- Why in news
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead India's delegation to the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on April 28, 2026 (announced April 27, 2026).
- What it is
- The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is an intergovernmental body of Eurasian states. It was set up in 2001 and works on regional security, counter-terrorism, defence and economic cooperation. Its defence ministers meet each year to discuss security issues.
- Founding
- The SCO was established on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai, China.
- Members
- The release lists ten members: India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus.
- India's role
- India became a full member in 2017 and took the rotating chairmanship in 2023.
- Agenda
- Peace, counter-terrorism and defence cooperation among members are on the agenda.
- Headquarters
- The SCO Secretariat is in Beijing, and its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is in Tashkent.
Don’t confuse with SCO vs BRICS: SCO is a Eurasian security and economic grouping set up in 2001. BRICS is an emerging-economy forum with a different membership and focus.
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
- The SCO gives India a platform to raise terrorism and engage Central Asia, Russia and China.
- Bilateral talks on the sidelines allow defence diplomacy, including with Pakistan and China.
Problems
- India's interests diverge from China's and Pakistan's within the grouping.
- West Asia turmoil and the Russia-China tilt can limit consensus on security language.
Way forward
- Use the SCO to press for a firm stance on cross-border terrorism while keeping strategic autonomy.
- Build connectivity and energy links with Central Asia through bilateral channels.
Put in your answer
India's SCO timeline: Full member since 2017 and chair in 2023: an example of India's growing role in Eurasian multilateralism.
India's stance on terrorism: India maintains zero tolerance for terrorism and extremism, a theme it will stress at the meeting.
- 2023Mains GS2 · Q9India's role in mitigating conflict problems affecting the SCO's functioning.
- 2021Mains GS2 · Q19Critically examine SCO's aims, objectives, and importance for India.
- 2022Prelims Q66Which statements about AIIB, MTCR and SCO are correct?
- 2007Prelims Q4Which country is NOT a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization?
- 2007Prelims Q34Whether China and India hold observer status at SAARC and SCO.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: SCO is a recurring Prelims topic (international bodies 61 of 327 questions). Release gives founding date, members and India's chair year. Meeting itself has no debate for Mains.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.