India's Coast Guard Opens Permanent Service for Women and Streamlines Missing‑at‑Sea Benefits

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced two policy reforms for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The first reform creates a gender‑neutral recruitment framework, allowing women to be inducted into both Short Service Appointments and Permanent Appointments on equal terms with men, while also opening the short‑service stream to male candidates. Existing women officers will be eligible for promotion and can convert short‑service appointments to permanent ones.

The second reform gives the competent authority power to declare an ICG personnel reported missing at sea as "presumed dead" for the purpose of granting ex gratia compensation and terminal benefits, thereby speeding financial assistance to the families of those lost in the line of duty.