India's Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Engagement Strategy
International Relations
- PYQs7
- Articles1
Background
Understanding India's strategic interests, foreign policy objectives, security challenges, and economic aspirations in its immediate maritime neighbourhood is crucial for UPSC. It reflects India's role as a net security provider in the region.
India's foreign policy places significant emphasis on the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) due to its strategic location, vital sea lanes of communication, and rich marine resources. India's engagement strategy aims to foster partnerships, ensure maritime security, promote sustainable development, and counter traditional and non-traditional threats across the littoral states.
Facts & tables
- Strategic Importance
- IOR is crucial for global trade, energy security, and India's economic prosperity.
- Policy Framework
- India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy extends to its maritime neighbours.
- Cooperation Focus
- Emphasis on capacity building, joint exercises, and information sharing with IOR partners.
- Key Partner
- Seychelles is a key strategic partner in this engagement due to its location.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- Strategic importance of IOR for India's trade and security.
- Key principles: Neighbourhood First, SAGAR, mutual respect.
- Focus on maritime security, HADR, capacity building.
- Partnerships with island nations (e.g., Seychelles, Mauritius).
- Challenges: piracy, illegal fishing, climate change, geopolitical competition.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2019 | Factual recall, Policy measures |
| 2017 | Conceptual understanding, Policy measures |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2015 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
Timeline
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International Relations
Conceptual area
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Prelims 2015
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2017
Conceptual understanding, Policy measures
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Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
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Prelims 2019
Factual recall, Policy measures
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Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
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Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Prime Minister’s Departure Statement ahead of his visit to Seychelles (27-29 June, 2026)
India's IOR strategy is multi-faceted, focusing on security, economic cooperation, and regional stability through partnerships with littoral states like Seychelles, guided by principles of mutual trust and shared prosperity.
See also
Past papers
2015–2023 · 5 questions
In the news
Prime Minister’s Departure Statement ahead of his visit to Seychelles (27-29 June, 2026)
India's IOR strategy is multi-faceted, focusing on security, economic cooperation, and regional stability through partnerships with littoral states like Seychelles, guided by principles of mutual trust and shared prosperity.
Try these PYQs
With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements:
1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills
2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only
Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. IOR-ARC is a regional cooperation initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim countries. It was established in Mauritius in March 1997 with the aim of promoting economic and technical cooperation. IOR-ARC is the only pan-Indian ocean grouping. It brings together countries from three continents having different sizes, economic strengths, and a wide diversity of languages, cultures. Statement 2 is incorrect. It aims to create a platform for trade, socio-economic and cultural cooperation in the Indian Ocean rim area. The Indian Ocean Rim is rich in strategic and precious minerals, metals and other natural resources, marine resources and energy, all of which can be sourced from Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), continental shelves and the deep seabed.
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 Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among the navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The inaugural IONS was held in February 2008 in New Delhi, India. The Indian Navy served as the Chair for the first two years (2008-2010). Statement 2 is correct. IONS is indeed a voluntary initiative that aims to promote maritime cooperation among the navies of countries bordering the Indian Ocean. It provides a platform for discussions on regional maritime security issues and fosters friendly relationships between participating nations.
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'
Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to begin technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?
* Statement 1 is correct: Trade and Technology Council was launched by the the United States of America and the European Union during the EU-US Summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Trade and Technology council, the USA and EU does not aim to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control. Rather the initiative intends to promote pooling of digital resources such as AI models and computing power, and make them available to partner countries to address challenges in areas such as climate change and extreme weather, healthcare or smart agriculture.
What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?
India signed a deal to develop the Chabahar port with Iran. Apart from the bilateral agreement between India and Iran, a trilateral transit and trade corridor deal was also signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan which would ensure easy movement of goods between the three countries, bypassing Pakistan. The Chabahar port is situated in South Eastern part of Iran and on the northern coast of Gulf of Oman It is surrounded by Afghanistan in the North, Pakistan in the North-East and India in the East. The location of the Chabahar port is of strategic importance to India in linking trade routes from the Indian Ocean to Afghanistan, Central Asia and also to Europe; thereby avoiding a land route through Pakistan.
Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries?
* India signed the ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with Russia. * India and Russia have a long-standing strategic partnership in the field of civil nuclear cooperation. * The agreement aims to enhance collaboration in areas such as nuclear fuel cycle management, nuclear power projects, and research in nuclear science and technology. * Russia has been a key partner in India's nuclear energy sector, particularly through Rosatom, which has been involved in building Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu. * Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States have also engaged in nuclear cooperation with India but were not part of this specific agreement.
Show 2 more PYQs
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States.
Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative' Mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement I is correct: Several Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, have established diplomatic relations with Israel. * Statement II is incorrect: The Arab Peace Initiative, mediated by Saudi Arabia, was endorsed by the Arab League but not signed by Israel. It outlines a path towards peace in exchange for Israeli concessions, but Israel has not formally accepted all its terms.
The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany visited India in January, 2026. Which of the following is/are **not** correct in terms of outcomes of this visit ?
1. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the University of Hamburg
2. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Youth Hockey Development between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation
3. Establishment of a bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific
4. Opening of an Honorary Consul of Germany in Lucknow
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Incorrect: During the visit, an MoU was signed to strengthen cooperation in traditional medicine between Gujarat Ayurveda University and German institutions. (An earlier MoU in late 2025 was agreed upon between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, not the University of Hamburg). Statement 2 is Correct: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Youth Hockey Development was officially signed between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation. Statement 3 is Correct: The two nations announced the establishment of a new bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific, alongside a Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue. Statement 4 is Incorrect: Following the Chancellor's focus on Gujarat, Germany announced the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Ahmedabad to foster closer cooperation in the western region, rather than in Lucknow. Since the question asks for the statements that are not correct, statements 1 and 4 fit the criteria. Therefore, the correct option is B.