Which one among the following statements with regard to India's maritime initiative, SAGAR, is correct? (a) It is a platform for conducting joint naval exercises under QUAD (b) It aimed at promoting maritime cooperation with countries of the Indian Ocean Region (c) It is an alliance of India, USA and Japan to provide safety to merchant ships passing through the Indian Ocean Region (d) It is the name given to India’s participation in the Contact Group on Piracy set up by the UN Security Council

SAGAR, an acronym for 'Security and Growth for All in the Region', is India’s strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), first articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 during a visit to Mauritius [1]. The initiative aims to promote maritime cooperation, ensure a safe and stable IOR, and foster sustainable development among littoral states. It focuses on five key aspects: safeguarding India's mainland and islands, deepening economic and security cooperation with maritime neighbors, collective action for peace, sustainable development, and increasing maritime engagement [1]. Unlike the Sagarmala project, which focuses on domestic port-led development [2][3], SAGAR is an external outreach program positioning India as a 'net security provider' in its neighborhood. It is not a platform for QUAD exercises or a specific UN piracy group, but rather a comprehensive framework for regional maritime diplomacy and capacity building.

Sources

1. [1] https://eoibelgrade.gov.in/public_files/assets/pdf/SAGAR_to_MAHASAGAR_18_08_2025.pdf
2. [2] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > Sagarmala Project: > p. 420
3. [3] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > Sagarmala Project: > p. 419