UPSC GS Paper II: International Relations, Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific, SAGAR, IORA

Must?Know

• SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) – India’s maritime vision for the Indian Ocean, articulated by PM Modi in 2015 during a speech in Sri Lanka, emphasizing cooperative security and development.
• SAGAR integrates India’s Act East Policy and Neighbourhood First policy, linking maritime security, economic development, and disaster response in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• SAGAR includes capacity-building initiatives such as coastal radar networks in Maldives, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka to enhance maritime domain awareness.
• India has signed White Shipping Agreements with 22 countries, including the US and Australia, to exchange prior information on commercial vessels under SAGAR framework.
• IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) – established in 1997 in Mauritius, originally as IOR?ARC, with 23 member states focusing on economic cooperation and sustainable development.
• India is a founding member of IORA; the Secretariat is located in Ebene, Mauritius, and rotates its chairmanship every two years among member states.
• IORA has three priority areas: maritime safety and security, trade and investment facilitation, and fisheries management.
• India hosted the 2016 IORA summit in Jakarta (co-hosted with Indonesia), where it pledged $300 million for regional development projects.
• The IORA Council of Ministers meets annually, and the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) prepares agendas for ministerial decisions.
• SAGAR complements India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), launched in 2019 at the East Asia Summit, with seven pillars including maritime security, disaster resilience, and marine ecology.
• India conducts joint naval exercises under SAGAR: MILAN with ASEAN navies, SIMBEX with Singapore, and bilateral drills with France in the Indian Ocean.
• India established a Regional Integrated Coastal Patrol System with Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Comoros to combat illegal fishing and trafficking.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Command – India’s only tri-service command, established in 2001, enhances strategic reach in the eastern Indian Ocean near the Malacca Strait.
• India’s Project Mausam – launched by the Archaeological Survey of India in 2014, aims to revive historical maritime routes and cultural linkages across the Indian Ocean.
• India and France signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement in 1998, updated in 2023, enabling mutual use of military bases (e.g., Reunion Island and Indian facilities).
• The Quad (India, US, Japan, Australia) supports IPOI objectives, particularly in maritime domain awareness through the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) launched in 2022.
• India ratified UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) in 1995, which forms the legal basis for its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf claims.
• India’s Sagarmala Programme (2015) focuses on port modernization and coastal community development, indirectly supporting SAGAR’s economic growth pillar.
• The Chabahar Port agreement (2016) with Iran allows India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, countering Pakistan’s Gwadar Port under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• India and Australia signed a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) in 2020, enabling reciprocal use of military facilities in the Indo-Pacific.
• India’s Act East Policy, rebranded from Look East Policy in 2014, deepens strategic ties with ASEAN and Pacific Island countries under the broader Indo-Pacific framework.
• The Malabar Exercise, originally bilateral (India-US) since 1992, became trilateral with Japan in 2015 and includes Australia since 2020, held in both Indian and Pacific Oceans.
• India is a dialogue partner in the East Asia Summit (EAS), which includes all Quad members and ASEAN, discussing Indo-Pacific security and economic issues.
• The Indo-Pacific is defined geographically from the east coast of Africa to the Pacific Islands, encompassing 40% of the world’s population and 65% of global GDP.
• India opposes militarization of the South China Sea and supports freedom of navigation, consistent with UNCLOS, in response to China’s expansive claims.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate – requires integration of foreign policy initiatives with geopolitical dynamics and multilateral forums, frequently tested in mains and prelims.

Common UPSC Traps

Trap: SAGAR and IPOI are the same initiative – Fact: SAGAR is India’s regional maritime doctrine for the Indian Ocean (2015), while IPOI is a broader, issue-based initiative for the Indo-Pacific launched in 2019 at the East Asia Summit.

Trap: IORA was established in 2003 – Fact: IORA was established on March 7, 1997, in Mauritius, as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR?ARC), renamed in 2013.

Trap: India is not a member of the Quad – Fact: India is a full member of the Quad, which began as a dialogue in 2007 and revived in 2017, with leaders meeting annually since 2021.

Trap: The Andaman and Nicobar Command was established after 2010 – Fact: The Andaman and Nicobar Command was set up in 2001 as India’s first tri-service theatre command, headquartered at Port Blair.

Practice MCQs

Question: Which of the following statements best describes the SAGAR initiative?
A) A multilateral naval alliance to counter China in the South China Sea
B) India’s vision for enhancing maritime security and development in the Indian Ocean Region
C) A joint infrastructure project between India and ASEAN for port development
D) A UN-backed program for sustainable fisheries in the Indian Ocean
Answer: B
Explanation: SAGAR, launched by PM Modi in 2015, is India’s strategic vision for promoting security and growth in the Indian Ocean Region through cooperation.
Why others fail: A is incorrect because SAGAR is not an alliance nor explicitly aimed at countering any country.

Question: The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) was established in:
A) 1995
B) 1997
C) 2001
D) 2003
Answer: B
Explanation: IORA was established on March 7, 1997, in Mauritius, initially as IOR-ARC.
Why others fail: A and D are common distractors due to proximity to other international agreements.

Question: Which of the following countries hosts the Secretariat of IORA?
A) India
B) South Africa
C) Mauritius
D) Australia
Answer: C
Explanation: The IORA Secretariat is located in Ebene, Mauritius, as per the 1997 framework agreement.
Why others fail: India is a founding member and active participant, but does not host the Secretariat.

Question: The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) was launched by India at which forum?
A) G20 Summit
B) BRICS Summit
C) East Asia Summit
D) UN General Assembly
Answer: C
Explanation: IPOI was launched by PM Modi at the 2019 East Asia Summit in Bangkok.
Why others fail: G20 and BRICS are often associated with India’s global engagements, but IPOI was specifically introduced at EAS.

Question: Which of the following is NOT a priority area of IORA?
A) Maritime Safety and Security
B) Tourism Promotion
C) Trade and Investment Facilitation
D) Fisheries Management
Answer: B
Explanation: IORA’s three priority areas are maritime safety, trade facilitation, and fisheries management; tourism is not a formal pillar.
Why others fail: Tourism may seem relevant due to coastal economies, but it is not an official IORA focus area.

Question: Project Mausam, launched by India, primarily aims to:
A) Monitor cyclones in the Indian Ocean
B) Revive historical maritime cultural connections across the Indian Ocean
C) Develop deep-sea mining technology
D) Enhance naval cooperation with island nations
Answer: B
Explanation: Project Mausam, initiated by the Archaeological Survey of India in 2014, seeks to reconnect countries around the Indian Ocean through shared maritime heritage.
Why others fail: A is related to IMD activities, not Project Mausam.

Question: Which of the following agreements allows India and the US to use each other’s military facilities for logistics support?
A) COMCASA
B) BECA
C) LEMOA
D) MLSA
Answer: C
Explanation: The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), signed in 2016, enables reciprocal access to military facilities for refuelling and supplies.
Why others fail: MLSA is between India and Australia; COMCASA and BECA are related to geospatial and communication data sharing.

Last?Minute Revision

• SAGAR announced in 2015 during PM Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka.
• IORA established on March 7, 1997, in Mauritius.
• IORA Secretariat located in Ebene, Mauritius.
• India hosted IORA summit in 2016 (Jakarta, co-hosted with Indonesia).
• IPOI launched in 2019 at East Asia Summit in Bangkok.
• Project Mausam launched in 2014 by ASI.
• Andaman and Nicobar Command established in 2001.
• India ratified UNCLOS in 1995.
• White Shipping Agreements exist with 22 countries.
• MILAN exercise conducted biennially by Indian Navy with ASEAN and IOR navies.
• Malabar Exercise began in 1992 as India-US drill.
• Quad revived in 2017 after inaugural meeting in 2007.
• Chabahar Port agreement signed with Iran in 2016.
• India-Australia MLSA signed in 2020.
• India-France Defence Agreement updated in 2023.
• Sagarmala Programme launched in 2015.
• IORA has 23 member states as of 2024.
• UNCLOS provides legal basis for EEZ (up to 200 nautical miles).
• SAGAR is not a treaty or organization but a strategic vision.
• IPOI has seven pillars, including marine pollution and disaster resilience.
• IORA was renamed from IOR-ARC to IORA in 2013.
• Reunion Island is a French territory used for defence cooperation with India.
• Gwadar Port in Pakistan developed by China under CPEC.
• East Asia Summit includes 18 members, including all Quad countries.
• Verify from standard source: Exact number of White Shipping Agreements may vary slightly by year.