SCO and India

1. Introduction

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental regional organisation established on 15 June 2001 with the objective of promoting regional security, political cooperation, economic development, and cultural exchanges among the countries of Eurasia. Evolving from the Shanghai Five (1996), the SCO has grown into one of the world’s largest regional organisations in terms of geographical coverage and population, comprising 10 member states, including major powers such as China, Russia, and India. Its guiding philosophy, known as the Shanghai Spirit, emphasises mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and common development. SCO and India has therefore become an important subject in India’s foreign policy and regional engagement.

For SCO and India, the organisation serves as an important platform to strengthen engagement with Central Asia, enhance counter-terrorism cooperation, improve energy and connectivity partnerships, and participate in shaping a multipolar world order. Since becoming a full member in 2017, India has actively contributed to the organisation by promoting cooperation in areas such as digital public infrastructure, start-ups, traditional medicine, and regional stability. At the same time, India seeks to safeguard its strategic interests within the SCO while addressing challenges arising from issues such as cross-border terrorism, the China-Pakistan nexus, and connectivity initiatives that violate its sovereignty. SCO and India Relations have consequently acquired greater importance for understanding India’s engagement with Eurasia.

2. Evolution of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• The origins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) can be traced to the Shanghai Five, established in 1996 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The evolution of SCO and India Relations can be understood in the broader context of this transformation.
• The primary objective of the Shanghai Five was to resolve border disputes, promote confidence-building measures, and maintain peace and stability along the borders following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
• On 15 June 2001, Uzbekistan joined the grouping, leading to the formal establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Shanghai, China.
• Initially, the SCO focused on combating the “Three Evil Forces”—terrorism, separatism, and extremism—while promoting regional security and political stability.
• Over time, the organisation expanded its agenda to include economic cooperation, trade, connectivity, energy security, digital cooperation, cultural exchanges, education, and people-to-people contacts.
• The SCO has witnessed gradual expansion of its membership:
• India and Pakistan became full members in 2017.
• Iran became a full member in 2023.
• Belarus joined as the 10th member in 2024.
• Today, the SCO is one of the largest regional organisations in the world, representing nearly half of the global population and a significant share of the world’s landmass and natural resources.
• The organisation has evolved from a border security mechanism into a comprehensive Eurasian regional organisation, addressing issues related to security, economic development, connectivity, energy cooperation, and regional governance. India in SCO reflects this broader transformation of the organisation and India’s growing engagement with the Eurasian region.

3. Organizational Structure and Guiding Principles of SCO

• Council of Heads of State (CHS): The highest decision-making body that determines the overall direction and priorities of the organisation. SCO and India participates in this mechanism as a full member.
• Council of Heads of Government (CHG): Reviews economic cooperation, trade, budgetary matters, and implementation of development initiatives.
• Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM): Coordinates foreign policy issues and prepares the agenda for the Heads of State Summit. SCO and India Relations are also strengthened through India’s participation in such ministerial-level engagements.
• Council of National Coordinators (CNC): Ensures coordination and implementation of decisions taken by various SCO bodies.
• SCO Secretariat: Located in Beijing, China, it serves as the permanent administrative organ of the organisation.
• Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): Headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, it coordinates cooperation against terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
• Shanghai Spirit: The guiding philosophy of the SCO based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and common development.
• Three Evil Forces: The SCO identifies terrorism, separatism, and extremism as the primary threats to regional peace and security.
• Decision-Making: All major decisions in the SCO are taken through consensus, ensuring equal participation of all member states. SCO Significance for India is also linked to India’s ability to participate in this consensus-based regional framework.

4. Objectives and Areas of Cooperation

• Regional Security: Strengthen peace and stability by combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, the three principal security threats identified by the SCO. SCO and India supports cooperation in these areas.
• Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: Enhance intelligence sharing, joint exercises, and capacity building through the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).
• Economic Cooperation: Promote trade, investment, industrial collaboration, and sustainable economic growth among member states.
• Connectivity: Improve regional connectivity through transport corridors, logistics networks, and multimodal infrastructure while facilitating cross-border trade.
• Energy Cooperation: Encourage collaboration in oil, natural gas, renewable energy, critical minerals, and regional energy security. SCO and India Relations are important in this area because India seeks greater engagement with resource-rich Eurasian countries.
• Science and Technology: Promote cooperation in innovation, digital economy, artificial intelligence, start-ups, and emerging technologies.
• Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges: Strengthen cooperation in education, tourism, youth exchanges, traditional medicine, and cultural interactions to deepen mutual understanding.
• Regional Stability: Work collectively to address challenges relating to Afghanistan, transnational crime, drug trafficking, and humanitarian issues.
• Multipolar World Order: Promote an inclusive, balanced, and multipolar international order based on mutual respect, sovereign equality, and non-interference. SCO Significance for India is reflected in this objective, as it complements India’s vision of a multipolar world order.

5. India’s Journey in SCO

India’s engagement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) began in 2005, when it was granted Observer Status. This enabled India to participate in SCO meetings and engage with member countries on issues such as regional security, counter-terrorism, connectivity, and economic cooperation. Recognising India’s growing strategic importance in Eurasia, the SCO decided at the Ufa Summit (Russia) in 2015 to initiate the process of admitting India as a full member. India in SCO thus began with observer status before progressing towards full membership.

India officially became a full member of the SCO at the Astana Summit in Kazakhstan in 2017. Membership significantly enhanced India’s engagement with Central Asia, provided an institutional platform for dialogue with China, Russia, and Pakistan, and strengthened cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, regional connectivity, energy security, and economic development. It also complemented India’s Connect Central Asia Policy and its vision of a multipolar world order. SCO and India Relations consequently acquired greater strategic importance after India’s full membership.

India further strengthened its role by assuming the Chairmanship of the SCO in 2023 and hosting the 23rd SCO Summit in a virtual format. During its chairmanship, India promoted initiatives in digital public infrastructure, start-ups and innovation, traditional medicine, youth empowerment, Buddhist heritage, and sustainable development, while reiterating the need for zero tolerance towards terrorism, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and greater regional cooperation. This period further highlighted the SCO Significance for India in advancing India’s strategic and regional interests.

6. Significance of SCO for India

Strategic Significance

The SCO is one of the most significant regional organisations in Eurasia, representing 10 member states, nearly 40% of the world’s GDP (PPP), around 25% of global GDP (nominal), about 42% of the global population (over 3.5 billion people), and nearly 60% of the Eurasian landmass. This makes it an important platform for India to strengthen its strategic presence in one of the world’s most geopolitically significant regions. SCO and India therefore has considerable strategic significance.

For India, the SCO provides a unique forum to engage simultaneously with Russia, China, Iran, and the five Central Asian Republics, while also interacting with Pakistan in a structured multilateral setting. As India’s membership complements its Connect Central Asia Policy, the SCO helps New Delhi deepen political engagement with resource-rich Central Asia and enhance its influence in Eurasian affairs. SCO and India Relations therefore provide India with an important avenue for sustained regional engagement.

The SCO also supports India’s vision of a multipolar world order, where power is more evenly distributed among major countries rather than dominated by a single bloc. Active participation enables India to pursue strategic autonomy, strengthen ties with Eurasian partners, and balance its engagements across different regional and global groupings such as BRICS, G20, Quad, and SCO. SCO Significance for India is thus closely connected with India’s strategic autonomy and its broader vision of a multipolar world order.

Security Significance

Security cooperation remains the core pillar of the SCO. The organisation was originally established to combat the “Three Evil Forces”—terrorism, separatism, and extremism—which continue to pose major threats to regional peace and stability. India has consistently supported this objective and advocates a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

The SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), headquartered in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), serves as the principal institutional mechanism for intelligence sharing, capacity building, and coordination among member states to combat terrorism and transnational crime. India actively participates in RATS meetings and SCO joint counter-terrorism exercises, enhancing cooperation in intelligence exchange and best practices.

The SCO is also strategically important for India due to developments in Afghanistan, where instability, the rise of extremist organisations such as ISIS-K, drug trafficking, and cross-border terrorism have significant implications for regional security. The organisation provides India with an important diplomatic platform to coordinate with regional powers on Afghanistan and advocate stronger action against terrorism, terror financing, and radicalisation.

India has repeatedly used SCO summits to emphasise that there can be no double standards in combating terrorism and has called for decisive action against cross-border terrorism. This position aligns with India’s broader national security interests and reinforces its role as a responsible stakeholder in promoting regional peace and stability.

Economic Significance

The SCO offers India an important platform to expand trade, investment, industrial cooperation, and economic engagement with the resource-rich countries of Central Asia and Eurasia. The member countries collectively represent a vast consumer market and possess abundant reserves of oil, natural gas, uranium, rare earth minerals, and other critical resources, creating significant opportunities for India’s long-term economic growth.

The organisation also promotes cooperation in areas such as digital economy, start-ups, innovation, agriculture, MSMEs, science and technology, and sustainable development. India’s initiatives during its 2023 SCO Chairmanship, particularly in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), start-up ecosystems, and traditional medicine, have further strengthened economic cooperation among member countries. SCO and India Relation is therefore relevant for understanding India’s economic engagement with the wider Eurasian region.

Energy Security

Energy security is one of India’s primary interests in the SCO, as several member countries are among the world’s leading producers of oil, natural gas, uranium, and critical minerals. Countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Uzbekistan possess vast energy resources, making the SCO an important platform for strengthening India’s long-term energy partnerships. SCO and India therefore has significant importance for India’s energy security.

The organisation facilitates dialogue on energy cooperation, energy connectivity, renewable energy, and sustainable energy transitions. Participation in the SCO enables India to diversify its energy sources, reduce dependence on a limited number of suppliers, and secure reliable access to strategic resources required for industrial growth and the clean energy transition. SCO Significance for India is also reflected in India’s efforts to strengthen energy cooperation with resource-rich Eurasian countries.

Connectivity and Access to Central Asia

For India, the SCO serves as an important platform to strengthen connectivity with Central Asia, a region that is geographically inaccessible through direct land routes due to the absence of transit access via Pakistan. Enhanced connectivity is essential for expanding trade, investment, energy cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges with the region.

India supports connectivity initiatives that are transparent, inclusive, sustainable, and respectful of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Accordingly, India promotes projects such as the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Chabahar Port (Iran), and the Ashgabat Agreement to improve access to Central Asia and Eurasia. At the same time, India opposes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), violating India’s sovereignty. India SCO Relations BPSC is therefore important for understanding India’s connectivity interests and challenges within the

Diplomatic Significance

The SCO provides India with a valuable diplomatic platform to engage simultaneously with China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and the Central Asian Republics, thereby enhancing its influence in Eurasian affairs. It enables regular interaction through summits, ministerial meetings, National Security Advisers’ meetings, and sectoral dialogues, helping India pursue its foreign policy objectives through sustained diplomatic engagement.

The organisation also complements India’s policy of strategic autonomy by allowing it to participate in a major Eurasian grouping while remaining actively engaged in other forums such as BRICS, G20, Quad, BIMSTEC, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). This reflects India’s commitment to multi-alignment, enabling it to maintain balanced relations with diverse geopolitical partners and contribute to a multipolar world order. India in SCO therefore provides India with an important platform for maintaining strategic balance and advancing its national interests.

Regional Stability and Afghanistan

Afghanistan remains a major security concern for all SCO members due to the risks posed by terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, illegal arms trade, and humanitarian instability. Given its geographical proximity to Central Asia, developments in Afghanistan have significant implications for the security and stability of the entire Eurasian region.

The SCO provides India with an important platform to engage with regional stakeholders on the Afghan situation. India has consistently advocated for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled peace process, while emphasising the need to prevent Afghan territory from being used for terrorism against any country. India has also supported humanitarian assistance and capacity-building efforts for the Afghan people. SCO and India Relations remain important in this context because the organisation provides a forum for India to engage with key regional stakeholders on Afghanistan.

Platform for a Multipolar World Order

The SCO supports the emergence of a multipolar international order, where global governance is based on sovereign equality, mutual respect, and balanced distribution of power rather than domination by any single country or bloc. This aligns closely with India’s long-standing foreign policy objective of promoting strategic autonomy and reforming global governance institutions.

Through active participation in the SCO, India strengthens its engagement with Eurasian countries while simultaneously remaining an active member of platforms such as BRICS, G20, Quad, and BIMSTEC. This demonstrates India’s policy of multi-alignment, allowing it to cooperate with diverse partners based on national interests while contributing to regional stability and an inclusive global order. SCO for India UPSC is therefore important for understanding India’s approach to strategic autonomy and multipolarity.

7. India’s Contribution to SCO

• Counter-Terrorism: India consistently advocates zero tolerance towards terrorism, elimination of terror financing, and stronger cooperation through the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). SCO and India has consistently emphasised the importance of collective action against terrorism.
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): During its 2023 Chairmanship, India promoted cooperation in Digital Public Infrastructure to enhance inclusive and technology-driven development.
• Start-up and Innovation: India proposed greater collaboration among member states in start-ups, innovation, and entrepreneurship to promote sustainable economic growth.
• Traditional Medicine: India encouraged cooperation in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine for improving healthcare collaboration.
• Buddhist Heritage: India highlighted the shared Buddhist cultural heritage of SCO countries to strengthen people-to-people and civilisational ties.
• Environmental Sustainability: India advocated cooperation in sustainable development, climate action, renewable energy, and green growth.
• Regional Stability: India has consistently supported peace, stability, and humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, while respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Multipolar World Order: India promotes an inclusive, rules-based, and multipolar international order based on sovereign equality and mutual respect. India SCO Relations BPSC is relevant for understanding India’s contribution to the organisation and its broader foreign policy objectives.

8. Challenges and Concerns for India

China–Pakistan Factor

The China–Pakistan strategic partnership remains one of the most significant challenges for India within the SCO. China and Pakistan often share convergent strategic interests on regional and international issues, which sometimes limits India’s ability to shape the organisation’s agenda. Since both countries are permanent members of the SCO, they possess considerable influence over the organisation’s priorities and decision-making process. SCO and India Relations are therefore shaped not only by cooperation but also by these strategic rivalries.

Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism remains a major security concern for India. Although the SCO identifies terrorism, separatism, and extremism as the “Three Evil Forces,” India has repeatedly highlighted the need for zero tolerance towards terrorism and stressed that there should be no distinction between terrorists and their supporters. However, consensus among member states on addressing state-sponsored terrorism has often been difficult to achieve due to differing political positions.

China’s close diplomatic, economic, and military support to Pakistan further complicates India’s interests within the SCO. Issues such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), military cooperation, and coordinated positions in regional forums often create differences between India and the China-Pakistan bloc. Consequently, India has to balance active participation in the SCO with the need to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and strategic interests. SCO Significance for India is therefore also linked to India’s ability to manage these strategic challenges.

Despite these challenges, the SCO provides India with an important diplomatic platform to engage both China and Pakistan through dialogue, reduce misunderstandings, and present its concerns on terrorism and regional security in a multilateral setting. India’s continued participation reflects its pragmatic approach of engagement without compromising national interests. SCO for India UPSC is consequently important for understanding India’s strategic engagement within this complex regional grouping.

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC

One of the most contentious issues for India within the SCO is China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While most SCO member countries support the BRI as a means of enhancing regional connectivity and economic integration, India has consistently refused to endorse the initiative. India maintains that connectivity projects must be transparent, sustainable, financially responsible, and respectful of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

India’s principal objection relates to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), one of the flagship projects of the BRI. The corridor passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a territory that India considers an integral part of its sovereign territory. Therefore, India argues that CPEC violates its sovereignty and territorial integrity and is inconsistent with international norms governing connectivity projects.

The divergence over BRI has often prevented the adoption of unanimous declarations within the SCO. On several occasions, India has declined to endorse references supporting the BRI in SCO documents, demonstrating its firm commitment to protecting its territorial claims. Instead, India advocates alternative connectivity initiatives such as the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Chabahar Port, and the Ashgabat Agreement, which promote regional connectivity while respecting the sovereignty of all participating countries.

The BRI issue illustrates the broader strategic competition between India and China within the SCO. While India remains committed to regional connectivity and economic cooperation, it insists that such initiatives must be consultative, transparent, inclusive, environmentally sustainable, and based on universally recognised principles of international law. India SCO Relations BPSC is relevant for understanding India’s position on BRI, CPEC and connectivity within the SCO.

Cross-Border Terrorism

Cross-border terrorism remains one of India’s foremost concerns within the SCO. Although combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism is a core objective of the organisation, India has consistently highlighted the need for zero tolerance towards terrorism and called for decisive action against terror financing, safe havens, and state-sponsored terrorism. However, differing perceptions among member states, particularly regarding Pakistan-based terrorist groups, often limit the SCO’s effectiveness in addressing India’s security concerns. India continues to utilise SCO platforms to advocate comprehensive counter-terrorism cooperation through the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) while urging members to avoid double standards in combating terrorism. SCO and India Relations remain important in addressing these security concerns.

India–China Border Tensions

The unresolved India–China boundary dispute remains one of the most significant challenges affecting India’s engagement within the SCO. Although both countries cooperate in the organisation on issues such as counter-terrorism, regional stability, and economic development, their bilateral relations continue to be strained by periodic tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The situation deteriorated significantly after the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, the first fatal confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops in over four decades. Since then, both countries have witnessed repeated military stand-offs in Eastern Ladakh, leading to a trust deficit and increased military deployment along the border. These developments have adversely affected the overall bilateral relationship and reduced the scope for strategic cooperation.

China’s expanding strategic influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region, its close partnership with Pakistan, and its support for projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) further deepen India’s security concerns. These issues often overshadow cooperation within the SCO and create differences on regional and geopolitical matters.

Despite these challenges, the SCO provides an important diplomatic platform for sustained engagement between India and China. Regular interactions during SCO Summits, Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, Defence Ministers’ Meetings, and National Security Advisers’ Meetings help maintain channels of communication, reduce misunderstandings, and discuss regional security issues. India has consistently maintained that peace and tranquillity along the border are essential prerequisites for the normalisation of bilateral relations, while continuing to engage constructively within the SCO in pursuit of broader regional stability. SCO Significance for India is also reflected in the diplomatic space it provides for managing such complex regional challenges.

Consensus-Based Decision Making

The SCO follows the principle of consensus, under which all major decisions require the approval of every member state. While this ensures sovereign equality and prevents domination by any single country, it also slows the decision-making process and often limits the organisation’s ability to respond quickly to emerging regional challenges.

For India, consensus-based functioning can be particularly challenging because divergent positions among members—especially on issues such as terrorism, connectivity, and regional security—often prevent the adoption of strong and unified decisions. As a result, many important initiatives progress slowly or remain limited to broad declarations rather than concrete implementation. SCO for India UPSC is therefore important for understanding the limitations India faces within the organisation.

Limited Economic Integration

Despite its vast geographical reach and economic potential, the SCO has achieved only limited success in promoting regional economic integration. Intra-SCO trade remains relatively low, and the organisation lacks a comprehensive free trade agreement or a strong institutional framework for economic cooperation.

For India, factors such as poor regional connectivity, geographical barriers, limited transport infrastructure, and the absence of direct land access to Central Asia through Pakistan restrict the full utilisation of economic opportunities offered by the SCO. Consequently, the organisation’s economic potential remains underexploited. India SCO Relations BPSC is relevant in understanding these economic limitations and India’s efforts to expand regional economic engagement.

Divergent Strategic Priorities Among Members

The SCO comprises countries with diverse political systems, economic interests, and geopolitical priorities. While China focuses on expanding the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Russia emphasises regional security and Eurasian influence, whereas India prioritises counter-terrorism, sovereignty, and transparent connectivity. SCO and India therefore operates within a complex environment of competing strategic priorities.

These differing priorities often make it difficult to achieve consensus on key strategic issues, reducing the organisation’s effectiveness in addressing complex regional challenges. India in SCO must consequently balance cooperation with different member states while protecting its strategic interests.

Weak Institutional Capacity

Compared to organisations such as the European Union (EU) or ASEAN, the SCO has a relatively weak institutional structure with limited financial resources and implementation mechanisms. Most of its decisions are political declarations that depend on voluntary cooperation by member states.

As a result, the pace of implementation of economic, connectivity, and security initiatives remains slow, limiting the SCO’s effectiveness as a regional organisation despite its growing geopolitical importance. SCO and India Relations are therefore also affected by the organisation’s limited institutional capacity.

10. Recent Developments

• Kyrgyzstan assumed the SCO Chairmanship for 2025–26, with India continuing active participation in various SCO ministerial and sectoral meetings. SCO and India continues to remain an important platform for India’s engagement with Central Asia.
• India has reiterated that counter-terrorism must remain the SCO’s highest priority, calling for zero tolerance towards terrorism, terror financing, and cross-border terrorism.
• At recent SCO Defence Ministers’ and Foreign Ministers’ meetings, India emphasised that there should be no double standards in combating terrorism.
• India has continued to oppose the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and has reiterated that connectivity initiatives must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• India has promoted Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), start-up ecosystems, innovation, traditional medicine, and sustainable development as important areas of cooperation within the SCO.
• The SCO has continued to discuss the evolving situation in Afghanistan, focusing on terrorism, humanitarian assistance, regional stability, and drug trafficking.
• India has strengthened engagement with the Central Asian Republics through the SCO to enhance cooperation in trade, connectivity, energy security, and critical minerals.
• The organisation continues to emphasise the Shanghai Spirit, promoting mutual trust, equality, consultation, and common development among member states.
• Despite geopolitical differences among members, the SCO remains an important platform for dialogue between India, China, Russia, Pakistan, and the Central Asian countries.
• India continues to use the SCO as a platform to advance its vision of a multipolar world order, while safeguarding its strategic autonomy and national interests. India in SCO therefore remains significant for India’s wider Eurasian engagement.

11. Way Forward

• Strengthen Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: Enhance intelligence sharing through RATS, improve coordination against terrorism, terror financing, cyber threats, and transnational crime.
• Promote Sovereignty-Based Connectivity: Expand connectivity through INSTC, Chabahar Port, and the Ashgabat Agreement, while ensuring that all projects respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Deepen Economic Engagement: Increase trade, investment, digital cooperation, and industrial partnerships with Central Asian countries to fully utilise the SCO’s economic potential.
• Enhance Energy Security: Strengthen cooperation in oil, natural gas, renewable energy, uranium, and critical minerals to diversify India’s energy sources.
• Promote Regional Stability: Continue supporting peace and humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan while preventing the spread of terrorism and extremism in the region.
• Strengthen Institutional Effectiveness: Encourage greater implementation of SCO decisions through stronger institutional mechanisms and enhanced cooperation among member states.
• Maintain Strategic Autonomy: Continue engaging constructively with all SCO members while safeguarding India’s sovereignty, security, and independent foreign policy.
• Advance a Multipolar World Order: Use the SCO as a platform to promote inclusive global governance, mutual respect, and peaceful resolution of regional disputes. SCO Significance for India is reflected in these measures, which can strengthen India’s strategic and economic interests within the organisation.

12. Conclusion

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has emerged as an important regional organisation promoting security, economic cooperation, connectivity, and regional stability across Eurasia. For India, the SCO provides a valuable platform to strengthen engagement with Central Asia, enhance counter-terrorism cooperation, improve energy and connectivity partnerships, and contribute to the emergence of a multipolar world order. SCO and India therefore remains important for India’s strategic and diplomatic engagement with Eurasia.

Despite challenges arising from the China–Pakistan nexus, cross-border terrorism, border tensions with China, and differing strategic priorities among member states, India continues to engage constructively within the SCO while firmly safeguarding its sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and national interests. Going forward, India is likely to leverage the SCO to expand regional cooperation, promote sustainable connectivity, and reinforce its role as a responsible stakeholder in ensuring peace, stability, and inclusive development across Eurasia. India SCO Relations BPSC is therefore relevant for understanding India’s evolving role in the organisation.

BPSC Mains Practice Questions

Q.1. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has evolved from a regional security grouping into a comprehensive platform for political, economic, and strategic cooperation in Eurasia. Discuss the significance of the SCO for India. Also examine the opportunities and challenges it presents for India’s foreign policy.

Q.2. India’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) reflects its policy of strategic autonomy and multi-alignment. Critically examine India’s role, contributions, and concerns within the SCO in the context of the changing geopolitical landscape of Eurasia.

Q.3. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) provides India with opportunities for regional cooperation, but its effectiveness is constrained by geopolitical rivalries and divergent strategic interests among member states. Critically analyse this statement with suitable examples.

Learn More from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Readers interested in SCO and India, India’s participation in the organisation, regional security, counter-terrorism, connectivity, economic cooperation and the role of Central Asia can visit the official Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) website. The official SCO website provides information on the organisation’s structure, member states, summits, activities and major areas of cooperation.