Stormy43P6 at 14:34, 19 September 2025

2025-09-19T14:34:08Z

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{{Infobox official post
| post = Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group
| body =
| nativename =
| insignia =
| insigniasize =
| insigniacaption =
| flag = File:Rear_Admiral_ensign_of_Indian_Navy.svg
| flagsize = 150
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = Flag of the FODAG (Rear Admiral's flag)
| image =
| imagesize = 150px
| incumbent = [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] Rahul Shankar, [[Nau Sena Medal|NM]]
| incumbentsince =
| department = [[Indian Navy]]
| abbreviation = FODAG
| reports_to = [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command]]
| seat = [[Mumbai]]
| first =
| formation = 1983
| website=
}}
The '''Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group (FODAG) and Advisor Offshore Security and Defence to the Government of India''' is the title of the flag officer who heads the Offshore Defence Advisory Group. The FODAG is a [[two-star officer]] holding the rank of [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]].

==History==
The [[Oil and Natural Gas Commission]] (ONGC) discovered an [[oilfield]] in the [[Gulf of Khambhat]] in the early 1970s, called the [[Mumbai High Field]]. Later in the decade, more oilfields were discovered in the western offshore region. These economic assets need to be kept under surveillance and require continuous protection.{{sfn|Hiranandani|2010|p=77}} The [[Indian Coast Guard]] (ICG) came into being on 19 August 1978.<ref>{{cite web |title=COAST GUARD TO BE FORMED IN AUGUST |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1978-APR-AUG-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-PART-2/PDF/DEF-1978-06-29_121.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=29 June 1978}}</ref> Among the Coast Guard's charter of duties was the safety and protection of artificial islands and offshore terminals.<ref>{{cite web |title=CHARTER OF DUTIES |url=https://www.indiancoastguard.gov.in/content/287_3_AreaofResponsibility.aspx |website=www.indiancoastguard.gov.in}}</ref>

The responsibilities for the safety and protection of the offshore installations were discussed between the Indian Navy, ONGC and the Indian Coast Guard.{{sfn|Hiranandani|2005}} As a result, an offshore security coordination committee (OSCC) was established in 1978. Subsequently, on 31 December 1983, an Off shore Defence Advisory Group (ODAG) was established. The ODAG was to be headed by a [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] designated '''Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group (FODAG)'''. The FODAG would plan and advise the Navy and ONGC on the security and defence of the offshore installations.{{sfn|Hiranandani|2010|p=77}}

On 25 June 2002, offshore defence advisory cells were established at [[Visakhapatnam]] and [[New Delhi]]. The FODAG was re-christened ''Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group and Adviser Offshore Security and Defence to the Government of India''.<ref name="FODAG-IN" />

==Functions and role==
The ODAG is the nodal agency for all interaction with ONGC and other [[List of oil exploration and production companies|oil exploration and production companies]] regarding the defence of offshore installations within the Maritime zones of India.<ref name="FODAG-IN" />
The FODAG comes under the administrative control of the [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Organisation {{!}} Indian Navy |url=http://14.143.90.243/indiannavy/content/organisation |website=indiannavy.nic.in }}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The functions of the FODAG are:<ref name="FODAG-IN">{{cite web |title=FODAG {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/fodag-0 |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref>
* To advise the [[Government of India]] including the Ministries of [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Defence]], [[Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas|Petroleum & Natural Gas]] and [[Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways|Shipping]] and [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Civil Aviation]] through the [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]] on all planning and policy aspects of offshore security and defence covering [[territorial waters]], the [[continental shelf]], the [[Exclusive economic zone of India|Exclusive Economic Zone]] and other Maritime Zones of India as defined in the Maritime Zones of India Act, 1981.
* To exercise command and control over mobile forces and static defences in the defence of offshore installations, as directed by the respective Commanders -in-Chief.
* To monitor mercantile traffic for transit through recommended routes/ fairways in the vicinity of offshore areas, in coordination with the concerned civil authorities.
* To inspect vessels engaged in offshore work, for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the security clearance accorded by competent authority.
* To serve as a member of Offshore Security Coordination Committee (OSCC), headed by the [[Director General of the Indian Coast Guard]].{{sfn|Singh|2018|p=285}}
* Serve as the chairman of the Joint Venture Offshore Protection Advisory Committee (JVOPAC), a sub-committee of the OSCC and a forum to facilitate the exchange of security and offshore issues between the OSCC and the offshore joint venture/private oil companies, as they do not have representation in OSCC.

==See also==
* [[Indian Coast Guard]]
* [[Bombay High]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{citation|first1=Anup|last1=Singh|title=Blue Waters Ahoy!, The Indian Navy 2001-2010 |year=2018|isbn= 9789353025526|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India}}
* {{citation|first1=G.M.|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to Guardianship: The Indian Navy 1991-2000 |year=2010|isbn=9781935501268|publisher=Lancer Publishers}}
*{{citation|first1=G M|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to eminence : the Indian navy 1976-1990|year=2005|isbn=978-8170622666|publisher=Lancer Publishers}}

{{Indian Navy}}

[[Category:Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Indian military appointments]]
[[Category:Indian Navy appointments]]

Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group - Revision history

Stormy43P6 at 14:34, 19 September 2025