New Delhi, November 11, 2026: The Indian Navy is coordinating the fifth edition of the Pan-India Coastal Defence Exercise, Sea Vigil-26, being conducted from November 11 to 19, 2026. The nationwide exercise aims to evaluate and strengthen India’s coastal defence preparedness, maritime security mechanisms and coordination among multiple security agencies.
The Indian Navy is serving as the lead coordinating agency for the exercise, which will cover India’s entire coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), involving all coastal states and Union Territories.
Exercise to Be Conducted in Two Phases
Sea Vigil-26 will be conducted in two distinct phases to comprehensively assess the country’s coastal security arrangements.
The first phase, known as the Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation (CDSRE), will take place from November 11 to 17, 2026. This phase will focus on evaluating existing coastal security mechanisms, operational preparedness and coordination among participating agencies.
The second phase, called the Sea Phase, will be conducted on November 18 and 19, 2026. It will involve maritime security operations designed to test the effectiveness of coastal defence arrangements under realistic conditions.
Lessons from the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks
Exercise Sea Vigil was conceptualised in 2018 as part of India’s efforts to strengthen maritime security following the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks.
The attacks exposed critical vulnerabilities in coastal surveillance and security arrangements, prompting the government to introduce several measures to improve maritime domain awareness, inter-agency coordination and coastal defence capabilities.
Sea Vigil was subsequently established as a nationwide exercise to validate these measures and identify areas requiring further improvement.
Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Multiple Agencies to Participate
Sea Vigil-26 will witness extensive participation from various maritime security and law enforcement agencies.
Assets and personnel from the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Coastal Security Police, Customs and other maritime agencies will participate in the exercise.
The exercise is also being facilitated by several central ministries, including the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Central government agencies, coastal state administrations and Union Territory authorities will also contribute to the exercise.
Importantly, fishing communities and coastal populations will be involved, recognising their vital role in identifying suspicious activities and supporting maritime security efforts.
Sea Vigil-26 to Strengthen Maritime Security Preparedness
The exercise assumes considerable significance due to its extensive geographical coverage, the large number of participating agencies and the diverse range of security objectives being evaluated.
By involving multiple stakeholders across India’s coastline, Sea Vigil-26 will provide an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of existing security procedures, communication networks, surveillance arrangements and operational coordination.
The exercise is expected to help identify potential gaps in coastal security and facilitate improvements in the country’s maritime defence architecture.
Preparatory Exercise for Indian Navy’s TROPEX
Sea Vigil also serves as a precursor to the Indian Navy’s biennial Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), one of the Navy’s major operational exercises.
While Sea Vigil focuses primarily on coastal defence and maritime security preparedness, TROPEX evaluates broader naval operational capabilities, including operations on the high seas.
Together, the two exercises address a wide spectrum of maritime security challenges, ranging from threats along India’s coastline to complex operational scenarios in the wider maritime domain.
The Indian Navy stated that conducting Sea Vigil at the national level provides an important opportunity to assess the country’s overall preparedness for maritime security and coastal defence.
Sea Vigil-26 is expected to deliver a realistic assessment of India’s coastal security capabilities while further strengthening coordination, operational readiness and national maritime security.
