• INS Sagardhwani, India’s indigenous marine acoustic research ship based at Southern Naval Command (SNC), Kochi set sail for the fourth edition of Sagar Maitri Mission on October 12.

• INS Sagardhwani is an oceanographic research vessel of Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It was launched in July 1994. 

• The NPOL is involved in studying the ocean environment and other related fields. The vessel has been engaging in extensive oceanic observing missions and research for the last 25 years.

Sagar Maitri Mission

• Sagar Maitri Mission was conceptualised by DRDO in consonance with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’ to promote closer cooperation in socio-economic aspects, as well as greater scientific interaction, especially in ocean research in underwater acoustics, among Indian Ocean Region countries. 

• Under the aegis of this policy, DRDO initiated a scientific component named ‘MAITRI (Marine and Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative)’, which focuses on establishing long-term collaboration with IOR countries in the field of ‘Ocean Research and Development’.

• The mission by the Indian Navy and NPOL is a step towards enhancing this research and strengthening relationships with South East Asian countries and is therefore being termed as SAGAR MAITRI. 

• In the fourth edition of the mission, INS Sagardhwani will retrace the tracks of INS Kistna, which participated in the International Indian Ocean Expedition during 1962-65. 

• The mission aims to establish long-term scientific partnerships and collaborations with Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar.

• The plan includes scientific deployments onboard INS Sagardhwani in the Northern Arabian Sea and initiating collaborative research programmes with the Department of Marine Sciences & Fisheries at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. 

• It will give scientists an opportunity to cooperate and build strong working relationships with their Indian Ocean Region (IOR) counterparts studying the oceans.

Mission SAGAR

• Mission SAGAR is a major milestone in India’s engagement with the countries in the Indian Ocean Region, in line with ‘SAGAR — Security and Growth for All in the Region’.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the concept of SAGAR — ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ during his visit to Mauritius in March 2015.

• It is a high-level articulation of India’s vision for the Indian Ocean. SAGAR has distinct but inter-related elements and underscores India’s engagement in the Indian Ocean. 

• The principles enshrined in SAGAR provide a coherent framework to address some of the challenges related to economic revival, connectivity, security, culture and identity. 

• During his address in Maldives Parliament in June 2019, Modi said SAGAR is also a blueprint for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.  

• Under the broad vision of SAGAR, relations have been augmented with partners in the region in defence and security, development partnership, training and capacity building. The Indian Ocean Region received priority in COVID assistance.

Key features of SAGAR:

• Enhancing capacities to safeguard land and maritime territories and interests. 

• Deepening economic and security cooperation in the littoral.

• Promoting collective action to deal with natural disasters and maritime threats like piracy, terrorism and emergent non-state actors.

• Working towards sustainable regional development through enhanced collaboration.

• Engaging with countries beyond shores with the aim of building greater trust and promoting respect for maritime rules, norms and peaceful resolution of disputes.

• The ‘Blue Economy’ has emerged as a promising new pillar of prosperity in the region, with immense economic and employment potential. India is engaging with its neighbours in Blue Economy initiatives, particularly in the areas of marine bio-technology, exploration and sustainable exploitation of ocean mineral resources, sustainable fishing practices, and harnessing of ocean energy.

Challenges for SAGAR:

• The main challenge is to ensure intra-ocean trade and investment, and the sustainable harnessing of the wealth of the seas, including food, medicines and clean energy.

• Security is fundamental to the SAGAR vision. If the revitalised maritime economy of the Indian Ocean region is to be a force for global economic growth, it is essential that the waters remain peaceful, stable and secure.

• The waters must not only be better connected but they should remain free from non-traditional and traditional threats that could impede the seamless movement of goods, people and ideas.

• The Indian Ocean is prone to non-traditional security threats like piracy, smuggling, maritime terrorism, illegal fishing, and trafficking of humans and narcotics.

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