Madagascar (Capital: Antananarivo)
- Minister of State of Defence represented India at the 65th anniversary celebrations of Independence Day of Madagascar
- Political Features
- Location: Situated in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa.
- Maritime borders: Comoros, France (Mayotte and Réunion), Mauritius, Mozambique and Seychelles.
- Geographical Features
- Fourth largest island in the world.
- Home to about 5% of the world's plant and animal species, about 80% of which are endemic.
- Madagascar and Indian Monsoon:
- The south-west monsoon originates near Madagascar due to the Mascarene High, pushing moisture-laden south-easterly winds toward Somalia.
- After crossing the equator, these winds deflect to become south-westerlies, heading toward India.
- The monsoon retreats via Tibet in September and finally dissipates over Madagascar, completing its cycle.