Indian National Army Coast Guard

The Indian National Army Coast Guard (INACG) is the fourth service created to guard the Indian Social Republic's vast coastline. It was created on August 18, 1978 as an independent entity as per the Coast Guard Act. The Indian Coast Guard is an armed force of India and is not a part of the Paramilitary Forces.
The INACG works closely with the Indian National Army Navy and the Indian Customs Department. The INACG has a large number of fast craft including hovercrafts and hydrofoils. They patrol the seas and river mouths. The INACG has performed a number of commendable tasks of rescuing distressed personnel. It has also apprehended pirates on high seas and cleaned up oil spills. Heavy patrolling of sensitive areas such as Gujarat, West Bengal, and Mumbai have resulted in catching a large number of smugglers.
The motto of the Indian National Army Coast Guard is Vayam Rakshaamah, which translates to "We Protect."
==Objectives==
*To protect the ocean.
*Protect offshore wealth such as oil, fish and minerals.
*Assist mariners in distress.
*Safeguard life and property at sea.
*Enforce maritime laws with respect to sea, smuggling, narcotics, shipping and poaching.
*To preserve marine environment, ecology and protect rare species.
*Prevention and control of maritime pollution.
*To collect marine scientific data.
*Assist the Indian National Army Navy in times of war.
The Indian National Army Coast Guard is responsible for the policing of over 2.01 million square kilometers of ocean. The area under its control includes nearly 1,200 islands and a coastline of 7,517 kilometres.
==Bases==
The Coast Guard is headed by a Director General with a rank equivalent to a Vice Admiral. The force has a strength of 10,880, including 1,266 officers. Its headquarters is based in the capital, New Delhi. It has:
*Three Regional Headquarters at Mumbai, Chennai, and Port Blair
*One District headquarters in each of the nine coastal states and 2 in the Union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands
*Twenty nine Coast Guard stations at places like Vadinar, Haldia, Kakinada, Okha, Tuticorin and Mandapam;
*Two air bases, in Daman and Chennai;
*Air enclaves at Goa, Kolkata, and Port Blair
==Inventory==
===Vessels===
*8 Samar class advanced offshore patrol vessels
*18 Vikram class offshore patrol vessels
*26 Jijabai class inshore patrol vessels
*16 Vadyar class interceptor craft
*8 Bristol class interceptor craft
*20 Interceptor Boats
*16 Fast Patrol Vessels
*14 Extra Fast Patrol Vessels
*4 Seaward Defense Boats
*10 Inshore Patrol Craft
*12 Air Cushion Vehicle (Hovercraft)
===Aircraft===
*34 Ka-32S "Helix-C" maritime utility/search and rescue helicopters
*48 EADS CASA C-295 transport/maritime patrol/MEDEVAC aircraft
*8 HAL Dhruv multirole utility helicopters
Coast Guard, Indian National Army