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Internal SecurityFree till Sep 9

Coastal Surveillance: Sagar Prahari and Coastal Radar Network

July 19, 2026

Coastal Surveillance: Sagar Prahari and Coastal Radar Network

Introduction

India's 7,516 km coastline, 1,197 islands, and 13 major/200+ minor ports present significant surveillance challenges. The 26/11 Mumbai attacks (2008) exposed critical gaps in coastal security. In response, India built a multi-layered coastal surveillance architecture integrating radars, aerial platforms, patrol vessels, and inter-agency coordination. The Coastal Radar Network (CRN) and Sagar Prahari Bal (SPB) are the backbone of this system.

Post-26/11 Coastal Security Reforms

Institutional Changes

ReformResponsibilityTimeline
Coastal Security designated as Navy's roleCabinet Committee on Security2009
Indian Coast Guard designated as lead coordinating agencyMinistry of Defence2009
Sagar Prahari Bal raisedIndian Navy2009
National Committee on Coastal Security formedCoastal security reviewed at Cabinet Secretary level2009
Joint Operation Centres establishedNavy (Mumbai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Port Blair)2010
Coastal Police formalised in coastal states

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Coastal Security: Threats and Strengthening Measures

India has a 7,516 km coastline touching nine states and two UTs — a vast maritime frontier susceptible to terrorism, smuggling, and illegal fishing. This note covers the 26/11 attack lesson, the coastal security framework (ICG, Navy, Coastal Police), the Coastal Security Scheme, and the Coastal Surveillance Network.

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India's counter-terrorism architecture spans legislative tools (UAPA, NIA Act), specialised agencies (NIA, NTRO, NATGRID), and operational frameworks (MFIC, National Intelligence Grid). This note covers the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967 (amended 2019), the National Investigation Agency Act 2008, the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC), the FATF grey-listing experience, the Khalistan movement revival, and the tension between security and civil liberties.

State governments + MHA
2010-12

Integrated Coastal Security Architecture

The current architecture is a four-tier system:

Tier 1: Navy (Offshore) — Deep water >200 NM
Tier 2: Coast Guard (Mid-water) — 12-200 NM
Tier 3: Coastal Police (Inshore) — 12 NM territorial waters
Tier 4: Community (Last mile) — Fishing communities, ports

Sagar Prahari Bal (SPB)

Overview

  • Raised: March 2009, post-26/11
  • Parent organisation: Indian Navy
  • Role: Force protection of naval assets and coastal installations
  • Personnel: ~4,000 (initially 1,000, expanded over time)
  • Specialisation: Close-quarter combat, anti-sabotage, underwater security

Key Responsibilities

  1. Naval base security: Physical protection of 50+ naval establishments
  2. Underwater security: Anti-diver patrolling in naval harbours using diver detection sonars
  3. Vessel security: Escort of high-value naval ships entering/leaving harbour
  4. Access control: Man entry points, vehicle checks, perimeter security
  5. Quick Reaction Teams (QRT): Standby teams for emergency response

Equipment

  • Boats: Fast interceptor craft, inflatable boats, Gemini craft
  • Weapons: INSAS rifles, 9mm pistols, light machine guns
  • Specialised: Underwater metal detectors, handheld sonars, night vision devices
  • Vehicles: Armoured vehicles for base perimeter patrol

SPB vs Coast Guard

ParameterSPBCoast Guard
ParentIndian NavyMinistry of Defence
JurisdictionNaval bases and immediate approachesEEZ and coastal waters
Strength~4,000~15,000
VesselsSmall boats (interceptors)Offshore patrol vessels, hovercraft, aircraft
FocusStatic/close protectionOffshore surveillance, SAR, anti-smuggling

Coastal Radar Network (CRN)

Architecture

ComponentCoverageDetails
Static Radars (Chain of 46)Complete coastlineAutomatic Identification System (AIS) + Day/Night cameras
Forward Operating BasesIsland territoriesLakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar, Minicoy
Data Fusion CentresMumbai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Port BlairIntegrate radar, AIS, satellite data
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)Fishing vesselsSatellite-based tracking of fishing boats
Coastal AIS NetworkAll ports and approachesVessel identification, movement tracking

Technical Specifications

  • Radar type: X-band frequency diversity radar (range: up to 48 NM)
  • Sensors: Thermal imagers, low-light cameras (range: 20-30 km)
  • AIS receivers: Automatic identification of ships (IMO mandated)
  • Data link: Secure satellite and terrestrial communication
  • Control: Remote operation from Joint Operation Centres (JOCs)
  • ID capability: Friend/Foe identification integrated with Navy systems

Phase-wise Implementation

PhasePeriodScopeStatus
Phase I2012-201420 radars on mainland west coast + LakshadweepComplete
Phase II2014-201726 radars on mainland east coast + A&N IslandsComplete
Phase III2018-2021Upgrades, network hardening, additional sensorsComplete
Phase IV2022-2025AI integration, satellite data fusion, deep learning for threat detectionOngoing

Other Coastal Surveillance Assets

Indian Navy

  • P-8I Neptune: 12 maritime patrol aircraft with advanced radar and sonobuoys
  • Dornier 228: Shore-based maritime patrol aircraft (25+ in fleet)
  • Heron/IAI Searcher: Unmanned aerial vehicles for persistent surveillance
  • Sail MPA: Indigenous multi-role maritime patrol aircraft (under development)

Indian Coast Guard

  • Offshore Patrol Vessels: Samarth, Vikram, Priyadarshini classes
  • Interceptor boats: Rapid response (speeds up to 45 knots)
  • Hovercraft: For shallow water and island surveillance
  • Dornier and Hindustan-228: Airborne surveillance

Coastal Police

  • Police stations: 96 coastal police stations across 13 coastal states/UTs
  • Interceptors: 179 patrol boats provided under Coastal Security Scheme
  • Equipment: Night vision, GPS, communication sets, small arms

Challenges in Coastal Surveillance

ChallengeDetails
Fishing vessel threatTerrorists can blend with thousands of fishing boats; VMS coverage incomplete
Radar gaps46 radars for 7,516 km is thin; detection gaps in hilly terrain and island clusters
Data fusion delaysReal-time integration across Navy/Coast Guard/Police systems still suboptimal
False positivesHigh false alarm rate from fishing boats, reducing operator vigilance
AIS manipulationVessels can turn off AIS or transmit false vessel data
Personnel shortageCoast Guard operates at ~80% sanctioned strength
Night coverageCoastal radar sensors degrade at night; over-reliance on thermal imagers
Inter-agency coordinationNavy, Coast Guard, Police, Customs, Fisheries — multiple stakeholders with overlapping jurisdictions

Technological Upgrades (Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Coastal Surveillance)

  • Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites: RISAT-2BR1 provides all-weather day/night imagery
  • AI-based anomaly detection: Pattern recognition for vessel behaviour analysis
  • Unmanned surface vessels: Autonomous patrol boats for persistent surveillance
  • Network-centric ops: Integrated Coastal Surveillance System (ICSS) linking all sensors
  • VMS expansion: Compulsory AIS/VMS for all fishing vessels >20m length

Way Forward

  1. Complete the radar chain: Double the radar network to close gaps (target: 100+ stations)
  2. One Coast Guard Act: Unified legal framework for Coast Guard (currently under MoD via executive orders)
  3. Fisheries registry: Biometric ID cards for all fishermen and vessels
  4. Data integration: Single coastal surveillance dashboard across all agencies
  5. Coastal police modernisation: Upgrade ₹2,000 crore scheme for boats, weapons, and training
  6. Satellite surveillance: Dedicated SAR satellite constellation for real-time maritime domain awareness

Conclusion

Coastal surveillance is India's first line of maritime defence. The post-26/11 architecture — SPB, CRN, JOCs, and multi-agency coordination — has transformed coastal security from a vulnerability to a layered defence. However, gaps remain in radar coverage, data integration, and fishing vessel monitoring. As India's maritime interests grow (Blue Economy, SAGAR vision, Indo-Pacific role), coastal surveillance must keep pace through technology, personnel, and institutional reforms.

Practice Questions

  1. Discuss the post-26/11 coastal security architecture of India. What are the remaining gaps?
  2. Evaluate the role of Sagar Prahari Bal and Coastal Radar Network in India's maritime security.
  3. "India's coastal surveillance needs to move from human-centric to technology-driven systems." Elaborate.