next of kin benefits

Coast Guard policy reforms open officer induction to women and streamline ex-gratia at sea

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has unveiled two Indian Coast Guard policy reforms: a gender-neutral framework that inducts women into both Short Service and Permanent Appointments at par with men and opens Short Service to male candidates, and a streamlined ex-gratia route that lets the force declare personnel missing at sea on duty as presumed dead, speeding compensation and terminal benefits to the next of kin.