Q. With reference to Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), consider the following statements:
1.It is an intergovernmental body created to protect the interests of the Western Indian Ocean islands.
2.It serves to develop an effective response mechanism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) against natural disasters.
3.India has been accepted as an observer of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: B
Notes:
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) is an intergovernmental body created in 1984 to protect the interests of the Western Indian Ocean islands. India is an observer.
The IONS is a voluntary and inclusive initiative that brings together navies of Indian Ocean Region (IOR) littoral states to increase maritime co-operation and enhance regional security.
Statement 2 is correct: It also serves to develop an effective response mechanism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) against natural disasters. IONS includes 25 member nations that touch or lie within the IOR, and 8 observer nations.
Statement 3 is incorrect: India is a member of IONS.
