Previous Year Question
Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):
The inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among the navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Only 1
Only 2
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is incorrect. The inaugural conference of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium—IONS was held not in 2015 but in New Delhi in February 2008. It was launched as an initiative of the Indian Navy, and India held its initial chairmanship.
Statement 2 is correct. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among the navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
It provides an open and inclusive forum for discussing regional maritime issues. It aims to promote information exchange, mutual understanding and practical cooperative solutions among naval professionals.
The areas of cooperation under IONS include maritime security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief—HADR, information sharing, interoperability, Search and Rescue and coordination against maritime threats.
Current status: India assumed the Chairmanship of IONS from the Royal Thai Navy on 20 February 2026. Thirty-three countries participated in the ninth IONS Conclave of Chiefs held in Visakhapatnam, and India assumed the Chairship after a gap of 16 years.