Rashtriya Raksha University and Indian Coast Guard Formalise Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Maritime Law Enforcement Training and Enhance National and Regional Security

Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Apr 19, Gandhinagar Gujarat based School of Integrated Coastal and Maritime Security Studies (SICMSS), Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), an Institution of National Importance, signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to advance collaboration in education, training, and strategic research in maritime law enforcement and coastal security.
According to RRU, The MoU was signed in New Delhi by Dr. Prabhakaran Paleri, Lifetime Professor at RRU, and DIG Inderjit Singh of the Indian Coast Guard, in the presence of IG Jyotindra Singh, Commandant N.R. Singh, and other senior officials of the Indian Coast Guard, along with Ms. Jagrati Saraswat, Junior Research Officer representing SICMSS.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Prabhakaran Paleri remarked, “This is a milestone in the evolving relationship between RRU and the Indian Coast Guard. It marks a unification of an Institution of National Importance with a dynamic and powerful maritime law enforcement force that, over 48 years, has given India a unique edge in maritime services and security from the sea.”
Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel, Vice-Chancellor of RRU, noted, “As a professor of international law and the law of the sea, this partnership with the Indian Coast Guard—our nation’s sentinel of the seas—holds special significance.” He further added, “…this MoU, according to me, embodies our shared commitment to realise the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR), and also supplements the mission led by the Hon’ble Union Home Minister to strengthen India’s coastal security architecture. Through this MoU, I envision an era of integrated mutual assistance, where academia and the armed forces co-create solutions and knowledge for national and regional maritime security.”
Mr. Ankur Sharma, Director (I/c) of SICMSS, described the MoU as both a forward-looking pact and a testament to a strong foundation. Recalling the successful conduct of a uniquely curated three-week Certified Training Programme offered in 2024 on ‘Integrated Coastal and Maritime Security and Ocean Governance’ for senior Coast Guard officers under the leadership of then Director Mr. Sushil Goswami, he said, “It is the positive feedback of our such contribution and continued engagement on various domains that led us to this moment of formalising a long-term institutional relationship.”
The MoU paves the way for joint research, faculty and expert exchanges, curriculum development, and specialised training initiatives that will not only enhance the preparedness and strategic depth of the Indian Coast Guard and allied maritime forces, but also enrich RRU’s academic ecosystem through practice-led research and operational collaboration.
This partnership will strengthen both institutions through shared knowledge and collaboration, guided by the Indian Coast Guard’s motto ‘Vayam Rakshamah’ (We Protect) and RRU’s guiding principle ‘Rashtriya Suraksha Sarvopari’ (National Security is Supreme).