"India Deepens Central Asia Engagement via SCO Summit and Bilateral Visits"
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Eurasian multilateral grouping founded 2001; India joined as full member in 2017.
Shanghai Spirit
SCO's founding philosophy: mutual trust, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilisations.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) traces its origins to the Shanghai Five, formed in 1996 among China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan to resolve post-Soviet border disputes and build mutual trust in the Eurasian space. In 2001, Uzbekistan joined and the grouping was formally reconstituted as the SCO. Its founding philosophy, the "Shanghai Spirit", emphasises mutual trust, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilisations, and pursuit of common development. The organisation's core security mandate targets the "three evils": terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
India's engagement with Central Asia predates its SCO membership. The five republics — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — emerged as independent states after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, and India established diplomatic ties with all five rapidly. New Delhi formalised its regional ambitions through the 12-point "Connect Central Asia" policy announced in 2012, followed by a landmark visit to all five republics in 2015. India became a full SCO member in 2017, alongside Pakistan, bringing total membership to eight at that time. The SCO has since expanded to ten full members and fifteen dialogue partners.
A fundamental geographic constraint has always shaped India's Central Asia strategy: India shares no direct land border with the region. The natural overland route passes through Pakistan, which remains closed due to bilateral tensions, while Afghanistan — the alternative land bridge — has remained unstable for decades. These structural realities have driven India to develop alternative connectivity instruments, though each has faced its own limitations.
Central Asia's strategic importance for India rests on multiple pillars. The region is exceptionally resource-rich — Kazakhstan alone holds one of the world's largest uranium reserves alongside coal, lead, and zinc — making it critical for India's energy security and supply chain diversification. The SCO is the only major multilateral platform where India engages simultaneously with China, Russia, Pakistan, and the Central Asian republics, giving it unique diplomatic utility despite the tensions it contains.
To circumvent the Pakistan and Afghanistan connectivity barriers, India developed two key instruments. The Chabahar Port in Iran offers a sea-land route bypassing Pakistan entirely. The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) — a 7,200-kilometre multi-modal route combining sea, rail, and road transport — connects Indian ports through Iran, then northward via Azerbaijan and Russia into Central Asia and Europe. …
India, is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multi-modal transport corridor. This corridor will connect
What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?
Consider the following countries:
1.Azerbaijan
2.Kyrgyzstan
3.Tajikistan
4.Turkmenistan
5.Uzbekistan
Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan?
A number of outside powers have entrenched themselves in Central Asia, which is a zone of interest to India. Discuss the implications, in this context, of India's joining the Ashgabat Agreement, 2018.
Critically analyse India's evolving diplomatic, economic and strategic relations with the Central Asian Republics (CARs) highlighting their increasing significance in regional and global geopolitics.
Consider the following statements regarding the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC):
1.India is a founding member of the INSTC.
2.The INSTC connects India to Central Asia and Europe via Iran.
3.The INSTC is a purely rail-based transport corridor.
4.The Ashgabat Agreement and the INSTC share Iran as a common transit country.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Match the following Central Asian Republics with their primary natural resource endowments:
List I (Country) — List II (Primary Resource)
A.Kazakhstan — 1. One of the world's largest natural gas reserves
B.Turkmenistan — 2. Significant hydropower potential
C.Tajikistan — 3. One of the world's largest uranium reserves
D.Kyrgyz Republic — 4. Gold and hydropower
Consider the following statements about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):
1.India became a full member of the SCO in 2017.
2.The SCO currently has 10 full member states.
3.Afghanistan is currently a full member of the SCO.
4.The SCO originated as the 'Shanghai Five' in 1996.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Which of the following Central Asian Republics share a border with Afghanistan?
1.Kazakhstan
2.Kyrgyzstan
3.Tajikistan
4.Turkmenistan
5.Uzbekistan
Select the correct answer using the code below:
Consider the following statements about India's 'Connect Central Asia' policy and related diplomatic milestones:
1.India announced the Connect Central Asia policy in 2012.
2.India joined the Ashgabat Agreement in 2018.
3.Central Asian leaders were invited to India's Republic Day celebrations in January 2022.
4.India joined the SCO as a full member in 2015.
How many of the above statements are correct?
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