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PM Modi's Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit at Bishkek, Uzbekistan State Visit Marks Strategic Return

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
27 Aug 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:2015 visit to all five Central Asian countries2017 SCO full membership2022 Republic Day invite to Central Asian leadersSCO: 10 members, 15 dialogue partners, 2 observersCrocus City Hall terror attack 2024Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev since 2016
Bodies:SCOIndia-Central Asia Dialogue
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.PM Modi will visit Uzbekistan and attend the SCO Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, marking India's return to its Central Asian neighbourhood.

2.India's engagement is anchored in the 2015 visit to all five Central Asian countries, SCO full membership in 2017, and the India-Central Asia Dialogue created after the 2022 virtual Republic Day summit.

3.The article highlights the need to leverage civilisational links, counter Pakistan's attempts to isolate India, and pursue alternative connectivity routes through Iran and Afghanistan.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

PM Modi's upcoming state visit to Uzbekistan and participation in the SCO Heads of State meeting in Bishkek signal India's renewed strategic engagement with Central Asia. The visit builds on the 2015 historic tour, 2017 SCO full membership, and the 2022 India-Central Asia Dialogue to expand economic, defence and connectivity ties beyond Russia-China dominance.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

PM's ItineraryState visit to Uzbekistan; SCO Heads of State meeting in Bishkek
2015 Historic VisitPM Modi visited all five Central Asian countries
SCO Full MembershipIndia joined SCO in 2017 (Pakistan also joined, by China)
2022 Republic DayAll Central Asian leaders invited as chief guests; held virtually due to COVID-19
SCO Strength10 members, 15 dialogue partners, 2 observers on 25th anniversary
Connectivity TalksAlternative rail and road routes through Iran and Afghanistan

1-Minute Revision

  • ›PM's Itinerary: State visit to Uzbekistan; SCO Heads of State meeting in Bishkek
  • ›2015 Historic Visit: PM Modi visited all five Central Asian countries
  • ›Target this Data: SCO has 10 members, 15 dialogue partners and 2 observers; India joined as full member in 2017
  • ›Target this Summit: SCO Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (formerly Frunze)
  • ›Target this Visit: PM Modi's 2015 visit to all five Central Asian countries was historic; 2022 Republic Day invite was virtual due to COVID-19
  • ›Target this Dialogue: India-Central Asia Dialogue was created after the 2022 summit

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which intergovernmental organisation did India become a full member of in 2017, as mentioned in the article?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements:

1. PM Modi's 2015 visit to all five Central Asian countries marked the end of an unstated Indian policy of deferring to Russia in its periphery.

2. The SCO currently has 12 members, 15 dialogue partners and two observers.

3. India and Tajikistan are separated only by the narrow Wakhan corridor that lies in Afghanistan.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricEasy

According to the article, how many Central Asian countries did PM Modi visit in 2015?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary strategic significance of PM Modi's upcoming visit to Uzbekistan and the SCO Heads of State meeting, according to the article?

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