Q. 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 co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b) 2 only

Indian Ocean Naval Symposium:
  • The ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’ (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues.
  • It was conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008 as a forum which seeks to enhance maritime cooperation among Navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
  • The inaugural edition of IONS was held in Feb. 2008 at New Delhi, with the Indian Navy as the Chair for two years (2008 – 2010). 
  • Subsequent seminars and meetings of the ‘Conclave of Chiefs’ have been held at the commencement of each two year IONS Chairmanship:
    • United Arab Emirates in 2010,
    • South Africa in 2012,
    • Australia in 2014,
    • Bangladesh in 2016 and
    • Iran in 2018.
  • In 2020 the IONS Chairmanship rotates to France and in 2022 to Thailand.
  • IONS includes 24 nations that permanently hold territory that abuts or lies within the Indian Ocean and 8 observer nations.
    • The members have been geographically grouped into the following four sub-regions:
      • South Asian Littorals: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom (British Indian Ocean Territory)
      • West Asian Littorals: Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates
      • East African Littorals: France (Reunion), Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania.
      • South East Asian and Australian Littorals: Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
  • It endeavours to generate a flow of information between naval professionals that would lead to common understanding and possibly cooperative solutions on the way ahead.
  • Significance For India:
    • IONS fits into India’s three-fold ambitions in the region:
      • Strengthening and deepening the relations with the Indian Ocean littoral states,
      • Establishing its leadership potential and aspirations of being a net-security provider, and
      • Fulfilling India’s vision of a rules-based and stable maritime order in the IOR.
    • It will help India to consolidate its sphere of influence from the Straits of Malacca to Hormuz.
    • IONS can be used to counterbalance the increasing presence of China in the region.
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

Q. What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?

(a) India’s trade with African countries will enormously increase.

(b) India’s relations with oil producing Arab countries will be strengthened.

(c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

(d) Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India

Answer: (c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Chabahar Port:
  • The Chabahar port project was signed in 2003.
  • Chabahar Port is situated in Sistan and Baluchistan province in the Southeastern part of Iran, on the Gulf of Oman. 
  • In December 2018, India took over the operations of the Port.
  • It was being operated by India Ports Global Private Limited.
  • India’s first shipment of wheat to Afghanistan was sent through Chabahar Port.
  • India began building a railway line between Chabahar port and Zahedan as a part of the North-South Transport Corridor.
  • It has been a symbol of traditionally important geopolitical significance of Chabahar port for India-Iran ties
  • Boost trade ties, diplomatic ties and military ties with Iran.
  • Provides India with better connectivity to Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan.
  • It will be the gateway to the International North-South Transport Corridor which is a combination of road, rail and sea routes connecting Russia, Europe, Central Asia, Iran and India.
  • India can carry out humanitarian operations from this port if the necessity arises.
  • This port is simply 170 km away from Gwadar port operated by China in Pakistan, hence this port would be of strategic importance to Indian Navy and defence establishment.
Chabahar Port

Q. Consider the following statements:

1. The Nuclear Security Summits are periodically held under the aegis of the United Nations.
2. The International Panel on Fissile Materials is an organ of International Atomic Energy Agency.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: d) Neither 1 nor 2

Nuclear Security Summit (NSS):
  • Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) is an initiative that was announced by the United States in 2009.
  • It is a global submit to check nuclear terrorism all over the world.
  • The United States’ president Barack Obama has coined this concept of Nuclear Security Summit.
  • The first Nuclear Security Summit was held in 2010 at Washington DC.
  • Aim of Nuclear Security Summit:
    • To secure fissile materials from being misused.
    • Minimization of the use of highly Enriched Uranium (HEU.)
    • Proposal and implementation of improved and transparent national regulations to aid security at nuclear facilities.
    • Improvement in the membership of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
    • Reduce and final end illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive materials.
International Panel on Fissile Materials
  • It was established in January 2006. 
  • It is a group of independent nuclear experts from 17 countries: Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • It aims to advance international initiatives to “secure and to sharply reduce all stocks of highly enriched uranium and separated plutonium, the key materials in nuclear weapons, and to limit any further production”.
  • The International Panel on Fissile Materials is a non-governmental organisation comprised of experts in arms control and non-proliferation.
  • It includes experts from both nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states. 
  • The Panel produces an annual Global Fissile Material Report which summarizes new information on fissile material stocks and production worldwide, as well as periodic research reports.