To mark Bharatiya Tatrakshak Swarnim Jayanti, India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp of denomination Rs. 5.00 honouring the Indian Coast Guard. From a philatelic angle, this is a classic anniversary issue—formal, restrained, and meaningful.
The stamp design keeps things simple. A Coast Guard ship dominates the frame, set against the open sea and sky. The bilingual title in Devanagari and English clearly states the occasion. The year 2026 anchors it firmly to the Golden Jubilee. Just a clear visual identity tied to maritime service.
What gives this stamp depth are the facts behind it. The Indian Coast Guard began in 1977 with only seven surface platforms. Today, it operates 151 ships and 76 aircraft. Its planned strength by 2030 is 200 surface platforms and 100 aircraft. These numbers reflect steady growth, not sudden expansion.
The service operates under the motto “Vayam Rakshamah”—We Protect. Since its formation, it has saved over 11,730 lives across India’s vast maritime search and rescue region of about 4.6 million square kilometres. Daily operations typically involve 55–60 ships and 10–12 aircraft, maintaining round-the-clock presence at sea.
The Coast Guard’s role goes beyond rescue. It has seized contraband worth ₹52,560.96 crore, including a record single seizure of 6,016 kg of narcotics in the Andaman Sea. It is also the designated authority for oil spill response in Indian waters and regularly leads national and regional pollution response exercises.
From a collector’s perspective, this stamp fits well into themes like maritime history, defence services, and modern institutions of India. This postage stamp simply records that 50 years mattered enough to be officially commemorated.
As a piece of philately, this stamp does what stamps do best.
It freezes a milestone in time.
Quietly. Officially. Permanently.
