MAINS Current Affairs includes  India and Mauritius: Boost To Strategic Ties &  PM Modi Visit to Seychelles

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. India and Mauritius: Boost To Strategic Ties

Context: PM Modi met the Mauritian Prime Minister on the sidelines of Seychelles’ Golden Jubilee National Day celebrations.

• Both leaders reaffirmed cooperation in maritime security, development partnership, trade, connectivity, capacity building, and people-to-people ties.

India–Mauritius Relations

Overview

• India and Mauritius share a special strategic partnership based on:
• Shared historical and civilizational ties.
• Strong Indian diaspora.
• Maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
• Development partnership.
• Common democratic values.
• Mauritius is central to India’s:
• SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
• Neighbourhood First Policy.
• Vision MAHASAGAR.
• Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

Historical Background

• Mauritius was colonized by European powers and remained uninhabited before colonization.
• After the abolition of slavery (1834), thousands of Indians migrated as indentured labourers.
• Today, nearly 70% of Mauritius’ population is of Indian origin.
• Diplomatic relations were established after Mauritius gained independence in 1968.

Major Pillars of India–Mauritius Relations

• Political Relations: India and Mauritius maintain regular high-level political exchanges.
• Recently,both sides reiterated commitment towards expanding development partnership, enhancing maritime cooperation, strengthening regional stability in the Indian Ocean, and deepening economic engagement.
• Strategic and Maritime Cooperation:
• Maritime Security: Joint surveillance of Mauritian EEZ; hydrographic surveys by the Indian Navy; coastal radar systems; and information sharing on maritime domain awareness.
• Defence Cooperation: India assists Mauritius through training of Mauritian defence personnel, supply of defence equipment, deployment of Indian military advisors, joint exercises and patrols.
• SAGAR Doctrine: Mauritius is a cornerstone of India’s SAGAR Vision, Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), and Vision MAHASAGAR.
• Economic and Commercial Relations
• Bilateral Trade (FY 2024-25):USD 887.25 mn (Total trade)
  • Indian Exports to Mauritius: USD 676.34 mn
  • Mauritian Exports to India: USD 210.91 mn
  • Trade has grown by 329% in the last 17 years, from USD 206.76 million in 2005-06 to USD 887.25 million in 2024-25.
• Main Indian Exports: Petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, food products, machinery, textiles, and automobiles
• Mauritian Exports: Scrap metals, agricultural products, textiles, and seafood products.
• Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA): It was signed in 2021. It isIndia’s first trade agreement with an African country.
  • It aims to liberalise trade in goods and services, promotion of investment, expansion of financial services, and greater market access.
• Financial and Investment Relations: Historically, Mauritius has been a major source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India.
• Key reasons are favourable tax regime; and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
  • DTAA Revision (2016) was aimed at treaty shopping, round-tripping of funds, and tax evasion.
• Development Partnership:
  • Metro Express Project: India’s flagship infrastructure project in Mauritius. It significantly improved urban mobility.
  • New Supreme Court Building: It was constructed with Indian grant assistance. It symbolises democratic cooperation.
  • ENT Hospital: It was built with Indian support. It enhances healthcare infrastructure.
  • Social Housing Projects: Several small-scale projects have been implemented across Mauritius in sectors such as education, health, community infrastructure, and sports.
  • Other Important Projects: Civil Service College; Forensic Science Laboratory; Digital and ICT initiatives.

Cultural and Diaspora Relations

• Diaspora: Indian origin people comprise nearly 70% of the island’s population of 1.2 million (28% Creole, 3% Sino-Mauritian, 1% Franco-Mauritian).
• Shared Cultural Traditions: Hindi, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Urdu are widely practised.
• Indian festivals such as Diwali, Holi, and Maha Shivaratri are celebrated on a national scale.
• Cultural Institutions: Mahatma Gandhi Institute; Rabindranath Tagore Institute; and World Hindi Secretariat (headquartered in Mauritius).
• Capacity Building and Human Resource Development: India supports Mauritius through ITEC scholarships, ICCR scholarships, training programmes for civil servants, skill development initiatives, and cooperation in digital governance and public administration.
• Cooperation in Multilateral Forums: Both countries cooperate closely in United Nations (UN), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Global South initiatives.
• Mauritius has consistently supported India on several international issues.
• India has backed Mauritius’s territorial claim over the Chagos Archipelago,a matter of dispute with the United Kingdom.

Significance of Mauritius for India

• Strategic Importance: Gateway to the western Indian Ocean; critical for securing Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs); and important for India’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
• Economic Importance: Trade and investment hub; and link to African markets.
• Geopolitical Importance: Helps counter extra-regional influence in the Indian Ocean; and enhances India’s role as a net security provider.

Challenges in Bilateral Relations

• Competition from external powers, especially China.
  • Concerns regarding strategic projects and sovereignty issues.
  • Need for diversification of trade.
  • Regulatory issues in financial cooperation.
  • Climate change vulnerabilities affecting Mauritius.

Way Forward

• Deepen maritime and defence cooperation.
• Fully implement CECPA.
• Expand Blue Economy collaboration.
• Promote digital economy and fintech partnerships.
• Strengthen renewable energy cooperation.
• Increase educational, cultural and tourism exchanges.
• Accelerate implementation of infrastructure and connectivity projects.
• Enhance collaboration in regional and multilateral forums.

Conclusion

India–Mauritius relations are rooted in shared history, diaspora ties, strategic convergence and development partnership. Strengthening cooperation in maritime security, trade, connectivity, the Blue Economy and people-to-people ties will further reinforce Mauritius’ role as a key pillar of India’s SAGAR Vision and Indo-Pacific strategy.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. PM Modi Visit to Seychelles

Context: PM Narendra Modi visited Seychelles as the Guest of Honour during its 50th Independence Day celebrations.

• The visit reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Key Highlights of the Visit

1. Development Partnership

• India announced a ₹1,250 crore Line of Credit (LoC) for priority infrastructure projects.
• Strengthens cooperation in infrastructure, connectivity and socio-economic development.

2. Maritime Security

• India handed over:
• 1 Fast Patrol Vessel
• 10 Utility Vehicles
• 5 Laser Radial Boats
• Enhances Seychelles’ coastal surveillance, maritime policing and EEZ protection.
• Reinforces India’s role as a Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean.

3. Digital Connectivity

• Agreement signed with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• Enables rollout of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Seychelles.
• Promotes:
• Digital payments.
• Financial inclusion.
• Digital economy cooperation.

4. Capacity Building

• Cooperation expanded in:
• Technical education.
• Skill development.
• Space applications.
• Guided by the SESEL Framework (Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages).

5. Blue Economy Cooperation

• Joint efforts in:
• Sustainable fisheries.
• Marine resource management.
• Ocean science.
• Conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.

India–Seychelles Relations

Diplomatic Relations:

• Diplomatic ties were established in 1976, after Seychelles gained independence.
• Around 10% of Seychelles’ population is of Indian origin, strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties.

Development Partnership:

• India has supported Seychelles through Lines of Credit, grant assistance, and High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs).
• Cooperation spans infrastructure, housing, transport, education, healthcare, and capacity building.
• In 2026, India announced a USD 175 million Special Economic Packagefor Seychelles.
• Both countries also adopted the SESEL Joint Visionto deepen cooperation in sustainability, economic growth, and security.

Trade and Economy:

• Bilateral trade (April 2024–February 2025) stood at USD 72.92 million.
• India’s exports:USD 64 million
• India’s imports:USD 28 million

Energy Cooperation:

• Seychelles became a founding member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)after ratifying its Framework Agreement in 2017.
• In 2024, a solar-powered cold storage facilitywas commissioned on Praslin Island with ISA support.

Multilateral Cooperation:

Both countries cooperate closely in:

• Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
• Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)(India is a Development Partner)
• International Solar Alliance (ISA)
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

People-to-People Ties:

• The Indian diaspora has played an important role in strengthening cultural exchanges, business relations, and long-standing goodwill between the two countries.

Major Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

Maritime Security Threats

• Drug trafficking.
• Arms smuggling.

Illegal Fishing

• Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens:
• Marine biodiversity.
• Coastal livelihoods.
• Sustainable fisheries.

Climate Change

• Rising sea levels.
• Coastal erosion.
• Extreme weather events.
• High vulnerability of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Geopolitical Competition

• Growing strategic competition among major powers over:
• Maritime infrastructure.
• Naval presence.

Vulnerability of SLOCs

• Disruptions can affect:
• Global trade.
• Energy security.
• Supply chains.

Way Forward

• Deepen maritime and defence cooperation.
• Expand Blue Economy collaboration.
• Strengthen digital connectivity through UPI and fintech.
• Enhance renewable energy cooperation.
• Accelerate implementation of development projects.
• Build climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Increase capacity building and skill development.
• Promote greater regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean.

Conclusion

India and Seychelles share a comprehensive strategic partnership founded on development cooperation, maritime security, renewable energy, Blue Economy, digital connectivity and people-to-people ties. Strengthening this partnership advances India’s SAGAR Vision, enhances stability in the Indian Ocean Region, and promotes inclusive, secure and sustainable regional development.

Download Pdf | Study Material | Downloads | Daily Quiz  | FREE Youtube Videos