What is India's Indo-Pacific Strategy?

India's Indo-Pacific Strategy refers to its vision for a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based order across the vast maritime space stretching from the eastern coast of Africa to the western Pacific. Prime Minister Modi articulated this vision at the Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2018, emphasising that the Indo-Pacific is a "natural region" and not a "strategy directed against any country."

India's approach rests on ASEAN centrality, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, freedom of navigation and overflight, adherence to UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and peaceful resolution of disputes. The operationalisation of this vision came through the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), launched at the 14th East Asia Summit in Bangkok (November 2019).

The strategy is complemented by India's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, announced in 2015, which focuses on the Indian Ocean as India's primary maritime neighbourhood.

Key Features

# Feature Details
1 Articulated Shangri-La Dialogue, Singapore, June 2018
2 Core Principles Free, open, inclusive, rules-based Indo-Pacific
3 IPOI Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative — launched November 2019 at 14th EAS, Bangkok
4 IPOI Pillars (7) Maritime Security; Maritime Ecology; Maritime Resources; Capacity Building; Disaster Risk Reduction; Science & Technology; Trade, Connectivity & Transport
5 SAGAR Doctrine Security and Growth for All in the Region (2015) — Indian Ocean focus
6 ASEAN Centrality ASEAN as the core of regional security architecture
7 UNCLOS Adherence to international maritime law as foundational
8 Non-treaty based IPOI is a voluntary, inclusive cooperation framework

Current Status / Latest Developments

  • India deepened Indo-Pacific cooperation through the Quad (with US, Japan, Australia) — the 10th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Washington DC in July 2025.
  • The IPOI has attracted partners: Japan leads the Connectivity pillar, Australia leads Maritime Ecology, and several ASEAN nations actively participate.
  • India conducted the Tarang Shakti multilateral air exercise (2024) and Malabar naval exercises as part of Indo-Pacific security cooperation.
  • India's Indo-Pacific vision aligns with ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), adopted by ASEAN in 2019.
  • India is strengthening its island territories — Andaman & Nicobar Command and Lakshadweep — as strategic outposts in the Indo-Pacific.

UPSC Exam Corner

Prelims: Key Facts

  • Shangri-La Dialogue: June 2018, Singapore — PM Modi's Indo-Pacific vision speech
  • IPOI: Launched November 2019, 14th EAS, Bangkok; 7 pillars
  • SAGAR: Security and Growth for All in the Region (2015)
  • UNCLOS: 1982 convention; entered force 1994; India ratified 1995
  • IPOI is voluntary — non-treaty, inclusive framework
  • Andaman & Nicobar Command: India's only tri-service command, strategically located at Malacca Strait chokepoint

Mains: Probable Themes

  1. "Examine India's Indo-Pacific strategy and its alignment with ASEAN centrality."
  2. "How does the IPOI operationalise India's vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific?"
  3. "Compare India's Indo-Pacific approach with the US Indo-Pacific Strategy — convergences and divergences."
  4. "Assess the strategic significance of the Quad in India's Indo-Pacific framework."

Sources: MEA — PM Modi's Shangri-La Dialogue Speech | Vajirao & Reddy — Indo-Pacific Region | StudyIQ — IPOI