The Indian Navy is coordinating the fifth edition of Sea Vigil, a nationwide exercise intended to assess India’s preparedness for maritime security and coastal defence threats. The exercise began on 11 November 2026 and will continue until 19 November, covering the country’s entire coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Sea Vigil-26 is being conducted in two stages. The first, the Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation phase, will run from 11 to 17 November. It will be followed by the sea phase on 18 and 19 November. The Indian Navy is the lead agency for the exercise, which brings together coastal States and Union Territories as well as other maritime stakeholders.
Exercise designed as a national readiness test
The exercise includes the participation of fishing and coastal communities, whose activities and local knowledge form part of India’s wider coastal surveillance network. The Defence Ministry said the national-level conduct of Sea Vigil provides an opportunity to assess the country’s preparedness for maritime security and coastal defence at the highest level.
Unlike a service-specific drill, Sea Vigil examines coordination across the maritime security framework. Its participating stakeholders include agencies responsible for coastal security and other maritime activities, alongside the coastal administration and communities operating near the shore.
- Lead agency: Indian Navy
- Geographical coverage: India’s coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone
- Readiness phase: 11–17 November 2026
- Sea phase: 18–19 November 2026
- Participants: Coastal States, Union Territories and maritime stakeholders, including fishing and coastal communities
Framework created after the 26/11 attacks
Sea Vigil was conceptualised in 2018 to validate measures introduced to strengthen maritime security after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The exercise has since provided a national mechanism for testing the effectiveness of coastal defence arrangements and the coordination required between agencies operating in the maritime domain.
The Defence Ministry’s description of the exercise places emphasis on readiness assessment rather than a single operational scenario. This allows the authorities to examine the functioning of the broader security architecture across the coastline and EEZ, including the role of civilian maritime stakeholders.
Sea phase scheduled for 18 and 19 November
The ongoing readiness evaluation phase will conclude on 17 November. The subsequent sea phase, planned for 18 and 19 November, will provide the maritime component of the exercise. The Navy’s coordination role is intended to bring the participating agencies together for the national assessment of coastal defence and maritime security preparedness.
Sea Vigil-26 therefore links local and national levels of maritime security: coastal States, Union Territories, security agencies and fishing communities are being included in an exercise whose stated purpose is to assess India’s preparedness across the full extent of its coastal and offshore responsibilities.
