Rajnath Singh unveils Coast Guard reforms: gender-neutral officer induction and simpler ex-gratia for personnel missing at sea
On 28 July 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled two Indian Coast Guard policy reforms – gender-neutral induction and career progression of officers, and streamlined ex-gratia for families of personnel missing at sea on duty.
Summary
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh unveiled two policy reforms for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) at Kartavya Bhavan-2, New Delhi, on 28 July 2026, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani. The first creates a gender-neutral framework for officer induction: women will be inducted into both Short Service Appointments (SSA) and Permanent Appointments (PA) at par with men, SSA is opened to male candidates, and serving SSA women officers get an option to convert to PA. The second streamlines the grant of ex-gratia to families of personnel reported missing at sea while on duty. The ICG celebrates its Golden Jubilee in 2027.
Key facts
- Unveiled by
- Rajnath Singh, 28 July 2026
- Force
- Indian Coast Guard (DG Paramesh Sivamani)
- Reform 1
- Gender-neutral officer induction – women in SSA and PA at par; SSA opened to men
- Option
- Serving SSA women officers may convert to PA
- Reform 2
- Streamlined ex-gratia for families of personnel missing at sea
- Golden Jubilee
- 2027
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Under the Indian Coast Guard reform unveiled in July 2026, women officers will be inducted into which types of appointments?
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Correct answer: C — Both Short Service and Permanent Appointments, at par with men
The gender-neutral framework inducts women into both Short Service Appointments (SSA) and Permanent Appointments (PA) at par with men; SSA has also been opened to men.
Consider the following statements about the Indian Coast Guard reforms of July 2026: 1. Short Service Appointments have been opened to male candidates. 2. Serving women SSA officers get an option to convert to Permanent Appointment. 3. One reform deals with ex-gratia for families of personnel missing at sea on duty. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct: SSA was opened to men, serving SSA women officers may convert to PA, and the second reform streamlines ex-gratia for families of personnel missing at sea.