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Context

• The Maldives Cabinet decided against renewing a Memorandum of Understanding with India for cooperation in hydrography.

What is Hydrography?

• It is the science of studying oceans, seas, and other water bodies, by compiling and analyzing data, maps, and charts.
• Branching off from applied sciences, it looks at measuring and describing the physical attributes of water bodies and predicting how they might change over time.
• While it is said to be undertaken primarily for the safety of navigation, it also supports other activities, such as economic development, security and defence, scientific research, and environmental protection.
• Hydrographical measurements include tidal, current, and wave information. 

What is India’s expertise?

• India has been an active member of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) since 1955.
• The Indian Naval Hydrographic Department (INHD), or the Marine Survey of India earlier, was established in 1874 in Kolkata. It is the nodal agency for hydrographic surveys and has a fleet of indigenously built modern survey ships.
• India partners with many countries in the Indian Ocean Region and African and East Asian countries such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Maldives, Mozambique, Vietnam, Myanmar, Kenya, and Sri Lanka.
• According to the INHD, its role has broadened over time, owing to the heightening global character of hydrography and “its growing potential as a force multiplier” in terms of maritime diplomacy.
• Personnel from 39 countries have trained at the National Institute of Hydrography, functioning under the INHD.

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