Rakesh Pal. (Photo: Indian Coast Guard)
New Delhi: Rakesh Pal has been appointed the 25th director general of the Indian Coast Guard. He is an alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy and joined Indian Coast Guard in January 1989.
He has undergone professional specialization in gunnery and weapons systems at Indian Naval School Dronacharya, Kochi, and an electro-optics fire-control solution course from the United Kingdom.
The officer holds the recognition of being the first gunner of ICG.
In his distinguished career spanning over 34 years, the flag officer has held several key appointments, prominent among them are commander of Coast Guard Region (North West), Gandhinagar; deputy director general of Coast Guard (Policy & Plans), and additional director general of Coast Guard at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi.
Besides, he has held various prestigious staff assignments, like director of Coast Guard (Infrastructure & Works) and principal director of Coast Guard (Administration) at the Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi.
He has vast sea experience and commanded all classes of Indian Coast Guard ships. They are ICGS Samarth, ICGS Vijit, ICGS Sucheta Kriplani, ICGS Ahilyabai, and ICGS C-03.
The officer has also commanded two Coast Guard bases of the forward area in Gujarat – Okha and Vadinar.
Rakesh Pal was elevated to the rank of additional director general in February 2022 and was posted at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi.
He was given the additional charge of director general Coast Guard in February 2023.
During the period, many significant operations and exercises were accomplished, including the seizure of drugs/narcotic substances and gold worth crores of rupees, rescue of mariners during severe cyclonic storms, joint exercises with the foreign coast guards, anti-poaching operations, humanitarian assistance during cyclones and other natural calamities, and coastal security exercises.
He was conferred upon the Tatrakshak Medal in 2013 and the President’s Tatrakshak Medal in 2018 for his illustrious service.
