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India's Maritime Strategy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

Understanding India's foreign policy, security architecture, and its role as a rising power in a strategically vital region is critical for UPSC.

India's maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is a comprehensive approach aimed at securing its economic and strategic interests, promoting regional stability, and upholding a rules-based international order. Key tenets include enhancing maritime domain awareness, strengthening naval capabilities, fostering regional partnerships, and ensuring freedom of navigation, encapsulated by initiatives like Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

SAGAR Initiative

India's vision for a secure and stable IOR, emphasizing cooperation, capacity building, and economic growth.

Net Security Provider

India aims to be a first responder for HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) and security in the IOR.

Naval Diplomacy

Utilizes joint exercises, port calls, and capacity building with regional and extra-regional navies.

Economic Imperative

Protection of sea lanes of communication (SLOCs) vital for India's trade and energy security.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaGeopolitics & International Conflicts

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Indian NavyImplements
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Statement-based questions

Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding

Quick revision

  • Aims: Secure interests, promote stability, uphold rules-based order in IOR.
  • Key initiative: SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
  • Role: Net security provider, first responder for HADR.
  • Methods: Naval diplomacy, capacity building, joint exercises.
  • Importance: Protects SLOCs for trade and energy security.

High-confidence PYQs

2024Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. Statement-II: There have been m...

International RelationsOpen question
2023Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following pairs : Regions : often Reason for being in news 1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan 2. Nagorno-Karabakh : In...

International RelationsOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following pairs : Regions : often Reason for being in news 1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan 2. Nagorno-Karabakh : In...

International RelationsOpen question
2022Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements: 1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and w...

International RelationsOpen question
2017Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): 1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indi...

International RelationsOpen question
2015Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

International RelationsOpen question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

International RelationsOpen question
2015Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

International RelationsOpen question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

International RelationsOpen question
2014Factual recall

Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as ‘Arab Spring’ originally started from

International RelationsOpen question

Topic timeline

Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Prelims 2014· Factual recall

Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as ‘Arab Spring’ originally started from

Open question
Prelims 2015· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

Open question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

Open question
Prelims 2015· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently i...

Open question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

Open question
Prelims 2017· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): 1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indi...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements: 1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and w...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative...

Open question

Consider the following pairs : Regions : often Reason for being in news 1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan 2. Nagorno-Karabakh : In...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative...

Open question

Consider the following pairs : Regions : often Reason for being in news 1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan 2. Nagorno-Karabakh : In...

Open question
Prelims 2024· Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. Statement-II: There have been m...

Open question

India must lead in securing the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb

23 Jul 2026 · India's maritime strategy in the IOR, guided by the SAGAR initiative, focuses on securing its economic and strategic interests, ensuring freedom of navigation, and acting as a net security provider. This involves strengthening naval capabilities, fostering regional partnerships, and upholding a rules-based order to counter threats like those in Bab el-Mandeb.

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India's Maritime Strategy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

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Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue)

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