UPSC Prelims 2017 – Question 68

Q68. 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

The correct answer is 2 only. 

• Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) 

• IONS is a voluntary initiative that aims to increase maritime cooperation among the navies of the Indian Ocean Region’s littoral states by providing an inclusive and open forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues. Hence, statement 2 is correct. 
• The Indian Navy presided over the first IONS Seminar in 2008. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect. 
• 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. 
• The IONS Chairmanship will be rotated to France in 2020 and Thailand in 2022. 
• IONS consists of 24 nations that permanently hold territory abutting or lying within the Indian Ocean, as well as 8 observer nations. 

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