• The maiden edition of the high level virtual interaction MAHASAGAR was hosted by the Indian Navy recently.
• MAHASAGAR also another word for vast ocean, 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.
• 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.
• 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’.

ABOUT SAGAR

• India’s SAGAR (announced in 2015), which stands for ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region,’ is a vision and policy framework designed to enhance maritime cooperation and security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• The initiative emphasizes the importance of promoting collective security and sustainable development for the benefit of all nations in the region.
• For this, India would cooperate on the exchange of information, coastal surveillance, building of infrastructure and strengthening their capabilities.