SCO Heads of Government meet: Rajnath Singh represents India in Dushanbe
Why in the news
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh represented India at the 25th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 19-20 October 2026.
Key facts
- Terrorism: called it one of the gravest threats to the region; said there is no justification for it and no room for double standards, and urged members to dismantle its entire ecosystem.
- Three pillars: security, connectivity and opportunity, which he said reinforce each other.
- Connectivity: cited the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port; said projects must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- India’s offer: Digital Public Infrastructure and its startup ecosystem; India will host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum later this year.
- Bilateral meetings: Tajikistan Prime Minister Qohir Rosulzoda and Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref.
| CHG meeting | Venue | Date | India represented by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24th | Moscow, Russia | 18 November 2025 | EAM S. Jaishankar |
| 25th | Dushanbe, Tajikistan | 19-20 October 2026 | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh |
About SCO and the CHG
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was set up on 15 June 2001 by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India became a full member at the Astana Summit in June 2017. Its Secretariat is in Beijing and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is in Tashkent. The CHG is the second highest decision-making body; it meets every year to discuss trade and economic cooperation and the annual budget.
Exam angle
- Edition and venue: 25th CHG, Dushanbe.
- Do not confuse the CHG with the Council of Heads of State, the top SCO body.
- SCO bodies: Secretariat (Beijing), RATS (Tashkent).