PM Modi’s SCO visit is loaded with expectations on BRICS Summit and UNSC election
2-minute summary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four-day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic marks a crucial diplomatic push to revitalize India's relations with Central Asia. Beyond the immediate Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) framework, the visit is strategically aligned with three key multilateral goals: preparing for the upcoming BRICS Summit, campaigning for India's non-permanent UN Security Council (UNSC) seat for the 2028-2029 term, and planning the long-delayed India-Central Asia Summit, which has not convened since 2022. Historically, India's engagement was formalized under the 'Connect Central Asia' policy in 2012 and energized by PM Modi's landmark 2015 tour of all five Central Asian republics. However, despite trade growing from $500 million in 2010 to over $2 billion in 2025, geopolitical shifts and connectivity barriers—such as the lack of direct land access through Pakistan—have slowed momentum. This visit aims to counter perceptions of India's waning interest and restore robust trade, energy, and security partnerships in this strategically vital region.
Why it's in the news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is undertaking a strategic four-day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic to strengthen bilateral ties, prepare for the BRICS Summit, lobby for India's 2028-2029 UNSC seat, and revive the stalled India-Central Asia Summit process.
Background and context
India's relationship with Central Asia is rooted in deep historical, cultural, and civilizational links dating back to the ancient Silk Road. In the post-Soviet era, the region's strategic location, rich mineral resources, and energy reserves made it a priority for Indian foreign policy. To institutionalize this, India launched the 'Connect Central Asia' policy in 2012, focusing on political, economic, security, and cultural cooperation. In 2015, PM Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit all five Central Asian nations in a single trip, signaling high-level commitment. However, India's trade with the region—though rising from $500 million in 2010 to over $2 billion in 2025—remains dwarfed by China's massive economic footprint and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. The primary bottleneck for India has been the lack of direct land connectivity, exacerbated by Pakistan's refusal of transit access. Consequently, India has focused on alternative routes like the Chabahar Port in Iran and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to bypass Pakistan and access the landlocked region.
Constitutional provisions
- Article 51 — Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) directing the State to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honourable relations between nations, and foster respect for international law.
- Article 73 — Extends the executive power of the Union to matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws, including entering into treaties and international agreements (Union List, Entries 10-14).
Government schemes
- Connect Central Asia Policy — Launched in 2012, this policy is a comprehensive framework to strengthen India's political, economic, security, and cultural relations with the five Central Asian republics.
International organisations
- Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) — A permanent intergovernmental international organisation founded in 2001. India became a full member in 2017. It serves as a vital platform for India to engage with Central Asian security and economic architectures.
- BRICS — An acronym for the grouping of world economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and expanded members). It represents a significant platform for South-South cooperation and global governance reform.
- United Nations Security Council (UNSC) — One of the six principal organs of the UN, charged with ensuring international peace and security. India is actively campaigning for a non-permanent seat for the 2028-2029 term.
Previous UPSC questions on this theme
- Mains GS-2 2021 — Critically examine the aims and objectives of SCO. What importance does it hold for India?
- Mains GS-2 2018 — A number of outside powers have entrenched themselves in Central Asia, which is a zone of interest to India. Discuss the implications, in this context, of India's joining the Ashgabat Agreement, 2018.
Mains practice: Analyze the strategic significance of Central Asia for India and discuss the key challenges that have hindered the progress of India's 'Connect Central Asia' policy.
Central Asia occupies a pivotal position in India’s foreign policy matrix, acting as a bridge between Asia and Europe. The region, comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, holds immense strategic, economic, and security significance for India.
**Strategic Significance of Central Asia for India:**
• **Energy Security:** Central Asia is rich in natural resources. Kazakhstan possesses vast uranium reserves (vital for India’s civil nuclear program) and oil, while Turkmenistan holds some of the world’s largest natural gas reserves (crucial for the TAPI pipeline).
• **Geopolitical Balance:** The region is critical for countering the expanding footprint of China (via its Belt and Road Initiative) and ensuring a stable, multipolar Eurasia.
• **Security and Counter-Terrorism:** Cooperation with Central Asian states is vital to address regional security challenges, including drug trafficking, religious extremism, and instability emanating from Afghanistan.
• **Economic Integration:** It offers a lucrative market for Indian pharmaceuticals, information technology, and agricultural products.
**Key Challenges Hindering the 'Connect Central Asia' Policy:**
• **Connectivity Deficit:** The lack of direct land access due to Pakistan’s denial of transit routes remains the single biggest bottleneck, forcing India to rely on longer, costlier maritime-cum-land routes via Iran.
• **Chinese Dominance:** China's deep pockets and massive infrastructure investments have made it the primary economic partner for all Central Asian states, limiting India's leverage.
• **Slow Project Implementation:** Key initiatives like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar Port development have faced delays due to geopolitical tensions and sanctions on Iran.
• **Institutional Inertia:** Diplomatic momentum has occasionally flagged, as evidenced by the India-Central Asia Summit not meeting since its inaugural session in 2022.
**Conclusion:**
To unlock the full potential of its Central Asia policy, India must expedite the operationalization of the INSTC, leverage its soft power, and maintain consistent high-level institutional engagements to project itself as a reliable, long-term developmental partner.
Prelims practice questions
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): 1. India and Pakistan became full members of the SCO in the same year. 2. The Secretariat of the SCO is located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A. Statement 1 is correct: India and Pakistan both became full members of the SCO at the Astana Summit in 2017. Statement 2 is incorrect: The Secretariat of the SCO is located in Beijing, China. The Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Q2. With reference to India's connectivity initiatives with Central Asia, consider the following statements: 1. The Ashgabat Agreement is a multimodal transport agreement facilitating the transit of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. 2. India is a member of both the Ashgabat Agreement and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C. Both statements are correct. The Ashgabat Agreement is an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. India acceded to it in 2018. India is also a founding member of the INSTC, which connects India to Russia and Europe via Iran and Central Asia.
Q3. The 'Connect Central Asia' policy, aimed at strengthening political, economic, and security relations with Central Asian countries, was launched by India in which year?
- 2010
- 2012
- 2015
- 2017
Answer: B. The 'Connect Central Asia' policy was launched by the Indian government in 2012 during the Senior Ministers' Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to fast-track India's relations with the region.
Revision flashcards
- What is the primary objective of India's 'Connect Central Asia' policy launched in 2012? To enhance political, economic, security, and cultural connections with the five Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan).
- Where are the headquarters of the SCO Secretariat and the Executive Committee of RATS located? The SCO Secretariat is located in Beijing, China; the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- For which term is India actively seeking election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC)? The 2028-2029 term.
- Why has the India-Central Asia Summit mechanism faced criticism regarding its momentum? The summit has not met since its inaugural virtual meeting in 2022, leading to regional concerns that New Delhi may have lost diplomatic focus on the region.
- What are the two main connectivity projects India is leveraging to bypass Pakistan for Central Asian trade? The Chabahar Port in Iran and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).