SAGAR
Also called: Security and Growth for All in the Region, MAHASAGAR · Topic: India and her Neighbours · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
SAGAR stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region. It is India's plan for the Indian Ocean Region, set out in 2015. Under it, India works with the countries around this ocean to keep the seas safe and to grow richer together. In practice, India helps its island neighbours in disasters, protects sea lines of communication (the sea routes that ships use for trade) and builds warships that can do this work. It matters because most of India's trade goes by sea, and India wants to be seen as a net security provider: a country that gives safety to the region instead of depending on others for it.
Example
The Maldives is a chain of over 1,100 coral islets, about 130 km from Minicoy (Lakshadweep) across the Eight Degree Channel. India sent help there after the 2004 tsunami, during the 2014 Malé water crisis and during COVID-19. This kind of help to a neighbour across the sea is what SAGAR means in practice.
Don't confuse with
- MAHASAGAR: This is the wider version of SAGAR. It stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. SAGAR covers the Indian Ocean Region. MAHASAGAR also covers India's work with navies outside that region, for example in the Western Pacific.
- Sagarmala: This is India's programme to develop its own ports and coasts. It is a plan for India's economy at home, not a plan for working with other countries.