INDIA-MAURITIUS RELATIONS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: STRATEGIC CONVERGENCE, MARITIME SECURITY, AND DIASPORA DIPLOMACY IN THE INDIAN OCEANS

India-Mauritius relationship is one of India's longest-standing and multi-dimensional partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region. The bilateral relationship is built on the foundations of historical migration, shared culture, heritage and post-colonial solidarity. With the passage of time, it has not only been confined to close ties but has evolved into a full-fledged strategic partnership. The presence of a large number of people of Indian origin in Mauritius has contributed to the deep social and cultural links between the two countries It has played an important role in maintaining diplomatic trust and consistency over the decades. However, in the twenty-first century, the identity of this relationship has expanded significantly, and now cooperation between the two countries has increased in the areas of defence cooperation, overall security, coordination, economic integration and framework, and central development assistance. This study analyses India and Mauritius through an integrated theoretical framework where both realism and constructivism data are used together. From a realist point of view, the geographical location of Mauritius is very important as it is located close to the important Sea Lane of Communication. However, Mauritius has increased the importance of India's maritime security strategy in the context of growing political competition in the Indian Ocean. On the other hand, the constructivist view emphasizes that the identity of the Indian diaspora, shared democratic values, and historical memories play an important role in shaping the country's policy and diplomatic closeness. The study argues that while identity-based relationships provide moral depth and stability to these partisan relationships, the dynamics of relationships in contemporary times It is increasingly being influenced by strategic maritime interests, especially in the context of China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean region. After all, India Mauritius relationship is an example of a hybrid diplomatic model where cultural closeness and strong security interests do not conflict but strengthen each other. This has helped shape a stable and adaptive partnership in the emerging Indo-Pacific region.