Answer: India would preside over the eight members Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), for a year until September 2023, which has the stated objective of promoting mutually beneficial regional cooperation in the security, cultural, economic, and developmental realms. The SCO is one of the biggest international organizations representing almost 30% of the global GDP and 40% of the global population and connects three regions of the world namely Eurasia, Central Asia, and South Asia. SCO Presidency as an opportunity for India:

• Deepening of relations with the Central Asian Region (CAR): India shares cultural, political, economic, and security interests with this region.
  • India’s existing outreach mechanism with CARs such as the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and India-Central Asia Dialogue mechanism would receive a further boost at the platform of the SCO.
  • Along with the continued focus on 3Cs cooperation, connectivity, and capacity, new pillars of collaboration such as security, energy, developmental, and defense sectors can be further strengthened.
  • It can provide opportunities for India to engage with the Central Asian nations on cultural issues. This can help to enhance cultural ties and promote greater understanding between India and the Central Asian nations.
• Economic opportunities: India can use its presidency to promote economic cooperation within the SCO and Central Asian region. For instance, facilitating negotiations for a regional free trade agreement or launching joint infrastructure projects.
• Greater connectivity: With the possible inclusion of Iran into the SCO, the INSTC and connectivity through the Chabahar Port can reach their full potential and bring markets, resources, and people of Eurasia and India closer to each other.
• Energy cooperation: Greater access to the CARs and operationalization of projects such as TAPI, with greater cooperation among SCO members, including Pakistan, can help India diversify its energy supplies. This would result in better energy security for India.
• Security cooperation: The institutionalized intelligence tracking and sharing under the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATs) of SCO can help India tackle the threat posed by radicalism, extremism, and terrorism. Further, threats emanating from Taliban rule in Afghanistan can be effectively addressed by wider cooperation among member states paving the way for regional stability in the region.
• Increased regional influence: India’s presidency of the SCO provides a platform for India to play a more active role in shaping the regional security architecture and promoting its strategic interests in the region. This can help to enhance India’s regional influence and visibility.
• Strengthen multi-polarity: The SCO platform presents India as a reliable developmental partner for CARs who are also looking to diversify their relations beyond Russia and China and strengthen their strategic autonomy.

The SECURE proposal of India has achieved wider acceptance among the SCO member states. However, to fully utilize the potential of its presidency and the SCO as a whole, India would have to involve in deft diplomacy and find a way around many contradictions in the group itself.