- Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth inaugurated SAREX-2026 on October 7, 2026
- The exercise will be held off Paradip on October 8, 2026
- 32 delegates from 30 friendly foreign nations will take part or observe
- India's satellite-aided search and rescue reached full operations capability with MEOLUT
- The 24th NMSAR Board reviewed preparedness across 4.6 million sq km of Indian SAR region
Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth inaugurated the Multinational Search and Rescue Exercise, SAREX-2026, on October 7, 2026. The exercise will be held off Paradip on October 8, 2026.
Thirty-two delegates from 30 friendly foreign nations will take part in or observe the drill.
Cooperation, not one agency
Sanjay Seth welcomed representatives of international organisations and friendly countries. He said their presence reflected a shared commitment to cooperation and maritime safety across the region.
He said the Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Coastal Police, ports, civil agencies, the shipping community and international partners all have a role. Modern maritime security, he said, needs a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach.
Satellite rescue upgrade
Sanjay Seth said India’s satellite-aided search and rescue has moved from LEOSAR to GEOSAR and now towards MEOSAR. He called the full operations capability of the Indian Earth Orbit Local User Terminal (MEOLUT) a significant advance. He congratulated ISRO and all associated teams.
He urged participating agencies to reaffirm their commitment to saving lives at sea. Invoking the principle of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, he said joint efforts can build a safer, more resilient maritime community.
He said India’s search and rescue capabilities must become faster, more accurate and more resilient as the country moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047. He linked this to the Indian Coast Guard’s motto, Vayam Rakshamah (We Protect).
Exercise aims and national board review
SAREX-2026 is a multi-agency exercise. It aims to test operational preparedness, improve international interoperability, check joint response mechanisms and share best practices. Saving life at sea remains the top priority.
Earlier on October 7, 2026, the 24th National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board met under Director General Paramesh Sivamani, DG Indian Coast Guard and Chairman, NMSAR Board. The board reviewed preparedness across the 4.6 million sq km Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR).
Discussions covered technology integration, real-time information sharing, distress-alert management, vessel tracking and inter-agency coordination. Paramesh Sivamani said lessons from past missions and exercises must lead to better readiness and response.
The meeting also presented the National Maritime Search and Rescue Awards 2026, which recognise exemplary efforts in saving lives at sea.
