With reference to the recent maritime incident involving Indian fishermen and the Maldives, consider the following statements: 1. The apprehended fishermen were from the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. 2. The Maldives Coast Guard apprehended 25 Indian fishermen and three mechanised fishing boats. 3. The Tamil Nadu government requested the Union External Affairs Minister's intervention for repatriation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

TN CM requests S. Jaishankar's intervention for 25 fishermen apprehended by Maldives Coast Guard

GS2Polity · Governance · IR· India's bilateral relations· Prelims· 15 October 2026

Maritime diplomacy and bilateral relations: a GS2 case study on maritime security and repatriation.

Why in news

Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay requested Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's intervention for the release and repatriation of 25 Indian fishermen apprehended by the Maldives Coast Guard.

Background

The Maldives Coast Guard apprehended 25 Indian fishermen and three mechanised fishing boats from Thoothukudi district in the early hours of October 13, 2026. The Tamil Nadu government is seeking diplomatic intervention for their safe repatriation.

Facts for Prelims

Fact25 Indian fishermen and 3 mechanised fishing boats were apprehended by the Maldives Coast Guard.
PlaceThe apprehended fishermen are from the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
PostS. Jaishankar serves as the Union External Affairs Minister of India.

Prelims practice question

With reference to the recent maritime incident involving Indian fishermen and the Maldives, consider the following statements:

The apprehended fishermen were from the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.
The Maldives Coast Guard apprehended 25 Indian fishermen and three mechanised fishing boats.
The Tamil Nadu government requested the Union External Affairs Minister's intervention for repatriation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Show answer

Answer: (d) 2 and 3 only — Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect: The fishermen are from the Thoothukudi district.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the challenges faced by the Indian fishing community in the Indian Ocean Region and the role of maritime diplomacy in ensuring their safety.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Maritime security: Lack of real-time tracking and communication between Indian fishing vessels and regional coast guards.
Diplomatic friction: Balancing bilateral maritime cooperation with the Maldives against the protection of Indian maritime interests.
Legal ambiguity: Overlapping Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claims and enforcement of maritime boundaries in the Indian Ocean.

Keywords: Maritime Diplomacy · Exclusive Economic Zone · Repatriation · Blue Economy · Maritime Security

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note How notes are made Source: The Hindu ↗

More International Relations notes

Nepal PM proposes Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism to unite India and China against disasters · 15 October 2026
T. M. Balakrishnan Nair elected Chair of UNESCO IOCINDIO Sub-Commission in Bali · 15 October 2026
Piyush Goyal says first India-U.S. trade deal tranche finalised in Delhi · 15 October 2026
BEML and Czech delegation discuss precision engineering as India-Czech defence cooperation expands · 15 October 2026
G20 finance ministers meet in Bangkok to discuss Iran's impact on $100+ oil prices · 15 October 2026
India demands OHCHR report on Pakistan's killings and internet restrictions in PoK · 15 October 2026

All International Relations current affairs →

Something wrong, or something missing?

Spotted a mistake in a note, or want a topic, format or PDF that would help your preparation? Write to us. We read every mail and fix errors fast.

Report a mistake →Ask for something →[email protected]

This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.