India–Mauritius Relations

12 Sep 2025 GS 2 International Relations

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Context

Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam met in Varanasi.
India stressed Mauritius is not just a partner but a “family” nation.
Emphasis on civilisational ties, Neighbourhood First Policy, and Indian Ocean security.

Shared Priority: Free, open, secure, and prosperous Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Hydrography Project: Joint work on surveys, navigation charts, EEZ data.
Maritime cooperation key to countering strategic challenges in the IOR.

Special Economic Package: For Mauritius’s infrastructure, employment generation, healthcare.
First Jan Aushadhi Kendra abroad → opened in Mauritius.

MoUs signed:
- Science & Technology cooperation.
- Oceanographic research.
- Power sector collaboration.
Academic Partnerships:
- IIT Madras & Indian Institute of Plantation Management signed agreements with University of Mauritius.
- Mission Karmayogi capacity-building training modules to be launched in Mauritius.
Aim: Elevate research, innovation, education ties.

Historical movement of culture, traditions, and people from India to Mauritius.
Mauritius central to India’s Neighbourhood First & diaspora policy.
Visit highlights: Mauritius PM attended Ganga Aarti and scheduled visit to Kashi Vishwanath Dham & Ayodhya.

Strengthens India’s soft power diplomacy through culture, AYUSH, education.
Reinforces strategic partnership in IOR amidst growing geopolitical competition.
Boosts South–South cooperation model in healthcare, research, and development.
Deepens diaspora and civilisational linkages.

Location: Island nation in the Indian Ocean, ~2,000 km off the southeast coast of East Africa, east of Madagascar.
Territory:

Coastline: 150 km of sandy beaches; world’s third-largest coral reef surrounds the island.
Geology: Volcanic origin (~8 million years ago); part of the Mascarene Islands (with Rodrigues, Réunion, St. Brandon).
Area: 2,040 sq. km.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): ~2 million sq. km.

Early references: Possibly first noted by Arab sailors (~975 CE) as Dina Arobi.
Portuguese: Visited in 1507, called it Ilha do Cirne.
Dutch (1598–1710): Named after Prince Maurice of Orange, attempted settlements, introduced sugarcane, exploited ebony, brought Malagasy slaves → abandoned due to harsh conditions.
French colonisation (1715–1810): Renamed Isle de France, developed sugar economy.
British rule (1810–1968): Annexed during Napoleonic Wars, developed as a major sugar colony.
Independence: Achieved in 1968; became a Republic in 1992 (abolished monarchy).

1965: UK separated Chagos Archipelago before Mauritian independence to form BIOT (British Indian Ocean Territory).
Population displacement: Islanders forcibly removed; Diego Garcia leased to the USA as a military base.
ICJ ruling (2019): Declared UK’s continued occupation unlawful; called for return to Mauritius.
2025: Bilateral agreement recognising Mauritius’s sovereignty over Chagos.

Ethnic Diversity: Indo-Mauritians (majority), Creoles, Sino-Mauritians, Franco-Mauritians.
Religion: Only African country where Hinduism is the majority religion.
Languages: English (official), French, Mauritian Creole, Bhojpuri, and others.
Culture: Strong Indo-Mauritian civilisational connect with India.

System: Westminster-style parliamentary democracy.
Global Rankings:
- Democracy: Only African country rated as “full democracy” (Economist Index); some indices note “electoral autocracy” (V-Dem).
- HDI: Very High (Rank 73).
- World Bank: High-income economy.
- Peace: Most peaceful African nation.

Unique Endemism: Part of Mascarene biodiversity hotspot.
Extinct Species: Dodo (symbol of extinction).
Surviving species under conservation: Mauritius kestrel, pink pigeon, echo parakeet.
Ongoing efforts: Intensive conservation to restore island’s fragile ecosystem.