Cocos Islands

Why in news?

• Indian Navy Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130 transport aircraft have visited Australia’s Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CKI) in the Southern Indian Ocean.

About Cocos Islands:

• Cocos Islands also called Keeling Islands is an external territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean.
• It comprises a small archipelago approximately midway between Australia and Sri Lanka and relatively close to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. 
• The islands were discovered in 1609 by the British sea captain William Keeling, but no settlement occurred until the early 19th century
• The island consists of two atolls made up of 27 coral islands, of which only two – West Island and Home Island – are inhabited.

Strategic significance of the Islands:

• Cocos can be an important base for refuelling and operational turnaround for the Indian military, especially once the runway there is expanded to accommodate large aircraft like the P-8 long range maritime patrol aircraft.
• Apart from military cooperation, Cocos Islands had been a point of cooperation between the space agencies of the two countries for India’s Gaganyaan human space flight mission. 
• Australia is in discussion with India on the establishment of a temporary ground station at Cocos (Keeling) Islands for the Gaganyaan missions.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following pairs:

Places in news        : Region

1. Cocos Islands          : Pacific

2. Kiribati                     : Indian Ocean

3. Sicily                         : Mediterranean Sea

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Answer