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?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 2 only
The inaugural IONS was held in New Delhi in February 2008, not 2015, so statement 1 is wrong. IONS is a voluntary forum that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among the navies of Indian Ocean littoral states, so statement 2 is correct.
- ✗ 1. The inaugural IONS took place in New Delhi in February 2008, with the Indian Navy as Chair for two years (2008–2010). The year 2015 is wrong, although the Indian Navy did chair the first edition.
- ✓ 2. IONS calls itself a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region, offering an open and inclusive forum on regional maritime issues.
Remember · IONS: launched by the Indian Navy in 2008 (New Delhi); a voluntary, open forum of Indian Ocean littoral navies with a rotating Chair.
Sources
- PIB (Ministry of Defence): Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) – 2023 ↗ “The inaugural edition of IONS was held in Feb 2008 at New Delhi, with Indian Navy as the Chair for two years (2008 - 2010).”
- Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (official website): About IONS ↗ · reference work “The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·