Coast Guard & Special Forces — Set 1

Correct Answer: B. 1977

The Indian Coast Guard was established on 18 August 1977 under the Coast Guard Act 1978. It was carved out of the Indian Navy to serve as an independent armed force for maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and protection of offshore assets. The Coast Guard operates under the Ministry of Defence (not MHA).

Correct Answer: B. 'Vayam Rakshamah'

The motto of the Indian Coast Guard is 'Vayam Rakshamah' which means 'We Protect' in Sanskrit. The motto reflects the Coast Guard's primary mission of protecting India's maritime interests, coastal population, and marine environment. The Indian Coast Guard Day is celebrated on 1 February every year.

Correct Answer: B. Ministry of Defence

The Indian Coast Guard functions under the Ministry of Defence (MoD). This distinguishes it from many other countries' coast guards that are under the interior or home ministry. The ICG works in close coordination with the Indian Navy, particularly in matters of national security and maritime patrol.

Correct Answer: B. 1984 after Operation Blue Star

The National Security Guard (NSG) was raised in 1984 following Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The operation revealed the need for a specialized federal counter-terrorism force. The NSG was created under the NSG Act 1986 and initially drew personnel from the Army and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

Correct Answer: B. Black Cats

The NSG is popularly known as 'Black Cats' owing to the black uniform and black beret worn by its personnel. The NSG was established as a federal contingency force to deal with terrorism, hijacking, and hostage rescue situations. The 'Black Cat' insignia has become synonymous with elite counter-terrorism operations in India.

Correct Answer: B. Ministry of Home Affairs

The NSG functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Despite using Army and paramilitary personnel on deputation, the NSG is a civilian federal force under MHA. Its director general reports to the Union Home Ministry. This is in contrast to the Army's Para SF, which operates under the Ministry of Defence.

Correct Answer: C. Manesar (Gurugram)

NSG headquarters is located at Manesar in Gurugram (Haryana). The Manesar campus is a large training facility where NSG commandos undergo rigorous selection and training. Following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008, four NSG hubs were established at Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata to enable faster response.

Correct Answer: A. 51 SAG and 52 SAG

The two main fighting elements of the NSG are the 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG) and the 52 Special Action Group (52 SAG). The 51 SAG comprises Army personnel on deputation and handles counter-terrorist operations. The 52 SAG comprises personnel from Central Armed Police Forces and handles Special Ranger Group (SRG) protective/VIP security duties.

Correct Answer: B. 26/11 Mumbai attacks response

NSG commandos played a pivotal role in the response to the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks (November 26-29, 2008). NSG's 51 SAG conducted Operation Black Tornado at the Taj Mahal Hotel and Nariman House (Chabad House). The operation lasted over 60 hours and resulted in the neutralization of the attackers.

Correct Answer: C. Indian Navy

MARCOS (Marine Commandos) is the special forces unit of the Indian Navy. Raised in 1987 as the Marine Commando Force (MCF), MARCOS is trained for maritime counter-terrorism, direct action, special reconnaissance, and combat diving. They drew initial inspiration from US Navy SEALs and were originally trained to counter LTTE maritime capabilities.