India’s SHANTI Vision for Cooperative Security

 

1. SHANTI was introduced in July 2026 by External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar as a strategic framework for India’s foreign policy and maritime cooperation.

2. SHANTI stands for Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity.

3. It supports India’s campaign for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028–29 term.

4. The framework also presents an operational model for maritime governance based on cooperation, regional needs and shared development.

5. SHANTI moves beyond traditional power projection and promotes demand-driven, cooperative and inclusive regional governance.

6. The first pillar, Norms, focuses on adherence to international rules, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and global shipping safety standards.

7. The second pillar, Trust, promotes mutual confidence through information-sharing arrangements, White Shipping agreements and maritime domain awareness.

8. The third pillar, Integrity, supports open, transparent and inclusive partnerships that respect national sovereignty and reject coercive diplomacy.

9. SHANTI is the latest stage in India’s maritime outlook after SAGAR and MAHASAGAR. SAGAR, launched in 2015, focused on security and growth among Indian Ocean Region littoral states.

10. MAHASAGAR, introduced in 2025, expanded this approach towards the wider Indo-Pacific and the Global South through mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth across regions.

11. SHANTI provides the operational and normative roadmap to implement the broader visions of SAGAR and MAHASAGAR.

12. The Bay of Bengal is the pilot region for SHANTI. Through BIMSTEC, India seeks to address climate change, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and disaster relief in the region.

13. SHANTI projects India as a bridge for the Global South by highlighting the financial, developmental and security concerns of developing countries.

14. The framework supports technology-driven peacekeeping, the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and transparent global norms for Artificial Intelligence and cyber security to prevent misuse by non-state actors.

15. SHANTI strengthens India’s role as a reliable first responder during humanitarian crises and natural disasters, but faces challenges from overlapping regional institutions, concerns that Indian leadership may appear dominant, and its non-binding nature that depends on voluntary compliance by states.

 

 

Must Know Terms :

1. SHANTI

SHANTI stands for Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity. It is India’s cooperative framework for maritime governance, regional security and diplomatic engagement.

 

2. SAGAR

SAGAR means Security and Growth for All in the Region. Introduced in 2015, it focuses on security, development and cooperation among Indian Ocean Region countries.

 

3. MAHASAGAR

MAHASAGAR means Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. It expands India’s maritime approach from the Indian Ocean Region towards the Indo-Pacific and the Global South.

 

4. White Shipping Agreements

These are arrangements for sharing information about the movement of non-military commercial ships. They improve maritime domain awareness and help identify suspicious activities at sea.

 

5. IUU Fishing

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing refers to fishing activities that violate national laws, are not reported to authorities, or occur outside effective regulation. It threatens marine resources and the livelihood of coastal communities.

 

6. Women, Peace and Security Agenda

The Women, Peace and Security agenda promotes women’s equal participation in peace negotiations, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction. It is based on UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

 

 

MCQ :

 

1. With reference to the SHANTI framework, consider the following statements:

1. It was introduced in July 2026.
2. It was introduced by the Ministry of Defence.
3. It is related to maritime cooperation and foreign-policy engagement.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

2. SHANTI stands for:

(a) Security and Harmony Across Nations Through International Treaty Institutions
(b) Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity
(c) Strategic Humanitarian Alliance for National Trade and Integration
(d) Sustainable Human Advancement through Naval Technology and Innovation

3. The SHANTI framework supports India’s campaign for:

(a) Permanent membership of the World Trade Organization
(b) Chairmanship of the G20 for 2028–29
(c) A non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for 2028–29
(d) Membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

4. Which one of the following best describes the approach of SHANTI?

(a) Creation of a binding military alliance in the Indian Ocean
(b) Expansion of territorial control through naval power
(c) Complete withdrawal from regional maritime affairs
(d) Demand-driven, cooperative and inclusive regional governance

5. With reference to the “Norms” pillar of SHANTI, consider the following statements:

1. It stresses adherence to international rules.
2. It gives importance to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
3. It includes global shipping safety standards.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only

6. The “Trust” pillar of SHANTI is mainly associated with:

(a) Imposition of sanctions on regional countries
(b) Information sharing, White Shipping agreements and maritime domain awareness
(c) Establishment of military bases in littoral countries
(d) Development of inland railway corridors

7. With reference to the “Integrity” pillar of SHANTI, consider the following statements:

1. It supports open and transparent partnerships.
2. It respects national sovereignty.
3. It promotes coercive diplomacy for regional stability.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

8. Consider the following statements regarding SAGAR and MAHASAGAR:

1. SAGAR was introduced in 2015.
2. MAHASAGAR was introduced in 2025.
3. MAHASAGAR focuses only on the Indian Ocean Region and excludes the Global South.

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

9. SAGAR stands for:

(a) Strategic Alliance for Growth Across Regions
(b) Security and Growth for All in the Region
(c) Sustainable Action for Global and Regional Security
(d) Security Agreement for Global Asian Relations

10. MAHASAGAR is best described as:

(a) A programme limited to port development in India
(b) A military alliance among Indian Ocean countries
(c) An expanded maritime vision covering the Indo-Pacific and the Global South
(d) A treaty for regulating fisheries in the Bay of Bengal

11. SHANTI acts as:

(a) An operational and normative roadmap for SAGAR and MAHASAGAR
(b) A replacement for all regional maritime organisations
(c) A legally binding defence treaty among Indian Ocean states
(d) A policy limited to commercial shipping

12. With reference to the Bay of Bengal under SHANTI, consider the following statements:

1. It serves as a pilot region for the framework.
2. BIMSTEC is used for regional cooperation.
3. The focus includes climate change, IUU fishing and disaster relief.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only

13. White Shipping Agreements refer to:

(a) Agreements on sharing information about non-military commercial ships
(b) Agreements for supplying naval submarines
(c) Agreements regulating fishing rights in the high seas
(d) Agreements on construction of commercial ports

14. Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing can lead to:

1. Violation of national fishing laws.
2. Threats to marine resources.
3. Loss of livelihood for coastal communities.

Select the correct answer using the code below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3 only

15. Which of the following are challenges to the implementation of SHANTI?

1. Overlap among regional institutions.
2. Concern that India’s role may be perceived as dominant.
3. Dependence on voluntary compliance because it is non-binding.

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