- Why in news
- On 20 Feb 2026, at the 9th IONS Conclave of Chiefs in Visakhapatnam, the Indian Navy took over the IONS Chairmanship from the Royal Thai Navy.
- What it is
- The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium is a voluntary forum of navies of Indian Ocean littoral states. It was launched by India in 2008 to build maritime cooperation, shared understanding and trust. It works through a rotating Chair and working groups, and the Chair is held by a member navy for about two years.
- Chair change
- India took the IONS Chair from the Royal Thai Navy, returning after 16 years.
- First chair
- India held the inaugural Chairmanship from 2008 to 2010.
- Working groups
- The Chair's vision stresses three Working Groups: Maritime Security, HADR, and Information Sharing and Interoperability.
- Membership changes
- The Philippines was included as an Observer, and Oman joined the HADR Working Group.
- India's agenda
- India plans the IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX), continued IOS SAGAR deployments and Maritime Information Sharing Workshops.
Don’t confuse with IONS vs IORA: IONS is a forum of navies; IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) is an intergovernmental body for economic and regional cooperation.
Don’t confuse with IONS vs Milan: Milan is an Indian Navy-hosted multilateral naval exercise at Visakhapatnam; IONS is a standing forum with a rotating Chair.
International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.
Why it matters
- Gives India a lead role in shaping Indian Ocean maritime norms and security cooperation.
- Supports India's SAGAR/MAHASAGAR outreach and its role as a net security provider.
Problems
- Voluntary, non-binding forum: outcomes depend on member will.
- Members' differing strategic interests and great-power rivalry in the Indian Ocean.
Way forward
- Strengthen working groups with regular exercises such as IMEX and information sharing.
- Widen participation and build interoperability, especially in HADR.
Put in your answer
IMEX and IOS SAGAR: India's planned IMEX and IOS SAGAR deployments show operational cooperation in practice.
- 2017Prelims Q68Statements on IONS's 2015 inaugural meeting and its voluntary maritime cooperation nature
- 2022Mains GS3 · Q10Maritime security challenges in India and initiatives to improve maritime security
- 2025Mains GS3 · Q20Why maritime security protects India's sea trade; challenges and way forward
- 2026Mains GS2 · Q9Critically assess IPMDA as a bridge between SAGAR and Quad strategy
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.