Island Nations (Indian Ocean Region)

📌 Background & Key Features

SAGAR/MAHASAGAR: India’s maritime doctrine for the Indian Ocean Region — capacity building, maritime security, disaster response, blue economy, and countering Chinese naval/economic inroads (String of Pearls).
Mauritius: India’s closest island partner — CECPA trade pact, Agaléga Island infrastructure development (dual-use airstrip/jetty), large Indian-origin population (~68% of Mauritians), and joint naval surveillance.
Seychelles: Strategic maritime security partner (Assumption Island project, though scaled back after domestic opposition); coast guard capacity building.

Doctrine	SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region, 2015) → MAHASAGAR (expanded vision)
Key states	Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Madagascar, Comoros

PM Modi’s visits to Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Seychelles in recent years operationalised the SAGAR/MAHASAGAR vision; India continues expanding Rupee-based trade settlement mechanisms with Mauritius to reduce dollar dependence.
India’s Agaléga Island development in Mauritius remains a closely watched case study in balancing strategic infrastructure with host-nation sovereignty sensitivities.

Doctrine: SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region, 2015) → MAHASAGAR (expanded vision)
Key states: Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Madagascar, Comoros

Year	Question	Marks
2026 (Practice)	Explain India’s SAGAR and MAHASAGAR doctrines and assess their effectiveness in securing India’s Indian Ocean interests.	10