About SCO

• After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up.

• Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Republic) and Tajikistan is popularly known as Shanghai Five.

• They had come together in the post-Soviet era in 1996.
• In order to work on regional security reduction of border troops, and terrorism.
• Subsequently, a permanent intergovernmental international organisation called SCO was founded in June 2001.
• It is the Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• Its membership was expanded to include India and Pakistan in 2017. 

SCO Secretariat

• The SCO Secretariat, based in Beijing, is the main permanent executive body of the SCO. 
• Bringing together the colorful and distinctive cultures of Central and South Asia, China and Russia it promotes mutual assistance and team spirit.
• The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General.
• Nominated by the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and approved by the Heads of State Council.
• The Secretary-General is appointed for a single three-year term with no possibility of extension.

Secretary General SCO – Zhang Ming

SCO – RATS

• The SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure established by the member states of the Shanghai Convention to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism of 15 June 2001 located in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic.
• The Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of SCO is the permanent body of the SCO RATS based in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

Significance of RATS

• Fight against ‘Three evils’: Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism with help of SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).
• Improvement of Practical Skills, Joint Anti-Terrorism exercises are conducted Through Law Enforcement agencies and the Armed Forces.

Members of SCO- PICK TURKEY

• P- Pakistan
• I- India
• C- China
• K- Kyrgyzstan
• T- Tajikistan
• U- Uzbekistan
• R- Russia
• K- Kazakhstan

SCO- Heads of State Council

• The SCO Heads of State Council shall be the supreme SCO body. 
• It shall determine priorities and define major areas of activities of the Organisation.
• It will decide upon the fundamental issues of its internal arrangement and functioning and its interaction with other States and international organisations.
• The Council shall hold its regular meetings once a year. 
• A meeting of the Heads of State Council shall be chaired by the head of State organizing this regular meeting.
• The venue of a regular meeting of the Council shall generally be determined in the Russian alphabetic order of names of the SCO member states.

India & SCO

• India and the region were inextricably bound with each other from 3rd century BC to 15th century AD through the Silk Road.
• It served as the conduit of communication.
• It also aided trading in several commodities, including textiles, spices, tea, fur, bronze and others.
• India joined SCO as a full member in 2017.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the acronym SECURE in order to facilitate comprehensive security in the SCO region.

SECURE

• S stands for the security of citizens
• E for economic development for all
• C is for connecting the region
• U is for uniting our people
• R is for respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity
• E is for environmental protection

Additional Information

• There are four Observer States interested in acceding to full membership (Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia).
• There are  six “Dialogue Partners” (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey).
• In 2021, the decision was made to start the accession process of Iran to the SCO as a full member. 

Cooperation with UN

• On 2 December 2004, the 59th plenary session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution А/RES/59/48 entitled “Observer status for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in the General Assembly.” 
• The resolution provided the SCO with the right to participate in the sessions and work of the General Assembly as an observer.

Presidency to India- 2023

• In a rotational presidency, New Delhi will preside over the SCO from 2022 to 2023. 
• SCO Presidency 2022- Samarkand, Uzbekistan
• Since India has flagged many important ideas pertaining to food security, connectivity and economic development in the SCO.
• India must seize this opportunity to demonstrate its cultural and historical linkages to the SCO members, particularly the Central Asian republics.

Cultural Capital – Varanasi

• Varanasi, one of the world’s most ancient and continuously inhabited cities, is known as Banaras or Kashi. 
• With India’s presidency of SCO, Varanasi has also obtained the rotating title of ‘Cultural and Tourism Capital’ for the SCO region. 
• Varanasi is known as the cultural capital of India and is associated with spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, and yoga. 

 

➡️UPSC 2023 General Studies Course: https://sleepyclasses.com/general-studies-for-upsc/

➡️Sociology Optional for UPSC : https://sleepyclasses.com/sociology-for-upsc/

➡️Political Science and IR for UPSC: https://sleepyclasses.com/psir-for-upsc/

➡️Signup here – https://sleepyclasses.com/

Have any query related to UPSC preparation:  📞Contact Us ► Toll-Free: 1800 890 3043 ► Mobile: 6280133177 ► Email: Sleepy.Classes@gmail.com ► WhatsApp: 6280133177