Rajendra Singh takes over as new Coast Guard chief

Rajendra Singh today assumed charge as the Director General of Indian Coast Guard, succeeding Vice-Admiral H C S Bisht who has been appointed as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of the Indian Navy's Eastern Command.

He is the first Coast Guard additional director general and the first non-Indian Navy officer to be appointed as director general with three-star rank.

Till now, the Coast Guard Director General's post was held by commissioned Indian Navy officers with two-star rank.

Singh's appointment comes at a time when plans are underway to make the Coast Guard a 200-ship and 100-aircraft force by 2018 to plug operational gaps in coastal security. The Coast Guard currently has 135 ships.