Security Challenges and Their Management in Border Areas – Linkages of Organized Crime With Terrorism.

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3. SEA VIGIL-21

The second edition of the biennial pan-India coastal defenceexercise ‘Sea Vigil-21’ will be conducted for two days in January 2021.

ABOUT EX SEA VIGIL:

• The exercise is conducted by the Indian Navy and involves maritime stakeholders, including the Coast Guard, Customs, fisheries, fishing and coastal communities in all the 13 coastal states and UTs of India.
• The exercise was first held in 2019.
• It was started after the entire coastal defence set-up of the country was reorganised after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks (launched via the sea route).
• The exercise is massive in scale and expanse in terms of the stakeholders involved, the objectives to be met and the number of participating units.
• Ex Sea Vigil is also a build-up towards the major exercise TROPEX which the Navy conducts every two years.

TROPEX: THEATRE LEVEL OPERATIONAL READINESS EXERCISE

• It is an inter-service military exercise involving the participation of the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy and the Coast Guard.
• While smaller scale exercises are conducted in coastal states regularly, including combined exercises amongst adjoining states, the conduct of a security exercise at the national-level is aimed to serve a larger purpose.
• It provides opportunity, at the apex level, to assess the nation’s preparedness in the domain of maritime security and coastal defence.
• Exercise ‘Sea Vigil 21’ will help provide a realistic assessment of India’s strengths and weaknesses and thus will help in further strengthening maritime and national security.

SOURCE: PIB