SCO (Regional Groupings).
Syllabus: UPSC Mains GS2: India & neighbourhood, groupings, international institutions, diaspora
SCO for UPSC: Shanghai Five, 2001 founding, ten members, RATS in Tashkent, India's 2017 entry and 2023 presidency, terrorism, BRI and Central…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at the 25th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 19–20 October 2026. This is the SCO’s second-highest body, and it looks after trade, economy, connectivity and the Organisation’s budget. The last CHG met in Moscow on 18 November 2025, where External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke for India.
UPSC angle: Prelims: SCO members, bodies (CHS, CHG, RATS), founding year, CHG venue. · Mains GS-II: India and regional groupings, Central Asia.
18 Oct 2026
The 25th meeting of SCO ministers responsible for foreign economic and trade activities was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 17 September 2026. India stressed three pillars, Security, Connectivity and Opportunity, and called for paperless trade and stronger supply chains. Ministers agreed on an Action Plan for 2026 to 2030; the next meeting will be in Uzbekistan in 2027.
UPSC angle: Prelims: SCO members; host cities 2026.
18 Sep 2026
PSH protects India's MSP procurement from WTO subsidy challenges.
UPSC angle: Prelims: SCO trade share. · Mains: India at WTO.
7 Sep 2025
India used the forum to put terrorism on record while staying engaged on connectivity, but kept to projects it backs (Chabahar, INSTC).
UPSC angle: Prelims: SCO presidency, Tianjin Declaration. · Mains: India in Eurasian groupings.
1 Sep 2025
The agenda shows how the thaw is being built: pilgrimages and flights first, with river data and trade curbs still pending.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Kailash Manasarovar Yatra routes (Lipulekh, Nathu La). · Mains: India-China normalisation after 2024 disengagement.
14 Jul 2025
SCO consensus is hard with Pakistan in.
UPSC angle: Prelims: RATS.
26 Jun 2025