🔆 India–Seychelles: Deepening Parliamentary & Strategic Partnership
📍 Why in News?
🟢 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held a bilateral parliamentary dialogue with Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Yolanda Ernesta and her delegation in New Delhi.
📍 Key Highlights
🟢 Civilisational ties: Relations are strengthened by centuries-old connections, a vibrant Indian diaspora and people-to-people bonds.
🟢 Golden milestone: Seychelles marked 50 years of Independence and 50 years of diplomatic relations with India.
🟢 Parliamentary cooperation: India offered capacity-building support through PRIDE in legislative drafting, parliamentary procedures and legislative processes.
🟢 Digital Parliament: India highlighted its paperless Parliament initiative and use of AI for translation of parliamentary proceedings into 22 Indian languages.
🟢 Areas of cooperation: Health, digital transformation, infrastructure, renewable energy, culture, education and tourism.
🟢 Global South: Both sides emphasised cooperation to amplify the voice and aspirations of the Global South.
📍 Strategic Significance
🟢 Seychelles is a trusted partner in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and important for India’s Vision MAHASAGAR.
🟢 Closer ties can contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity, including through the UN and other multilateral forums.
🟢 The engagement reflects India’s broader approach of combining maritime security, development partnership, digital cooperation and people-to-people diplomacy in the Indian Ocean.
📍 UPSC Mains Question
“India’s engagement with Seychelles goes beyond bilateral diplomacy and has important implications for India’s strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region.” Discuss.
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1September 2, 2026 1.7K 13
