This article covers India's development partnership with Maldives: humanitarian assistance, grant and credit-financed projects, community projects, defence and security cooperation, and ITEC training. It is based on the MEA bilateral brief of June 2026.

Scale of the partnership

The brief describes India as a traditional developmental partner of Maldives whose development cooperation has expanded rapidly in recent years. According to the MEA brief of June 2026, projects worth over USD 2 billion are under implementation or already implemented across the atolls of Maldives under Indian Lines of Credit, Buyers Credit and grant assistance.

Humanitarian assistance

The brief records that India was the first to assist Maldives during the 2004 Tsunami and during the water crisis in Malé in Dec 2014. India also provided rapid and comprehensive assistance to Maldives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In June 2026, 20,000 doses of Measles-Rubella vaccine and 3 tonnes of medicines, consumables, diagnostic kits and PPE kits were delivered to Maldives. During the State Visit of July 2025, Prime Minister Modi handed over two BHISHM Cubes to President Muizzu.

Major completed projects

  • Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH): built with Indian grant assistance in 1995. A major renovation funded by the Government of India was completed in June 2017 at a cost of INR 52 Cr, and the late EAM Smt Sushma Swaraj dedicated it to the people of Maldives on 17-18 March 2019.
  • Maldives Institute of Technical Education (now the Maldives Polytechnic): the MoU was signed in March 1992; it was completed at a cost of INR 12 Cr and handed over in Sept 1996.
  • India-Maldives Faculty of Hospitality & Tourism Studies: the foundation stone was laid by the late PM Vajpayee and President Gayoom in Sept 2002. Built with Indian grant assistance of INR 64.5 Crore, it was handed over in Feb 2014.
  • Technology Adoption Programme in Education Sector in Maldives: a USD 5.3 million project fully funded by India, launched in June 2011 for ICT and vocational training of Maldivian teachers and youth, and concluded in Dec 2013.
  • National College for Police and Law Enforcement (NCPLE): with grant funding of INR 222.98 Crore, it is the single-largest grant project executed by India in Maldives. EAM Dr S. Jaishankar inaugurated it in March 2022.
  • Addu Reclamation Project: under an Indian LoC of $ 80 mn, 190 ha of land has been reclaimed in Addu city. The project was inaugurated on 11 August 2024 during the EAM's visit.
  • MIFCO expansion at Gemanafushi: completed and inaugurated on 27 February 2025, with a 50 tons/day ice plant and a landing craft able to carry 8-10 shipping containers, supporting the fishers of southern Maldives.

Community development projects

According to the brief, there are 78 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) under grant assistance, with a total grant of $ 361 mn. Of these, 32 have been completed and inaugurated and the rest are ongoing. They include community centres, youth centres, outdoor gyms and children's parks, coastal protection, street lighting, a student ferry, vehicles for city councils, police and sports infrastructure, inclusive education units, school classrooms and an emergency health unit.

In August 2024 the EAM inaugurated six HICDPs in the areas of mental health, special education, speech therapy and street lighting. In May 2025, 13 MoUs were signed for enhancing ferry services with an MVR 100 mn grant under phase-III. In July 2025 the Prime Minister inaugurated six more: outdoor gyms at Addu Hithadhoo Rasgedhara, Addu Hithadhoo Beyrumathi and Gdh Vaidhoo, a youth centre at Ga. Gemanafushi, a volley court at Sh. Kanditheem and a small scale fish processing plant at S. Hithadhoo.

Projects under Lines of Credit

A USD 800 mn LoC agreement between the Ministry of Finance of Maldives and EXIM Bank of India was signed in March 2019. During President Solih's visit in August 2022, India announced the extension of a USD 100 mn Line of Credit for infrastructure projects, and a supplementary LoC was signed in Oct 2022. Projects under these LoCs include:

  • Water and Sanitation on 34 Islands: water supply and sewerage networks, with 28 islands handed over during the EAM's visit in August 2024.
  • Addu City Development Project (Roads & Drainage): roads, street lighting, storm water drainage and shore protection, which the brief describes as needed for Addu to establish itself as the southern regional hub of Maldives.
  • MIFCO facilities at Felivaru and Gemanafushi: the brief notes that MIFCO has the capacity to add value to 40% of the collection, while the rest is exported as frozen tuna, which has made that export a loss-making operation. The Gemanafushi works are complete and work is in progress at Felivaru.
  • Airport redevelopment at Hanimaadhoo and Gan: the Hanimadhoo project has been inaugurated and the Gan project is, in the brief's words, progressing well.

During his visit to Addu city on 11 August 2024, the EAM also inaugurated the Addu Detour Link Bridge Project. During the State Visit of July 2025, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Addu Roads Project.

The Greater Male Connectivity Project will connect Male to Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi islands through bridges, causeways and roads. It is funded through a separate USD 400 million LoC and a USD 100 million grant from India, and is monitored by a Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC).

Projects under Buyer's Credit

On 23 Sept 2021, EXIM Bank of India concluded two agreements with Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation Ltd (FDC) to extend Buyers Credit of approx. USD 227 million for 4000 social housing units in Hulhumale' Phase II: 2800 three-bedroom and 1200 two-bedroom units. NBCC and JMC Projects (India) Ltd are building them. Prime Minister Modi handed over 700 units during the October 2024 State Visit and 3300 units to President Muizzu in July 2025.

Earlier, EXIM Bank extended around $53 million in Buyers' Credit to a Mohan Mutha-Ashoka Buildcon JV for roads in Hulhumale' Phase I & II. That project has been completed.

Defence and security cooperation

The brief states that defence and security has been a major area of cooperation since 1988. A comprehensive Action Plan for Defence was signed in April 2016. India provides the largest number of training opportunities for the MNDF, meeting around 70% of its defence training requirements, and has trained over 1500 MNDF trainees over the past 10 years at institutions such as NDA, IMA, OTA, INA, AFMC, DSSC and NDC.

The Indian Navy has provided the MNDF with air assets, and around 630 MEDEVACs, SAR operations and medical team transfers have been conducted since 2019. A team of Indian medical specialists serves at MNDF's Senahiya Hospital in Malé. Key defence projects include the CTC, the CRS, construction of the new Ministry of Defence Headquarters and construction of the "Ekatha" MNDF harbour.

In July 2025, the Prime Minister and President Muizzu jointly inaugurated the Ministry of Defence building built with Indian grant assistance, and 72 vehicles were handed over to the Ministry of Defence of Maldives. The August 2022 announcements included a replacement for the ship CGS Huravee, the second Landing Craft Assault (LCA) and 24 utility vehicles for the MNDF.

The annual Defence Cooperation Dialogue (DCD) at Defence Secretary level began in July 2016. The 5th DCD in September 2024 was co-chaired by Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy during his visit to India, and the 6th was held in Maldives from 6-7 October 2025. Annual Joint Staff Talks began in February 2016, with the 8th edition in India in August 2025.

The four major joint exercises are "Ekuverin" and "Ekatha" (bilateral), "Dosti" (trilateral, with Sri Lanka) and Ex HADR, the maiden bilateral edition of which was held in May 2025. Ekuverin and Ekatha were held in India and Malé respectively in Dec 2025, and the 17th edition of Dosti took place in Maldives from 16 to 19 January 2026. The MNDF took part in the multilateral exercise PRAGATI 2026 at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya, in May 2026.

In disaster management, India provided pollution dispersant to the MNDF Coast Guard in 2016 and is training the MNDF Fire and Rescue Service. A Maldives NDMA delegation visited India from 05 to 08 January 2026 to interact with India's NDMA.

Training under ITEC

Maldives has been an ITEC partner for several years. In-person ITEC slots were raised to 200 in 2019-20, and 174 and 200+ slots were used in 2022-23 and 2023-24 respectively. For 2024-25, the allocation was increased from 200 to 300, and over 150 Maldivians had been trained in 2025-26 as of the brief. Since 2019, over 4200 Maldivians have attended in-person training in India, and more than 1700 virtual training slots have been used.