About this stamp
Fifty Years of Service to the Nation
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was established on 1 February 1977. Over five decades it has grown into a highly professional, multi-mission maritime force responsible for the safety, security and environmental protection of India’s long coastline and its maritime zones. Its motto, Vayam Rakshamah (“We Protect”), sums up that role.
How the Coast Guard Began
The Rustamji Committee
In September 1974 the Government of India set up a committee under K. F. Rustamji to study seaborne smuggling and the need for a dedicated force to police India’s waters in peacetime. Its report, submitted in July 1975, recommended a Coast Guard-type organisation, separate from the Indian Navy.
From interim force to armed force of the Union
- 1 February 1977: an interim Coast Guard began work with a small fleet: two frigates transferred from the Navy and five patrol vessels.
- August 1978: the Coast Guard Act, 1978 constituted the Coast Guard as an armed force of the Union; the Act came into force on 19 August 1978.
- 1980s: the force added aviation; its first fixed-wing aircraft, Fokker F-27s, joined a Coast Guard squadron at Kolkata in 1983.
Guardians of India’s Maritime Frontiers
Today the Coast Guard operates a balanced fleet of ships, aircraft and shore establishments. Its main duties include:
- Search and rescue at sea
- Maritime law enforcement
- Coastal and offshore security
- Marine pollution response and protection of the marine environment
- Support to national defence and humanitarian missions, including help during cyclones and other natural disasters
The Commemorative Stamp
Design
The stamp shows a modern Indian Coast Guard ship sailing under the vivid colours of a rising sun, a symbol of hope, vigilance and readiness.
Swarnim Jayanti
India Post issued the stamp on 1 February 2026, the Coast Guard’s Raising Day, as it entered its fiftieth year, to mark its Swarnim Jayanti (Golden Jubilee). It honours the courage, professionalism and service of the men and women who protect India’s coasts.
For More Information
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