India has a total coastline of 7,517 km, which includes the mainland coast of 6,100 km and the coastlines of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea. The Indian mainland is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the south. This vast coastline supports maritime trade, fisheries, and coastal tourism.

India’s long coastline is dotted with key ports such as Kandla, Mumbai, Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port), Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Tuticorin, Visakhapatnam, and Paradip. To safeguard this extensive maritime boundary, the Indian Coast Guard was established as a separate armed force on February 1, 1977, responsible for coastal security, anti-smuggling operations, and search and rescue missions.