Question 10 from UPSC CSE 2017 - Current
Affairs

Question

Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):
1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 only

Strategy: - Focus on Statement 1, which claims the inaugural IONS was in 2015.
- Use factual recall to identify 2008 as the correct year, making Statement 1 false.
- Eliminate options 'a' and 'c' based on the falsity of Statement 1.
- Evaluate Statement 2, which accurately describes IONS as a voluntary initiative for maritime cooperation.
- Conclude that with Statement 1 false and Statement 2 true, option 'b' is the correct answer.

Key Info: ### Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a significant regional maritime security initiative. It was conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008 to create a forum for the heads of navies of all littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

- **Nature and Objective:** IONS is a voluntary and inclusive initiative. Its primary objective is to enhance maritime cooperation among the navies of the IOR's littoral states. It aims to foster a common understanding of maritime security issues, promote friendly relationships, and develop effective response mechanisms to natural disasters and maritime security threats.

- **Inauguration:** The inaugural IONS seminar and conclave of chiefs were held in New Delhi, India, in February 2008. The Indian Navy chaired the symposium for its first term, from 2008 to 2010. Therefore, the year mentioned in Statement 1 (2015) is incorrect.

- **Membership and Structure:** IONS includes 25 member nations and 9 observer nations. The members are geographically grouped into four sub-regions:
    - South Asian Littorals (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka)
    - West Asian Littorals (Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen)
    - East African Littorals (Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania)
    - South-East Asian and Australian Littorals (Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste)

- **Functioning:** The chairmanship of IONS rotates biennially among its members. The symposium is held every two years. Its activities include seminars, workshops, and joint exercises, focusing on areas like Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), information sharing, and interoperability.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Both 1 and 2

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Neither 1 nor 2