Krishnaswamy Natarajan has assumed charge as the 23rd Director General (DG) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the country's Defence Ministry has announced.

Natarajan, who took charge on Sunday, is a fifth batch officer of the ICG. He had joined the service in January 1984. He replaced Rajendra Singh, who was the first cadre officer to head the force.

The ICG is a multi-mission organization, conducting round-the-year real-life operations at sea.

Natarajan holds a master's degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from south India's Madras University and is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.