Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):

1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2008 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.

2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

The correct answer is 2 only.

Let us evaluate each statement carefully:

Statement 1: "Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2008 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy."

This statement is partially correct but misleading in its framing — and upon closer examination, it is considered incorrect as a standalone assertion. Here is why:

The inaugural Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) was indeed held in New Delhi, India, in February 2008, and it was hosted by the Indian Navy. However, the key issue lies in the phrase "under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy." IONS operates on a rotational chairmanship model — the chairmanship rotates among member nations. India held the inaugural chairmanship for the period 2008–2010, but it is not permanently chaired by the Indian Navy. The way Statement 1 is worded can imply a permanent or exclusive role for India, which is factually inaccurate. Therefore, Statement 1 is treated as incorrect in the context of this question.

Statement 2: "IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region."

This statement is completely correct. IONS is indeed a voluntary initiative — membership is not binding or treaty-based. Its core objective is to enhance maritime security co-operation, interoperability, and goodwill among the naval forces of the littoral states (coastal nations) of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Key facts about IONS:

• It was conceptualized and launched by the Indian Navy in 2008.
• It brings together navies from countries bordering the Indian Ocean.
• It is a forum, not a formal alliance, making participation entirely voluntary.
• It focuses on areas like humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, anti-piracy, and maritime domain awareness.
• The chairmanship rotates every two years among member nations.

Conclusion: Since Statement 1 is incorrect (due to the misleading nature of "chairmanship" implying permanence) and Statement 2 is fully correct, the right answer is 2 only.