- Why in news
- On 19 February 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Exercise MILAN at Visakhapatnam, with Navy Chiefs and delegations from 74 countries. He called for a global naval architecture under UNCLOS.
- What it is
- MILAN is a multilateral naval exercise and engagement hosted by the Indian Navy, held at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command. It builds interoperability, trust and professional exchange among friendly navies. It is a tool of India's maritime diplomacy in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Participation
- Navy Chiefs and delegations from 74 countries are taking part in MILAN 2026, among the largest editions to date.
- Two phases
- The exercise has a Harbour Phase (seminar, expert exchanges, cross-deck visits) and a Sea Phase (operational drills at sea).
- SAGAR to MAHASAGAR
- India's maritime vision has moved from SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) to MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions).
- UNCLOS
- The minister said UNCLOS gives a time-tested mechanism for dispute redressal and could be strengthened by a global naval architecture.
- Aims
- MILAN 2026 seeks interoperability, shared professional practices and stronger friendships among partner navies.
Don’t confuse with SAGAR vs MAHASAGAR: SAGAR is the earlier vision focused on the Indian Ocean region; MAHASAGAR widens it to partners across regions and oceans.
Defence: Prelims tests exercises (with whom), equipment (who makes it) and firsts.
Why it matters
- Strengthens India's role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Builds interoperability and trust with many navies, supporting a rule-based maritime order.
Problems
- Contested straits, sea lanes and seabed resources raise tensions.
- Non-traditional threats such as piracy, trafficking, cyber risks and disaster response need joint action no single navy can handle.
Way forward
- Expand information sharing, coordinated patrols and joint surveillance of Exclusive Economic Zones.
- Anchor cooperation in UNCLOS and freedom of navigation.
Put in your answer
MAHASAGAR vision: Cite the shift from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR as India's widening approach to maritime partnership.
Emerging threat list: Use the minister's list of maritime threats: piracy, maritime terrorism, illegal fishing, trafficking, cyber vulnerabilities and supply chain disruption.
- 2025Mains GS3 · Q20Why is maritime security vital for India's sea trade; discuss challenges and way forward.
- 2022Mains GS3 · Q10Discuss India's maritime security challenges and initiatives taken to improve them.
- 2026Mains GS2 · Q9Critically assess IPMDA as a bridge between SAGAR and Quad strategy.
- 2017Prelims Q68Which statements about IONS, India's naval cooperation forum for littoral states, are correct?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Largest edition with 74 nations, linked to MAHASAGAR. Defence exercises are 8 of 327 Prelims questions and rarely Mains; a card is enough.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.