Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) & 26th SCO Summit 2026

The 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 1 September 2026. The summit is particularly important for UPSC and HAS because it combines international relations, Central Asia, India’s neighbourhood policy, terrorism, connectivity, multipolarity and regional security.

1. What is the SCO?

SCO = Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation primarily focused on cooperation in regional security, political affairs, economic cooperation and people-to-people relations.

It was formally established on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China by six countries:

1. China
2. Kazakhstan
3. Kyrgyzstan
4. Russia
5. Tajikistan
6. Uzbekistan

The organisation evolved from the earlier Shanghai Five mechanism.

Important distinction

Shanghai Five → SCO

The Shanghai Five consisted of:

• China
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Russia
• Tajikistan

With the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was established.

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2. Why is SCO important for India?

The SCO is extremely important for India because it provides a platform for engagement with Central Asia, Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan simultaneously.

For India, major areas include:

• Counter-terrorism
• Regional security
• Central Asian connectivity
• Energy security
• Trade and investment
• Afghanistan
• Drug trafficking
• Cybersecurity
• Cultural and educational cooperation
• A multipolar international order

India became a full member in 2017, along with Pakistan.

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3. Current SCO Membership — 2026

The SCO currently has 10 member states:

Iran became a full member in 2023, while Belarus became the 10th member in 2024.

Easy memory trick

6 Founding + India + Pakistan + Iran + Belarus = 10

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4. SCO Observers and Dialogue Partners

Observer States — 2

• Afghanistan
• Mongolia

Dialogue Partners — 15

These include:

• Azerbaijan
• Armenia
• Egypt
• Cambodia
• Qatar
• Kuwait
• Laos
• Maldives
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• UAE
• Saudi Arabia
• Türkiye
• Sri Lanka
• Bahrain

The SCO's official information currently lists 10 members, 2 observers and 15 dialogue partners.

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5. Headquarters of SCO

SCO Secretariat

Beijing, China

The Secretariat is the permanent executive body of the SCO. It coordinates the organisation's activities and provides organisational, information and analytical support.

Important regional security institution

Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure — RATS

📍 Tashkent, Uzbekistan

RATS is particularly important for cooperation against:

• Terrorism
• Separatism
• Extremism

UPSC Trap

SCO Headquarters ≠ RATS Headquarters

• SCO Secretariat → Beijing
• RATS → Tashkent

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6. Official Languages

The traditional official languages of the SCO are:

Chinese and Russian.

Exam point

Do not confuse the SCO's official languages with the languages of all member states.

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7. Main Objectives of SCO

The SCO Charter emphasises cooperation aimed at maintaining and strengthening:

Security

• Regional peace
• Security
• Stability
• Counter-terrorism
• Counter-extremism
• Counter-separatism

Economic cooperation

• Trade
• Investment
• Transport
• Energy
• Finance
• Agriculture
• Industry

Humanitarian cooperation

• Education
• Culture
• Science
• Tourism
• Youth exchanges

The SCO also promotes a more representative, just and multipolar international order based on international law and the UN Charter.

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8. Major Bodies of the SCO

A. Council of Heads of State

This is the supreme decision-making body of the SCO.

It:

• Determines strategic priorities
• Defines major areas of activity
• Takes decisions on fundamental organisational matters
• Discusses major international issues

It meets once every year.

Remember:

Heads of State = Supreme body

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B. Council of Heads of Government

This consists of the Prime Ministers of member states.

It deals particularly with:

• Economic cooperation
• Budget
• Development of practical cooperation

It also meets annually.

Remember:

Heads of State → strategic direction

Heads of Government → economic/practical cooperation

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C. Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs

Deals with:

• Foreign-policy issues
• Preparation of major summit decisions
• International developments

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D. Council of National Coordinators

This body coordinates the regular activities of the SCO and prepares meetings of its major councils.

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E. SCO Secretariat

📍 Beijing

Permanent executive body.

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F. Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure — RATS

📍 Tashkent

Focuses on countering:

Terrorism + Separatism + Extremism

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9. 26th SCO Summit — 2026

The 26th SCO Heads of State meeting was held in:

📍 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

📅 1 September 2026

The summit was chaired by Kyrgyzstan.

The SCO's official website records the 26th meeting of the Council of Heads of State as having been held in Kyrgyzstan on 1 September 2026.

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10. Why the 26th SCO Summit is important for India?

India's SCO engagement is based on three broad priorities highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi:

S — Security

C — Connectivity

O — Opportunity

This S-C-O framework is highly relevant for current-affairs questions.

Security

India emphasises:

• Zero tolerance towards terrorism
• Counter-terrorism cooperation
• Preventing terrorist financing
• Combating radicalisation
• Regional stability

Connectivity

India supports connectivity projects but stresses:

Connectivity must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This is particularly important in the context of India's concerns regarding connectivity projects passing through disputed territories.

Opportunity

India seeks greater cooperation in:

• Trade
• Technology
• Start-ups
• Energy
• Youth
• Education
• Innovation

Recent reporting on the Bishkek summit highlighted India's priorities on terrorism, connectivity, technology and youth cooperation.

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11. SCO and India's Central Asia Policy

The SCO provides India with an institutional platform to strengthen relations with:

• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan*
• Uzbekistan

Important: Turkmenistan is not an SCO member.

This is a classic exam trap.

India's Central Asia challenge

India has strong political and economic interests in Central Asia, but geographical connectivity is difficult because Pakistan lies between India and Afghanistan/Central Asia.

Therefore, projects such as:

Chabahar Port

and the

International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

are strategically important for India.

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12. SCO and Terrorism

Counter-terrorism is one of the most important pillars of the SCO.

The organisation addresses:

• Terrorism
• Separatism
• Extremism
• Terror financing
• Drug trafficking
• Cyber threats

For India, this is particularly significant because of concerns about:

• Cross-border terrorism
• Terror financing
• Radicalisation
• Afghanistan-based terrorist groups

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13. SCO and Afghanistan

Afghanistan is an Observer State, not a full SCO member.

Afghanistan matters to the SCO because instability there can affect:

• Central Asia
• Terrorism
• Drug trafficking
• Extremism
• Regional connectivity

For India, Afghanistan is also important because of its historical, developmental and strategic interests.

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14. SCO is NOT NATO

This is an important UPSC conceptual distinction.

Therefore:

SCO should not simply be called the "Asian NATO".

It is better understood as a multilateral regional organisation with strong security, political and economic dimensions.

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15. SCO and Multipolar World Order

One major theme associated with the SCO is the promotion of a multipolar international system.

For India, this fits with its broader preference for:

• Strategic autonomy
• Multilateralism
• Reform of global institutions
• Greater representation of the Global South
• Respect for sovereignty

The SCO's own documents emphasise international law, the UN Charter, civilisational diversity and a more representative international order.

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16. SCO — Important Timeline

1996

Shanghai Five established.

1997

Expansion of confidence-building and military-reduction mechanisms.

2001

SCO established in Shanghai.

2005

India became an Observer.

2017

India and Pakistan became full members.

2023

Iran became a full member.

2024

Belarus became the 10th member.

2025

25th SCO Summit — Tianjin, China

2026

26th SCO Summit — Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

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17. Most Important One-Liners for UPSC/HAS

SCO

Full form: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Founded

2001

Founding location

Shanghai, China

Original members

6

Current members

10

India's membership

Full member since 2017

Pakistan

Full member since 2017

Iran

Full member since 2023

Belarus

Full member since 2024

SCO Secretariat

Beijing, China

RATS

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Official languages

Chinese and Russian

Supreme body

Council of Heads of State

26th Summit

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan — 1 September 2026

25th Summit

Tianjin, China — 2025

Current membership

10 countries