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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on October 08, 2024

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India - Maldives

For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

For Mains Examination: GS II - International Relations

Context:

Ahead of his bilateral meeting Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has flagged the need for financial aid to his country, saying Delhi is “fully cognisant” of the island nation’s fiscal situation and will always be ready to “ease the burden” as one of Male’s biggest development partners.

Read about:

India - Maldives Relationship

What is Indian Ocean Region?

Key takeaways:

• The Maldives holds considerable strategic significance for India due to its proximity—about 70 nautical miles from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles from India's western coastline—and its position at the crossroads of key maritime routes in the Indian Ocean, specifically along the 8° N and 1½° N channels.

• The Maldives plays a crucial role in India’s maritime security strategy, as the stability of the Indian Ocean region is closely tied to the maritime capabilities of the Maldives. This strategic importance has led India to support Maldives’ security efforts, including the training of its defense personnel.

• It is estimated that around 70% of the defense training for Maldivian forces is provided by India, either on Maldivian soil or in India’s prestigious military institutions. Over the last decade, more than 1,500 personnel from the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) have received training from India.

• The Indian Navy has provided aircraft and helicopters to support the Maldivian defense forces in conducting aerial surveillance and has also trained them in techniques such as vertical landing on islands. Additionally, India aims to establish a coastal radar system in the Maldives to monitor activities across the Indian Ocean.

• India’s Neighbourhood First Policy: According to the Ministry of External Affairs, this policy shapes India's engagement with neighboring countries, prioritizing stronger ties with nations like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Introduced in 2008, the policy focuses on enhancing regional connectivity—physical, digital, and interpersonal—while promoting trade and commerce. It has become a key focus for the Indian government in managing relations with its neighbors.

• SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region): This initiative was introduced by India’s Prime Minister in Mauritius in 2015, envisioning an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, and built on principles like a rules-based international order, transparent infrastructure investment, and freedom of navigation. Through SAGAR, India contributes to regional connectivity, capacity-building, disaster management, fostering people-to-people ties, promoting sustainable development, tackling illegal fishing, enhancing maritime safety, and strengthening awareness of underwater domains in the Indian Ocean