Raksha Mantri unveils landmark policy reforms for ICG personnel & their families

The Raksha Mantri announced two policy reforms for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The first introduces a gender‑neutral framework, allowing women to be inducted into both Short Service Appointments (SSA) and Permanent Appointments (PA) on par with men, and opening SSA for male candidates. Existing women officers in PA will be eligible for promotion and SSA women can convert to PA subject to conditions. The second reform authorises declaring ICG personnel missing at sea as ‘presumed dead’ for ex‑gratia purposes, thereby expediting compensation and terminal benefits to their next‑of‑kin.