India’s maritime policy has undergone a significant evolution from the launch of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) in 2015 to the newly announced MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) in 2025.

Background

MAHASAGAR vision was unveiled by the Indian Prime Minister during his two-day visit to Mauritius, reaffirming India’s commitment to the Global South.

• This policy approach comes at a time when China is expanding its influence in the Indian Ocean.

About MAHASAGAR

• MAHASAGAR is India’s ambitious strategic vision to enhance security, trade, and development cooperation across the Global South i.e expanding to Africa, ASEAN, Latin America, Pacific Island Nations.
• Evolution from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR: MAHASAGAR builds upon the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy of 2015.
  • The SAGAR doctrine (2015) promoted maritime security, sustainable development, and regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
  • Whereas, the MAHASAGAR (2025) initiative expands on SAGAR, focusing on:
    • Strengthening trade and connectivity.
    • Enhancing maritime security and domain awareness.
    • Boosting disaster resilience and humanitarian aid.
    • Deepening economic and cultural ties with island nations.

Need For Shift from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR

• Expanding Strategic Vision: SAGAR focused on the Indian Ocean, while MAHASAGAR broadens India’s engagement across multiple regions, including the Indo-Pacific and beyond.  
• Growing Geopolitical Challenges: Increased Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean, Africa, and Pacific Island nations requires a more comprehensive approach.  
• Economic and Trade Considerations: India aims to enhance blue economy partnerships, trade connectivity, and digital cooperation with emerging markets.  
• Need for a Holistic Security Approach: Modern threats such as cyber warfare, piracy, climate change, and resource competition require a broader security framework.  

Geopolitical Implications of MAHASAGAR

• Alignment with other policies: MAHASAGAR aligns with Indo-Pacific strategy and complements QUAD’s vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
• Countering China’s Influence: Countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean through India-led cooperation models.
• Strengthening India’s Position: Positioning India as a leader in the Global South, advocating for their interests in global forums like G20, IORA, and BRICS.
• Africa and Beyond: MAHASAGAR enables India to deepen engagement with African nations, Latin America, and the Caribbean, reinforcing South-South cooperation.  
• Strengthening Ties with Island Nations: Nations like Mauritius, Maldives, and Seychelles are key partners in India’s broader maritime vision.
• Mauritius Centrality to Its Indian Ocean Region Strategy: India chose Mauritius to unveil both the SAGAR policy, which acted as a bedrock of India’s engagement with the IOR over the past decade, and the MAHASAGAR policy, which will guide India’s strategy in the IOR in the coming years, underscores Mauritius’ centrality to India’s regional strategy.

Government Initiatives for Maritime Security and  Diplomacy

• Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI): It was launched in 2019 at the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bangkok (Thailand) as an open, inclusive, non-treaty-based global initiative. 
  • It fosters cooperation among Indo-Pacific nations in maritime security, connectivity, disaster risk management, and sustainable blue economy development.
• Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Engagement: Strengthens regional economic and security ties through IORA, promoting trade, sustainable fisheries, and maritime safety among 23 member states.
• Quad Maritime Security Initiatives: India collaborates with the U.S., Japan, and Australia under the Quad framework to enhance maritime domain awareness, conduct joint naval exercises, and counter illegal fishing.
• IFC-IOR: Government of India has established the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) for real-time information exchange towards enhancing maritime security.
• India-Africa Maritime Cooperation: Engages African coastal states in port development, naval training, and anti-piracy operations through initiatives like the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS).
• Naval Exercises as a Tool of Maritime Diplomacy:  Example: In MILAN 2024, 50+ countries, including ASEAN, Africa, and Pacific nations, participated, strengthening India’s strategic partnerships.
• Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Participation: The IPEF was launched jointly by the US and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region in 2022 to ensure resilient supply chains and digital connectivity in maritime trade.

Challenges For India’s Engagement With Global South

• Strategic Competition: The growing Chinese influence through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Maritime Silk Road etc and its expanding naval presence in the Indian Ocean pose strategic challenges.
• Multiplicity of Regional Organisations: Example, Mauritius is a key player in three regional organizations:
  • IORA (focused on trade, economic growth, and maritime security).
  • Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)- members are Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius,Reunion and Seychelles. 
  • Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) (a security-focused grouping led by India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives).
    • While Mauritius benefits from regional cooperation, it also faces the challenge of managing overlapping roles, strategic interests, and organizational commitments across multiple regional bodies.
• Resource Constraints: India must balance its naval modernization and infrastructure investments with other domestic priorities.
• Climate Change and Maritime Disasters: Rising sea levels and increasing extreme weather events necessitate greater focus on climate resilience in maritime policies.
• Regional Political Instabilities: Political shifts in partner nations (e.g., Mauritius, Maldives) may impact long-term cooperation. 
• Militarisation of Indian Ocean: The militarisation of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is driven by great-power competition, with China expanding naval bases (Djibouti, Gwadar, Hambantota), the U.S. maintaining Diego Garcia, India strengthening the Andaman & Nicobar Command etc.
• Disregard to maritime laws like UNCLOS 1982: Threatens regional stability by undermining freedom of navigation, sovereignty, and long-standing agreements. 
  • Such violations, often seen in illegal territorial claims, escalate tensions and challenge the rules-based order in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Regional Cooperation: Deepen engagement with Indo-Pacific and Global South nations through diplomatic, economic, and security initiatives.Example, India has helped Mauritius set up its Coastal Surveillance Radar System. 
  • In 2024, India funded a 3-km-long airstrip and jetty at Agalega Island, Mauritius. ($192 million project).
• Strengthen HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) operations in the Indian Ocean: India can enhance its role as a first responder by pre-positioning relief supplies at key naval bases, such as Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and deploying rapid-response naval assets equipped for disaster relief. 
• Coordination with regional partners: Expanding coordination with regional partners through platforms like Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will improve collective disaster preparedness and response efficiency.
  • Additionally, India’s active participation in IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium) can help foster security cooperation.
• Sustained Naval and Infrastructure Development: Strengthen maritime surveillance, port infrastructure, and connectivity in strategic locations like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Mauritius.
  • Example: Strengthen Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) through cooperative mechanisms such as the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) to track violations and threats.
• Upholding UNCLOS 1982: There is a need to advocate for a rules-based maritime order by ensuring compliance with UNCLOS 1982 through diplomatic efforts at ASEAN, IORA, and UN forums.
  • Example: Support freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) and regional dispute-resolution mechanisms to counter illegal territorial claims

Conclusion

The shift from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR  reflects India’s ambition to expand its maritime leadership beyond South Asia, integrating economic growth, regional security, and sustainable development into a single framework. 

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