The concept of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) is a vision and geopolitical framework for India's maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The acronym SAGAR is also the Hindi word for 'ocean' or 'sea'.
The concept was first articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 12, 2015, during his visit to Mauritius. It was created to position India as a responsible maritime power and a "preferred security partner" in the IOR. The initiative was a strategic response to the increasing geopolitical competition and non-traditional threats like piracy, as well as China's expanding maritime presence, often referred to as the "String of Pearls" strategy.
SAGAR works by promoting collective, collaborative, and cooperative approaches to regional challenges. Key mechanisms include deepening economic and security cooperation with maritime neighbours and assisting in building their maritime security capabilities. This involves providing capacity building through the transfer of patrol vessels, training, and coastal radar networks to partners like Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Maldives. It also focuses on maritime security cooperation, including joint patrols and information exchange coordinated through the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) at Gurugram. Furthermore, it emphasizes Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and adherence to international maritime rules and norms.
SAGAR is a cornerstone of India's foreign policy, connecting directly to the 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the strategic goal of being a 'net security provider' in the IOR. It is also meshed with the domestic Sagarmala project and complements the 'Act East Policy'. The concept has been adapted since its inception; in 2018, PM Modi extended the vision to include the wider Indo-Pacific region. More recently, an extension called MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) was described in 2024–2025, broadening the framework to the Global South.