Coast Guard Commanders' Conference: MoS Sanjay Seth urges ICG to lead on tech, Aatmanirbharta
Synopsis
At the 43rd ICG Commanders' Conference, MoS Sanjay Seth pushed the Indian Coast Guard to stop being a passive technology user and start co-creating solutions with DRDO and start-ups. Framing Aatmanirbharta as building for global capability — not just buying Indian — he tied Coast Guard modernisation directly to PM Modi's MAHASAGAR regional vision.
Key Takeaways
MoS Defence Sanjay Seth addressed the 43rd ICG Commanders' Conference in New Delhi on 17 September 2026 .
He urged the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to become a co-creator of defence technology alongside DRDO , start-ups, and research institutions.
Seth emphasised AI , autonomous systems , cyber capabilities , and space-based maritime domain awareness as priority areas.
He linked Coast Guard expansion to PM Modi's MAHASAGAR vision of mutual security and growth across regions.
The three-day conference is also reviewing HADR operations , search and rescue, and pollution control capabilities.
Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Thursday, 17 September 2026, called upon Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Commanders to stay ahead of emerging maritime security challenges by embracing rapid technological change. His remarks came at the opening day of the 43rd ICG Commanders' Conference in New Delhi, a three-day conclave that brings together the force's top leadership to review strategy and operational priorities.
Key Developments at the Conference
Seth opened the conference with a clear message: the character of warfare and security threats is evolving at speed, and the Coast Guard must keep pace. He stressed the growing centrality of networks, sensors, software, data, Artificial Intelligence, autonomous systems, cyber capabilities, and space-based technologies in modern maritime operations.
The MoS interacted with ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani and senior Commanders on issues covering national and maritime security. He commended the force for its role as a first responder at sea — saving lives regardless of nationality — and for its contributions to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
What the Government Said on Aatmanirbharta
Seth's address placed particular emphasis on self-reliance in defence technology. He urged the ICG to move beyond being a mere end-user and become a co-creator of solutions by collaborating with start-ups, industry, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and research institutions.
'Aatmanirbharta is not merely about buying Indian; it is about developing solutions for Indian challenges and creating capabilities that can meet global requirements. This embodies our vision of 'Make in India, Make for the World',' Seth said.
Expanding India's Maritime Footprint
The MoS underscored the need to strengthen India's maritime capabilities across the full operational spectrum — from littoral and green waters to open oceans and blue waters. This, he said, aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
Seth called for investments in advanced platforms, underwater technologies, unmanned systems, long-endurance surveillance capabilities, satellite-enabled maritime domain awareness, and secure communications. 'As India's maritime responsibilities expand, our capabilities must expand with them, from our coasts to the wider maritime domain,' he said.
Context and Significance
This comes amid a broader push by the Indian government to modernise its maritime security architecture, with the ICG increasingly expected to operate not just in coastal waters but across the Indo-Pacific. The emphasis on AI, autonomous systems, and space-based awareness signals a shift from platform-centric to data-centric maritime operations — a direction the Indian Navy has also been pursuing. Notably, the MAHASAGAR framework places India's maritime ambitions in a regional cooperation context, extending the ICG's mandate beyond enforcement to diplomacy and humanitarian response.
The conference continues over the next two days, with further deliberations expected on operational readiness, force modernisation, and inter-agency coordination.
Point of View
Not procurement shortcuts. The MAHASAGAR framing is significant: it positions the ICG not just as a domestic security asset but as a tool of regional soft power. The harder question is whether the institutional pipelines — DRDO timelines, start-up defence ecosystems, and ICG's own R&D absorptive capacity — are mature enough to deliver on that ambition within any meaningful timeframe. Past Aatmanirbharta targets in defence have repeatedly bumped against delays in domestic production. This conference will matter less for what was said and more for what operational milestones get set on day two and three.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ICG Commanders' Conference?
The ICG Commanders' Conference is an annual high-level conclave of Indian Coast Guard leadership that reviews maritime security strategy, operational priorities, and force modernisation plans. The 43rd edition opened on 17 September 2026 in New Delhi as a three-day event.
What did MoS Sanjay Seth say about Aatmanirbharta at the conference?
Seth said Aatmanirbharta goes beyond procuring Indian-made equipment — it means developing solutions tailored to Indian challenges that can also meet global standards. He urged the ICG to co-create technologies with DRDO, start-ups, and research institutions rather than remain only an end-user.
What is PM Modi's MAHASAGAR vision and how does it relate to the Coast Guard?
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — a framework that positions India as a collaborative maritime security provider across the Indo-Pacific. Seth linked Coast Guard expansion in platforms, surveillance, and underwater technologies directly to fulfilling this regional vision.
Which technologies did the MoS highlight as priorities for the Indian Coast Guard?
Seth specifically called for progress in Artificial Intelligence, autonomous systems, cyber capabilities, space-based maritime domain awareness, unmanned systems, underwater technologies, long-endurance surveillance, and secure communications.
What other roles of the Indian Coast Guard were highlighted at the conference?
Beyond security enforcement, Seth commended the ICG for HADR operations, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and pollution control — noting that the force saves lives at sea regardless of the nationality of those in distress.
