28 April 2025: PIB Summary For UPSC

1. IOS SAGAR in Port Louis, Mauritius

(Source – PIB 27^th April 2025)

India-Mauritius Maritime Cooperation

• Arrival at Port Louis:
  IOS SAGAR arrived after completing Phase I of Joint EEZ surveillance, symbolizing India’s commitment to regional maritime security and mutual capacity-building.
• Multinational Participation:
  The ship carried 44 naval personnel from nine friendly foreign nations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including 2 officers and 6 sailors from Mauritius itself.
• Strengthening Regional Security and Interoperability:
  • Promotes interoperability between Indian Navy and regional forces.
  • Enhances mutual learning and collective response capabilities against non-traditional threats like piracy and illegal fishing.
• Diplomatic Engagements and Activities:
  • Ship and crew warmly received by Mauritius’s high-ranking officials, indicating the deep India-Mauritius relationship.
  • Activities included ship visits, interaction sessions, yoga, trekking, friendly sports fixtures, and visits to local security establishments like the Maritime Air Squadron.
• Phase II and Future Operations:
  • Upon departure from Port Louis, IOS SAGAR will conduct Phase II of Joint EEZ Surveillance with the National Coast Guard, before moving to Port Victoria, Seychelles.

About INS Sunayna (IOS SAGAR)

• Classification:
  Saryu-class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV).
• Role and Capabilities:
  • Designed for anti-piracy, maritime surveillance, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
  • Equipped with modern weaponry, electronic warfare suites, and missile defense measures.
  • Helicopter operations-capable, enhancing surveillance range and effectiveness.

Strategic Significance for India

• SAGAR Initiative:
  • “Security and Growth for All in the Region” underlines India’s proactive role in ensuring safe seas and strengthening ties with Indian Ocean neighbors.
• Capacity Building:
  • India assists smaller island nations with limited maritime capabilities, thus counterbalancing external influence (notably China’s expanding maritime footprint).
• Multilateral Diplomacy:
  • Fosters multinational cooperation among Indian Ocean Region countries through joint exercises and personnel exchanges.

Conclusion / Way Forward

• Continued emphasis on regional maritime cooperation is essential for a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
• India’s focus should remain on building partnerships based on trust, capability sharing, and capacity enhancement.
• Future deployments could further broaden participation among other Indian Ocean littoral states, cementing India’s leadership role.                            

Check this out 26 April 2025: PIB Summary For UPSC