India–Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

 

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook an official State Visit to Indonesia during 6–8 July 2026, strengthening India–Indonesia cooperation in defence, maritime security, technology, education, critical minerals, and cultural diplomacy.

2. India and Indonesia strengthened their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, originally upgraded in 2018, with the 2026 visit focused on practical implementation across defence, trade, technology, connectivity, and maritime cooperation.

3. The visit reinforced India’s Act East Policy by expanding engagement with Indonesia beyond trade into defence exports, digital infrastructure, critical manufacturing, education, and strategic maritime cooperation.

4. India agreed to supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra air-to-air missiles to Indonesia, marking a major step in India’s defence exports and India–Indonesia security cooperation.

5. Indonesia became one of the major foreign buyers of the BrahMos missile system, strengthening its coastal defence and anti-ship capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.

6. The BrahMos missile system is developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.

7. The Astra missile agreement is significant because Astra is an Indian beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile that can be integrated with Russian-origin Sukhoi fighter jets used by Indonesia.

8. India and Indonesia signed agreements in critical minerals, agriculture, and defence, including cooperation to strengthen supply chains for minerals important for clean energy and electric vehicle ecosystems.

9. India and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to maritime security and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, including cooperation around strategic locations such as the Strait of Malacca and Sabang Port.

10. Sabang Port, located near the entrance of the Strait of Malacca, is strategically important for India–Indonesia maritime cooperation and India’s wider Indo-Pacific outreach.

11. Prime Minister Modi announced the establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore campus in Indonesia, marking an expansion of Indian higher education in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

12. India and Indonesia expanded cooperation in technology, education, startups, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, space research, and innovation during the visit.

13. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Indonesia’s highest civilian honour, the Bintang Adipurna (Star of the Republic of Indonesia), in Jakarta on 7 July 2026.

14. The visit added momentum to India’s MAHASAGAR vision by strengthening maritime domain awareness, coast guard cooperation, blue economy security, and a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific approach.

15. India–Indonesia bilateral trade reached USD 28.15 billion in 2024–25, making Indonesia India’s second-largest trading partner among ASEAN countries.

 

Must Know Terms :

 

1.Nickel Diplomacy: Nickel Diplomacy refers to India–Indonesia cooperation for securing critical mineral supply chains, particularly nickel, which is essential for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy technologies, and clean energy transition.

2. Act East Policy: India’s Act East Policy focuses on strengthening relations with Southeast Asian countries. The 2026 Indonesia visit expanded this policy into defence exports, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, education, and maritime cooperation.

 

3. MAHASAGAR Vision: MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. It focuses on maritime security, blue economy, maritime domain awareness, and cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region.

 

4. BrahMos Missile: BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. India agreed to supply BrahMos missiles to Indonesia.

 

5. Sabang Port: Sabang Port is located near the entrance of the Strait of Malacca. It is strategically important for India–Indonesia maritime cooperation and India’s wider Indo-Pacific strategy.

 

6. Bintang Adipurna: Bintang Adipurna, or Star of the Republic of Indonesia, is Indonesia’s highest civilian honour. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred this award in Jakarta on 7 July 2026.

 

MCQ :

 

1. With reference to India–Indonesia relations, consider the following statements:

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Indonesia on a State Visit during 6–8 July 2026.
2. The visit strengthened cooperation in defence, maritime security, critical minerals, and technology.
3. During the visit, India and Indonesia signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

2. Assertion (A): The 2026 India–Indonesia summit reinforced India’s Act East Policy.

Reason (R): The visit expanded bilateral cooperation into defence exports, digital infrastructure, education, and maritime security.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.

3. Which of the following missiles has India agreed to export to Indonesia?

1. BrahMos
2. Astra
3. Akash

Select the correct answer using the code below.

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

4. Match List-I with List-II:

List-I List-II

A. BrahMos 1. Surface-to-surface cruise missile
B. Astra 2. Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile
C. Sabang Port 3. Near Strait of Malacca
D. Bintang Adipurna 4. Indonesia’s highest civilian honour

Codes:

A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
B. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
C. A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
D. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4

5. With reference to the BrahMos missile, consider the following statements:

1. It is jointly developed by DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
2. It is developed by BrahMos Aerospace.
3. It is a supersonic cruise missile.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

6. Nickel Diplomacy between India and Indonesia is primarily related to:

A. Maritime boundary settlement
B. Semiconductor manufacturing
C. Critical mineral supply chains for clean energy
D. Defence intelligence sharing

7. Consider the following statements regarding Sabang Port:

1. It is located near the Strait of Malacca.
2. It is strategically important for India’s Indo-Pacific outreach.
3. It is located on the eastern coast of Java.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

8. Which of the following correctly describes MAHASAGAR?

A. India’s maritime vision for Security and Growth Across Regions
B. ASEAN’s maritime trade programme
C. Indonesia’s Blue Economy Mission
D. India’s satellite navigation programme

9. Match List-I with List-II:

List-I List-II

A. Act East Policy 1. Southeast Asia
B. MAHASAGAR 2. Maritime Security
C. ASEAN 3. Regional Organisation
D. Bintang Adipurna 4. Highest Civilian Honour

Codes:

A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
B. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
C. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
D. A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

10. Assertion (A): Indonesia is strategically important for India’s Indo-Pacific policy.

Reason (R): Indonesia is located close to the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.

11. Consider the following:

1. Artificial Intelligence
2. Digital Infrastructure
3. Space Research
4. Startups

India and Indonesia expanded cooperation during the 2026 visit in:

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

12. The Bintang Adipurna is:

A. Indonesia’s highest military honour
B. Indonesia’s highest civilian honour
C. ASEAN’s highest regional award
D. India’s award for foreign dignitaries

13. With reference to the Astra missile, consider the following statements:

1. It is an Indian Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile.
2. It can be integrated with Sukhoi fighter aircraft.
3. It is jointly developed with Indonesia.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

14. Which one of the following developments was announced during Prime Minister Modi’s 2026 Indonesia visit?

A. IIT Delhi campus in Jakarta
B. AIIMS campus in Bali
C. IIM Bangalore campus in Indonesia
D. Nalanda University campus in Surabaya

15. With reference to India–Indonesia relations, consider the following statements:

1. Indonesia is India’s second-largest trading partner among ASEAN countries.
2. India–Indonesia bilateral trade reached USD 28.15 billion during 2024–25.
3. The two countries cooperate in defence, maritime security, education, and critical minerals.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3