Coast Guard & Special Forces
Defence GK · तटरक्षक और विशेष बल · 18 facts
Indian Coast Guard: Established August 18, 1978 under Coast Guard Act; operates under Ministry of Defence; 156+ ships, 62+ aircraft; 14,000+ personnel
Coast Guard roles: Maritime safety, search and rescue (SAR), anti-poaching, anti-smuggling, pollution control in EEZ, protection of offshore assets (oil rigs)
NSG (National Security Guard): Formed September 1984 after Operation Blue Star (Golden Temple); under MHA; HQ at Manesar, Haryana; called 'Black Cats'
NSG two wings: SAG (Special Action Group) — military personnel for offensive operations; SRG (Special Rangers Group) — paramilitary for VIP protection
NSG 26/11 Operation Black Tornado: Neutralized Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists at Taj Mahal Palace, Oberoi Trident hotels and Nariman House; 60-hour operation November 2008
MARCOS (Marine Commandos): Indian Navy's special operations force; created 1987; compared to US Navy SEALs; trained for underwater demolition, CQB, HALO/HAHO
MARCOS selection: Less than 5% pass selection; training includes swimming 3km in open sea, parachuting from 30,000 feet, 90-day probation in Indian Ocean
Para SF (Special Forces): India's land special forces; elite battalions of Parachute Regiment; 1 Para SF, 9 Para SF, 10 Para SF, 21 Para SF — most decorated
Para SF Uri Surgical Strike (2016): 21 Para SF conducted surgical strikes across LoC on September 29, 2016 targeting terrorist launch pads after Uri attack (18 soldiers killed)
Special Frontier Force (SFF/Vikas Regiment): India's secretive special force; established 1962 after Sino-Indian war; primarily Tibetan exiles; operated in Bangladesh war 1971; under RAW/Cabinet Secretariat
FORCE ONE: Mumbai Police's elite counter-terrorism force; created after 26/11 attacks 2008; 216 commandos; equipped with MP5, SIG Sauer, Glock; operated independently of NSG
NIA (National Investigation Agency): Federal counter-terrorism agency; established 2008 (after 26/11); investigates terrorism, human trafficking, counterfeit currency, cyber terrorism
RAW (Research and Analysis Wing): India's external intelligence agency; established September 1968 after 1962 and 1965 wars; under Cabinet Secretariat (PM's office)
IB (Intelligence Bureau): India's domestic intelligence agency; oldest intelligence agency (1887 during British era); under MHA; handles counter-intelligence, VIP security clearances
Garud Commando Force: IAF's special operations force; created 2004; for airbase protection, combat search and rescue, support to Para SF and MARCOS
Indian Coast Guard Pollution Control: India's CG has largest oil pollution response fleet in Indian Ocean region; responds to ship accidents, oil spills in EEZ (2.02 million sq km)
Coastal Security post-26/11: India set up 4 new systems — NCSMCS (command system), NDS (surveillance), NISF (industrial security force), MARCOS expansion; 75 MMB coastal police stations
AFSOC equivalent: India's SF ecosystem includes Para SF (Army), MARCOS (Navy), Garud (Air Force), NSG (MHA) — joint operations coordinated under NCA during crises