Guard for its service over the past five decades and said the reforms would strengthen the morale and operational effectiveness of the force ahead of its Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2027.
He also reiterated the Centre’s commitment to developing the Coast Guard into a modern, capable and future-ready maritime force.(NVI)
