"Final segment of India-funded Thilamale Bridge installed in Maldives"
Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP)
India-funded 6.74-km bridge-causeway linking Male, Villingili, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi.
Line of Credit (LoC)
Concessional loan from India's EXIM Bank, typically tied to procurement from Indian firms.
India and the Maldives share a relationship built on geography, culture, and strategic necessity. The Maldives sits astride the Indian Ocean's major shipping lanes, making it one of India's most critical maritime neighbours. India was among the first countries to recognise Maldivian independence in 1965. Since then, the relationship has deepened through defence cooperation, disaster relief, and development assistance. India's rapid response during the 2004 tsunami, the 2014 Male water crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic established India as the region's preferred first responder.
India's strategic framework for the Maldives sits within the Neighbourhood First Policy, which prioritises immediate neighbours in development and diplomatic engagement. The Maldives is also central to India's Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), which frames the Indian Ocean neighbourhood as a zone of shared prosperity and security. Infrastructure diplomacy has become a key instrument of this engagement, with India using grants and Lines of Credit (LoC) to fund large-scale projects that build goodwill and strategic presence simultaneously.
The Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), also called the Thilamale Bridge, is the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken in the Maldives. It will create a 6.74-km bridge and causeway network connecting four islands: Male (the capital), Villingili, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi. The project is funded through a grant of $100 million and a Line of Credit of $400 million from India, totalling $500 million. The contract was awarded to India's Afcons Infrastructure in August 2021.
A Line of Credit is a financing instrument through which India's Export-Import (EXIM) Bank extends concessional loans to partner countries. These loans are typically tied to procurement from Indian firms, which means the project simultaneously supports Indian industry and builds infrastructure abroad. …
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists:
List I (Project Supported by India)
A.Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project
B.Restoration of Stor Palace
C.District Hospital at Dickoya
D.Institute of Security and Law Enforcement Studies
List II (Country)
1.Maldives
2.Afghanistan
3.Bhutan
4.Sri Lanka
Discuss the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of Maldives for India with a focus on global trade and energy flows. Further also discuss how this relationship affects India's maritime security and regional stability amidst international competition.
With reference to the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), consider the following statements:
1.It will connect the Maldivian capital Male with three adjoining islands: Villingili, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi.
2.The project is funded entirely through a Line of Credit from India with no grant component.
3.The contract for the project was awarded to an Indian infrastructure company.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following best describes India's 'Vision MAHASAGAR'?
With reference to India's Line of Credit (LoC) as a development diplomacy instrument, which of the following statements is correct?
ASSERTION (A): The Greater Male Connectivity Project is strategically significant for India beyond its development value to the Maldives.
REASON (R): The Maldives sits astride the Sea Lines of Communication connecting the Persian Gulf to the Strait of Malacca, through which a large share of India's energy imports transit.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above?
Want the full note, Prelims Facts & MCQ answers?
Create a free account — takes less than a minute.
Create free account