INS Sutlej Completes Mauritius Hydrographic Survey
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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Strategic Framework: BEFORE, missions were guided by the 2015 SAGAR doctrine focused on immediate neighbourhood security. NOW, they are operationalized under the 2025 MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), linking naval engagement with broader Indo-Pacific development.
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Seabed Data: BEFORE, large tracts of the Mauritian EEZ lacked modern, high-resolution bathymetric data. NOW, a highly accurate 'fair-sheet' covering 35,000 sq nautical miles has been delivered for Mauritius's Blue Economy planning.
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Indigenous Capacity: BEFORE, Mauritius relied heavily on external execution of hydrographic tasks. NOW, six officials from Mauritian ministries received hands-on training aboard INS Sutlej in modern techniques, building localized expertise.
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Mission Scope: BEFORE, hydrographic missions were often strictly scientific. NOW, the mission integrated joint EEZ surveillance and anti-piracy patrols with the Mauritius National Coast Guard.
What Did NOT Change
The Indian Navy remains the primary net security provider and capacity builder in the Western Indian Ocean. Furthermore, despite India's extensive mapping, the sovereign ownership of the data and the exclusive rights to the resources within the Mauritian EEZ remain strictly with Mauritius.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Common Misconceptions
✗ Hydrographic surveys are primarily conducted by oil companies to find deep-sea petroleum reserves.
✓ While bathymetry aids resource discovery, the primary legal mandate of hydrography is producing accurate navigational charts to ensure maritime safety (under SOLAS conventions) and defining sovereign maritime borders.
Because ocean mapping is often associated with offshore drilling and the highly publicized 'Blue Economy' resource extraction.
✗ MAHASAGAR is simply the Hindi translation for the older SAGAR initiative.
✓ MAHASAGAR is a distinct, upgraded 2025 doctrine standing for 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions'. It expands SAGAR's (2015) regional security focus to include global maritime partnerships, trade, and the broader Global South.
Because 'Sagar' and 'Mahasagar' literally mean 'Sea' and 'Ocean' respectively, leading people to assume it is just a linguistic rebrand rather than a strategic elevation.
Practice Questions
Q1
How Many CorrectConsider the following statements regarding the hydrographic cooperation between India and Mauritius and the MAHASAGAR vision: 1. The MAHASAGAR vision geographically restricts India's maritime focus exclusively to the Western Indian Ocean. 2. The INS Sutlej's 2025 hydrographic mission was conducted under a bilateral MoU framework originally signed in 2005. 3. The 'fair-sheet' generated by the Indian Navy's survey is handed over to the host nation to aid its sovereign coastal regulation. How many of the above statements are correct?
Q2
Match the FollowingMatch the following terms related to India's maritime diplomacy with their correct descriptions: List I A. SAGAR B. MAHASAGAR C. Fair-sheet D. Bathymetry List II 1. The final, verified cartographic document produced after a hydrographic survey 2. A 2015 doctrine focusing primarily on security in India's immediate maritime neighbourhood 3. The study and measurement of underwater depth of ocean floors 4. A 2025 initiative emphasizing Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions Select the correct code:
Q3
Assertion & ReasonAssertion (A): Hydrographic surveys conducted by the Indian Navy in foreign EEZs, such as Mauritius, play a direct role in reinforcing the host country's sovereign rights under UNCLOS. Reason (R): Hydrographic surveys accurately map the seabed and baselines, providing the legal and scientific basis required to demarcate maritime boundaries and regulate coastal resources. Select the correct answer: