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India Responds to OIC Remarks: Understanding the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

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India strongly rejected the recent reference to it made at a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), calling it unwarranted and factually incorrect. This marks another instance of friction between India and the OIC on issues concerning Kashmir and minority rights.


What is the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)?

  • Founded: 1969 at Rabat, Morocco

  • Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

  • Members: 57 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America

  • Second largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations


Objective and Role

  • Acts as the collective voice of the Muslim world

  • Aims to safeguard interests of the Muslim population globally

  • Promotes solidarity among member states, defends sovereignty and independence, and ensures international peace and security

  • Frequently issues communiqués on global issues, including the status of Palestine, Kashmir, and other minority concerns


India’s Stand

  • India is not a member of the OIC despite having the world's third-largest Muslim population

  • It has objected to repeated mentions of Kashmir in OIC statements

  • India maintains that such references are politically motivated and lack credibility


UPSC Relevance

  • GS Paper 2: International Relations – Bilateral, regional and global groupings

  • GS Paper 1: Population and Society – Minority representation

  • Important for India’s foreign policy, Islamic diplomacy, and geopolitics


UPSC Prelims Question

Q. With reference to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), consider the following statements:

  1. India is one of the founding members of OIC.

  2. The OIC is headquartered in Saudi Arabia.

  3. It is the second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 2 and 3 only

B. 1 and 2 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3


✅ Answer: A. 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is incorrect: India is not a member, let alone a founding member.

  • Statement 2 is correct: OIC’s HQ is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

  • Statement 3 is correct: It is indeed the second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the UN.


UPSC Mains Question (GS Paper 2)

Discuss the objectives and relevance of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). How has India engaged with the OIC despite not being a member?


 
 
 

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