'Virus of Conflict is affecting the functioning of the SCO' In the light of the above statement point out the role of India in mitigating the problems.
Approach · directive: “point out”
What it asks · Identify the conflicts that hamper the SCO and describe what India does, and can do, to ease them.
It asks 2 things — answer each
- Explain the 'virus of conflict': the rivalries that hamper the SCO's functioning
- Point out India's role in mitigating these problems, and its limits
Open with · At Samarkand in September 2022, India's Prime Minister told Russia's President that today's era is not of war; members' conflicts stall a consensus-based SCO.
Cover
- Conflicts: India-China border tensions, Pakistan's cross-border terrorism, the Ukraine war, and divisions over China's Belt and Road Initiative.
- Counter-terrorism: India presses zero tolerance and works through the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).
- Principled connectivity: India did not endorse the BRI in the 2023 declaration; it offers Chabahar and the INSTC.
- SECURE: coined at the 2018 summit; India's July 2023 virtual summit took the theme Towards a SECURE SCO.
- Low-conflict pillars: startups and innovation, traditional medicine, digital inclusion, youth empowerment, shared Buddhist heritage; Varanasi as first SCO Cultural and Tourist Capital (2022-23).
- Limits: India's own disputes with China and Pakistan restrict mediation; it balances the SCO with the Quad and BRICS.
Close with · India can contain the virus by anchoring the SCO to shared threats and goals while defending sovereignty: SECURE, not confrontation.
Add value (verified)
- Samarkand SCO summit, 16 September 2022: PM Modi told President Putin that 'today's era is not of war' (MEA's English translation of his opening remarks).English Translation of Opening Remarks by Prime Minister at the bilateral meeting with President of Russia, Samarkand, 16 September 2022 - Ministry of External Affairs (web.archive.org copy) ↗“I know that today's era is not of war and we have spoken to you many times on the phone”
- India's first-ever SCO chairmanship: 23rd summit, virtual, 4 July 2023, theme 'Towards a SECURE SCO'; SECURE coined at the 2018 summit.Embassy of India, Beijing: India's initiatives in SCO ↗“The theme of the Summit was Towards a SECURE SCO. The SECURE acronym was coined by the Prime Minister at the 2018 SCO Summit and stands for Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity; and Environment.”
- Varanasi was the first-ever SCO Cultural and Tourist Capital for 2022-23.Embassy of India, Beijing: India's initiatives in SCO ↗“the various socio-cultural events hosted by Varanasi under the framework of the first-ever SCO Cultural and Tourist Capital for 2022-23.”
- New Delhi Declaration (July 2023): the other members reaffirmed support for China's BRI; India did not endorse it.Onmanorama (Malayala Manorama) report, 5 July 2023 ↗“refused to endorse the project once again on Tuesday. A declaration issued at the end of an India-hosted virtual summit of the grouping said Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their support to the BRI.”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2023, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 208words · Minimalist IAS
At Samarkand in September 2022, India's Prime Minister told Russia's President that 'today's era is not of war'. The line captures the SCO's malaise: members carry their conflicts into a body that works by consensus.
The virus of conflict, and India's response
| Conflict | Effect on SCO | India's response |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-border terrorism | Divides security agenda | Zero tolerance via RATS |
| China's Belt and Road | Splits connectivity agenda | Sovereignty first; INSTC, Chabahar |
| Ukraine war; India–China border | Strains consensus | Dialogue and diplomacy |
India's role in mitigating the problems
- Shared agenda: the SECURE idea, coined at the 2018 summit: Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity; Environment.
- First-ever chairmanship: hosted the virtual summit of 4 July 2023 on the theme Towards a SECURE SCO.
- Low-conflict pillars: startups and innovation, traditional medicine, digital inclusion, youth empowerment and shared Buddhist heritage.
- People-to-people ties: Varanasi was the first SCO Cultural and Tourist Capital (2022-23).
- Principled stand: India did not endorse the BRI in the 2023 New Delhi Declaration, defending sovereignty without blocking consensus.
Limits
- India's own disputes with China and Pakistan restrict its role as a mediator.
India can contain the virus by anchoring the SCO to shared threats and goals, terrorism, connectivity and trade, while defending its sovereignty: SECURE, not confrontation.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
