Seychelles Port Call: Navy’s Training Squadron
Why in News?
- The Ministry of Defence said three Indian Navy training ships left Port Victoria, Seychelles, on 15 October 2026 after a port call during a training deployment.
- The ships are INS Tir and INS Sujata of the First Training Squadron and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi.
- The visit included a passage exercise with the Seychelles Coast Guard ship Andromache, a medical camp, and firefighting and small-arms training for Seychelles Defence Forces personnel.
- The Ministry linked the deployment to the MAHASAGAR vision.
Key Terminologies
- Seychelles
- An island country in the Indian Ocean about 1,500 km east of mainland Africa. Its capital and largest city is Victoria on Mahé island. It became independent from the United Kingdom on 29 June 1976.
- First Training Squadron
- The Indian Navy unit that carries out sea training of officer cadets and visits foreign ports to build ties. Its ships on this deployment were INS Tir and INS Sujata.
- Passage Exercise
- A short exercise held when ships of two navies meet at sea. In this case it included joint patrolling, communication drills and coordinated manoeuvres.
- MAHASAGAR
- Short for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, a vision announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mauritius in March 2025. It builds on the earlier SAGAR vision.
Key Issues
- Strategic Island Partner: Seychelles is an archipelagic country of 115 islands according to its lead description. It controls a marine spatial plan area of about 1.35 million square kilometres, as finalised in 2023.
- Training and Capacity Building: Indian sailors conducted cross-training visits and firefighting and small-arms training for the Seychelles Defence Forces during the port call.
- Joint Maritime Practice: The passage exercise with the Seychelles Coast Guard ship Andromache covered joint patrolling and communication drills.
- Defence Links: India has handed over patrol vessels and a Dornier 228 aircraft to Seychelles, and the two countries signed a pact to develop Assumption Island, which India leases for strategic assets, according to Wikipedia.
- Wider Vision: The Ministry of Defence linked the visit to MAHASAGAR, presented in March 2025 as India's vision for the Global South that builds on the SAGAR vision for regional stability.
Key Implications
Positive/Pros/Merits
- Maritime Security: Joint patrols and drills strengthen a small island state's ability to guard its large ocean area.
- Soft Power: A medical camp and distribution of supplies by the Indian Navy Band show humanitarian outreach beyond defence.
- Professional Training: Firefighting and small-arms training build skills in the Seychelles Defence Forces.
- Indian Ocean Presence: Regular port calls show India's presence and partnerships in the western Indian Ocean.
Negative/Cons/Demerits
- Great-Power Competition: Naval presence in the Indian Ocean is part of wider strategic competition, which is an analytical point.
- Small State Sensitivities: Seychelles has a population of about 121,000, so large foreign defence projects raise sovereignty questions, which is analysis.
- Limited Detail: The Ministry statement gives no numbers on trainees or exercise scale.
- Symbolic Visits: Port calls build ties but cannot substitute for long-term projects, which is an analytical point.
Key Initiatives
- MAHASAGAR, 2025: Prime Minister Modi presented it in March 2025 as a vision for the Global South, building on SAGAR for regional stability and prosperity. The Ministry of Defence linked this visit to it.
- First Training Squadron Deployment, October 2026: INS Tir, INS Sujata and Coast Guard Ship Sarathi visited Port Victoria and left on 15 October 2026 after training and outreach activities.
- Defence Support to Seychelles: India has handed over patrol vessels and a Dornier 228 aircraft to Seychelles, according to the country profile reviewed.
- Assumption Island Pact: India and Seychelles signed a pact to develop Assumption Island, which India leases for strategic assets, as described in the same profile.
The Ministry of Defence says the visit strengthened the India-Seychelles partnership through professional training, capacity building and engagement with Seychelles' leadership and maritime community. It described the visit as showing the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries. The reports reviewed do not give the number of personnel trained.
Director's Perspective
Way Forward
- Offer Seychelles a regular annual training calendar, so that capacity building is steady and not tied to ship visits.
- Pair naval engagement with civilian cooperation in fisheries, coastal monitoring and disaster response, which small island states value.
- Be transparent on projects such as Assumption Island, with clear terms that respect Seychelles' sovereignty.
- Coordinate with other Indian Ocean partners on maritime domain awareness, so that information on illegal fishing and piracy is shared.
The visit is routine in form but meaningful in aim. Training squadrons, joint patrols and medical camps are the ordinary tools of maritime diplomacy, and they fit MAHASAGAR's stress on security and growth together. Their weakness is limited detail and the sensitivities of a small state. In a Mains answer, credit capacity building and humanitarian outreach, then conclude that sustained, transparent and respectful partnerships will matter more than visits.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Indian Navy do in Seychelles in October 2026?
Three Indian ships, INS Tir, INS Sujata and Coast Guard Ship Sarathi, left Port Victoria on 15 October 2026 after a port call. They held a passage exercise with the Seychelles Coast Guard ship Andromache, trained Seychelles Defence Forces personnel and ran a medical camp.
Where is Seychelles and what is special about it?
Seychelles is an island country in the Indian Ocean about 1,500 km east of mainland Africa, with its capital Victoria on Mahé island. It gained independence from the United Kingdom on 29 June 1976 and is the smallest country in Africa by area at 457 square kilometres.
What is MAHASAGAR?
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented it in Mauritius in March 2025 as India's vision for the Global South, building on the earlier SAGAR vision, and the Ministry of Defence linked the Seychelles port call to it.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Victoria, the capital of Seychelles, is located on Mahe island.
Seychelles is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
2 MAHASAGAR was announced by India in Seychelles in 2025.
It was announced by Prime Minister Modi in Mauritius in March 2025.
3 A passage exercise is a short exercise held when ships of two navies meet at sea.
It was held with the Seychelles Coast Guard ship Andromache.