Context: Indian Navy has successfully conducted the first edition of the MAHASAGAR: Indian Navy’s outreach initiative between Maritime Heads.

Key Points

• MAHASAGAR is the Indian Navy’s outreach initiative for a high-level virtual interaction between Maritime Heads for Active Security And Growth for All in the Region. The word MAHASAGAR means ‘vast ocean’.

• During this meeting, the Chief of the Naval Staff interacted with Heads of Navies/Maritime Agencies and Senior Leadership from IOR littorals, viz., Bangladesh, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. 

• It is the Indian Navy’s outreach initiative between Maritime Heads.

• The interaction’s theme was ‘Collective Maritime Approach towards Countering Common Challenges’, which highlights the present and necessary imperative for harmonising and collaborating capacities and capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which is in consonance with the Government of India’s vision of SAGAR ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’.

MAHASAGAR

• Hosted by: Indian Navy

• Purpose: It is a high level interaction between the Maritime Heads of the Indian Ocean Region.

• Full Form: Maritime Heads for Active Security And Growth for All in the Region.

• Aim: To promote security and growth for all in the Indian Ocean Region

• Participating countries: Bangladesh, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania

• Theme: ‘Collective Maritime Approach towards Countering Common Challenges’

• Significance: This interaction is in line with the Government of India’s vision of SAGAR(Security and Growth for All in the Region).